Behind the Sound with Radical the Band

Meet Shehan and Pradeep, the dynamic duo behind Radical the Band. Renowned for their passionate performances blending English and Sinhala melodies across various genres, they’ve captivated audiences far and wide. With each show, their fanbase grows, drawn to their infectious energy and natural knack for crafting unforgettable experiences.

In an exclusive interview, we caught up with them to explore their musical journey and aspirations. This is what they had to share.

What inspired you two to start a band together?

Pradeep: Shehan and I have been playing with so many other bands. When I initially met Shehan, I think the inspiration for me at least, was that we were like-minded to explore what we can create to get a new sound.

What genres of music do you play?

Shehan: We’re a bilingual band. We play both English and Sinhala music. It varies from pop, reggae, funk, rock, alternative and the list goes on.

Tell us about an unforgettable experience you had while performing.

Pradeep: Once, we were scheduled to have a gig in the evening and we were really tired after playing another gig in the morning. We just turned up to the evening gig, and there were at least about a hundred people at the venue in Nawala. Towards the end of the night, we connected with the people, and everyone around just gave us so much energy, we ended up turning that night around.

What can the audience expect at your gigs?

Shehan: The audience can expect good music, some feel-good vibes and also, familiar songs that they can relate to.

What’s your advice for bands that are just starting out?

Shehan: Respect what you do, respect the audience, respect the stage, and respect your fellow band members and your senior musicians. Talent can only take you so far, but discipline takes you a long way. And learn skills on how to promote your band, inspire others, connect with the audience, and most importantly, be respectful on stage – treat music as a sacred art.

Where do you guys regularly perform?

Pradeep: Regularly, we perform at Headquarters, run by W15 in Colombo. Every Wednesday, we’re there. Apart from that, we play quite a lot of gigs down-south. Few places to name are Ropewalk and Angel Beach. 

Are you working on any special projects?

Shehan: We are! We’re working on some special projects; a couple of originals, Sinhala and English bilingual tracks, and doing some cover tracks of our own versions, which you will see in the upcoming days. 

Where do you see your band in 5 years?

Pradeep: In the 5 years to come, I think we’re looking to travel a little bit outside of Sri lanka. I think gradual growth is important for any band. We’ve got some opportunities, and we’re working really hard on them. Hopefully, we can get bigger as a band, and explore.

Where can fans find you online?

Shehan: You can find us on Instagram as @radicaltheband. We post most of our content on our social media.

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