Kandy is one of the most important forts in the history of Sri Lankan rock music. It is no secret that the city of Kandy, which has created some of the most popular and talented bands and musicians in the country, has gradually moved away from rock music in recent history. The band Silence of Loud was formed to revive music lovers who were leaving the audience. They were able to hold their first concert in Kandy on 2 June 2018 with great success. Organised by Spiral Events, the concert was attended by a large audience from all over the island. After that, they saw an awakening among the metalheads in Kandy.
Silence Of Loud comprises Ashen Sandaru (frontman/vocals), Sachithra Jayawickrama and Kavin Harshana (guitars), Sajith Sri (bass guitar), and Kaveesha Karunaratne (drums).
We spoke to the band on their road to success and more. Here are some excerpts of the interview.
How has the journey been like for you? What were the challenges you faced along the way?
We have encountered various obstacles in our journey. When the band started, we did not have musical instruments and studio facilities. But so far, we have overcome those challenges to a great extent. Three songs from our first album have been released and a few more songs are being recorded. Lack of support for alternative music genres by major media channels is a big problem in this country. It does not give a proper place to the talented. But a large audience on social media is constantly looking for new creations. Most of them are young people. It provides some relief.
How did you cope with the pandemic as a band and how do you think the music industry will recover after the pandemic?
Unexpectedly, the third wave of the epidemic is now rising. We were out of gigs for over a year. It is a misfortune for artists in a country like Sri Lanka. As a result, all those who did direct and indirect employment in the music industry have lost their livelihoods. But we have our own studio in Kandy. So these days there are some ongoing recording sessions in it. We believe that we will have to stay away from live shows until the pandemic is over.
What was your most memorable stage performance? 
Many of the concerts we attended were unforgettable. Among them is our first gig, “Adhimaathraa/(Melodic Overdose)”, and Suriya Brothers Rock Saturday (IV), which are special.
How important do you think it is to write and perform original music?
Any band should have its own identity. For that, they have to innovate. That should be studied. It is very important. We do not have to work hard to promote someone else’s identity. Art can only move forward if there is innovation. It is eternal.
Do you have any plans for the future? Any gigs?
These days we are working on our debut album. Although it is scheduled to be launched this year, we have some obstacles in the face of the current pandemic. However, last year, the organisers had to postpone several major concerts that we were scheduled to play at. Therefore, we hope to make decisions on the future based on the status of the pandemic.
Instagram: @silence_of_loud
