Pahan Silu

Infobox musical artist
Name = Pahan Silu


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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Michigan, USA
Genre = Acoustic
Years_active = 2002 –
Label = Pahan Silu Entertainment
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URL = [http://www.pahansilu.com www.pahansilu.com]
Current_members = Priyan Weerappuli
Venura Jayasekera
Lochana Talagala
Shirantha Kannangara
Chinthana Herath
Shripal Fernando
K. Jayawardene
Deepthi Weerappuli
Praveen Fernandopulle
Ruwan Jayaweera
Sujit Weerasinghe
Samadhi Liyanage

"Pahan Silu" (which roughly translates to "dancing candlelight" from its original Sinhala, one of the three primary languages spoken on the island of Sri Lanka) is the name of a band formed in late 2002 by American-born musician Priyan Weerappuli.

Pahan Silu began performing publicly at the April 2003 Sri Lankan New Year celebration held in Detroit, Michigan; and within two years, had begun performing their original compositions alongside those of classically trained Sri Lankan musicians - including Sangeet Nipun Sanath Nandasiri during his 2005 tour of the United States. In addition to Nandasiri; they have also performed with Walter Fernando (brother of the late baila singer: M.S. Fernando), and female vocalist Malkanthi Nandasiri, during their tours of the United States.

The success Pahan Silu has enjoyed in recent years is owed primarily to the unique sound they have introduced to Sri Lankan music. In an era when many Sri Lankan performers (including pop/R&B duo Bathiya and Santhush) have drawn influence from urban and techno musicians in England and the United States; Pahan Silu turned, instead, to the rich, blended, harmonies of African music, and the acoustic rhythms of Latin American music.

Their freshman single, "Siripāda," a song recounting the story of a group of friends who climb to the top of Srī Pāda (also referred to as Adam's Peak) thru its dense pre-dawn fog, debuted on March 10, 2007 on The Asian Broadcasting Company's Sri Lankan affiliate Hiru FM.

Their sophomore single, "Mīrayèn Èha Thalè," a song which describes Priyan's memory of the 2000 concert given by Pandith Amaradeva in the US, debuted on December 2, 2007 simultaneously on both the BBC and SLBC.

Among others, founding member Priyan Weerappuli credits Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sting, Papa Wemba, Pandith Amaradeva, John Denver, Clarence Wijewardane, James Taylor, Carlos Vives, Juanes and Aventura as the influences behind Pahan Silu's unique sound.

Discography

"‎Siripāda" (2007)

"Mīrayèn Èha Thalè (2007)

"Mihirakī Oba" (2008)

Additional Notes

* The name "Pahan Silu" was given to the group by Priyan's father, and was drawn from a passage in the "Guttila" story written by Vàeththàeve Himi - later incorporated into the song "Ru Rase Andhina Lese" by lyricist Sisira Sénaratne.
* Priyan composed the music for the song "Siripada" based on his memory of a hike upon Virginia's "Old Rag Mountain" - he has yet to visit Sri Lanka's fabled peak.
* The song "Mīrayèn Èha Thalè" was written by Priyan for a BBC tribute celebrating the 80th birthday of Sri Lankan artist Pandith W. D. Amaradeva.

Members (In Alphabetical Order)

Current Members (In Alphabetical Order)

Venura Jayasekera (Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard)

Shirantha Kannangara (Vocals)

Lochana Talagala (Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar)

Priyan Weerappuli (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Percussion, Thammátama, Vocals)

Guest Performers (In Alphabetical Order)

Amitha Dissanayaka (Vocals)

Shripal Fernando (Vocals)

Praveen Fernandopulle (Vocals)

Chinthana Herath (Flute, Violin)

Wimal Jayakody (Vocals)

K. Jayawardene (Tabla)

Ranjith Jayaweera (Tabla)

Ruwan Jayaweera (Vocals)

Cleon John (Percussion)

Samadhi Liyanage (Vocals)

Chandratilaka Liyanarachchi (Vocals)

Lakshani Perera (Vocals)

Darshan Talagala (Gáta Bére, Udákkiya, Vocals)

Deepthi Weerappuli (Keyboard)

Parakrama Weerappuli (Vocals)

Sujit Weerasinghe (Percussion)

Alumni (In Alphabetical Order)

Sanjaya Abeysirigunawardena (Vocals)

Chinthaka Weerappuli (Tabla)

External Links and Sources

* [http://www.pahansilu.com Official Homepage]
* [http://pahansilu.hi5.com/ Pahan Silu on Hi5]
* [http://www.sinhalajukebox.org/cgi-bin/songs.cgi?action=ShowTracks&artist=A695&compose= Pahan Silu Instrumentals on Sinhala Jukebox]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/ondemand/sinhala/meta/dps/2007/12/071205_himaw1?bgc=003399&lang=si&nbram=1&nbwm=1&ms3=4&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=1&size=au BBC Broadcast Link for the Himaw Arana program that featured the music of Pahan Silu.]
*

External Media Resources

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdbweuKp_q0 Dayani's Theme Video on YouTube]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8oGPBTyE9M Siripada Video on YouTube]