For the FIRST Time Kudla aka Mangaluru Guitarist Ramprasad Ashok Collaborates with German Guitarist Michael Schmidt & Lithuanian Singer Ugnius Skirgalia for a Metal Act, unleashing a song “Break My Heart”, which is a Heavy Metal version of pop song by popular pop artist ‘Dua Lipa’, from United Kingdom.
Mangaluru: If you have heard of our local rock band “Sounds Fishy”, who mesmerize with their passionate playing to hold the audience spellbound, and the audience give them a well-deserved applaud- and guitarist Ramprasad Ashok, is part of this band, and this time he has achieved something BIG, by collaborating with two foreign musicians, one from Germany and the other from Lithuania, by performing a heavy metal song “Break My Heart”, which is originally a pop song by pop artist Dua Lipa, from United Kingdom. The live performance of this song is filled with a potency that gives the music life and vibrancy, and the trio literally tear into it with an intensity that is overwhelming. Heavy metal song ‘Break My Heart’ is a must listen number well presented by these three musicians, whose personal connection lends poignancy to their music and spark to their performance.
Mangalorean Guitarist Ramprasad Ashok
Watching them live on YouTube with their metal act, the trio have a colourful embodiment of talents that spreads positivity around them, and their music brings a sense of freshness which grabs the listener with a new found energy. Their music is full of life and so well blended that you will experience the honey like smooth consistency in it. No doubt, this FIRST of its kind collaboration song is very much thrilling, and watching the two guitarists, Ramprasad from their Mangaluru and Michael from Germany, with their prominent electric guitar riffs, and “Death Growl” vocal style by Lithuanian Singer Ugnius is nothing but awesome and superb. ( Artists link-
Ramprasad Ashok as one of the band members “Sounds Fishy”, a Mangaluru based Hard Rock / Ambient Metal band featuring six introverts was formed in late 2016, they all hail from diverse genres in music The band kick started as a Five man band only to participate in a “Battle of Bands” competition organized by “Alive India” and was crowned the “Best Band of Mangaluru”. Four of the Five members belonged to the Band “Avalanche Brakedown” which set an incredible mark in Mangaluru in 2014 – 2015 and even winning the “Best Band of Mangalore” in 2015. Looking at this as an opportunity the band participated amidst 20 odd bands and struck their way through to the finals and bagged the “Runners Up”. Ever since then the band jammed and won several Battle of the bands across the coast and represented Mangaluru on various platforms all over the country. (Ref: ‘Sounds Fishy’- an Ambient Metal/Hard Rock Band from Mluru Inches Close to Play at Stonedead Festival 2020 (UK) )
At present “Sounds Fishy” comprises of : Ashwin Xavier Sequeira – Drums; Floid Craig Pereira – Bass Guitar / Backing Guitars; Maclean D’souza – Keyboard / Synth; Ramprasad Ashok – Riff Master / Backing Guitars; Clyde Lobo – Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals; and Renston Fernandes – Lead Vocals. Some of the major influences of the band have been Ghost, Dream Theatre, Iron Maiden, Motherjane, Steel Panther, Steelheart, Deep Purple, Toto, Whitesnake, Queensryche, Wolfmother, Rainburn, and many other bands. “Apart from winning , jamming and performing several gigs around the country, the most prized moment for the band was when our debut original composition “Sympathetic Race” was being air played on the United Kingdom’s leading Metal Radio station called ‘Metal Meyhem’ at the 69x Radio show hosted by Mandy Lawrie” said Renston speaking to Team Mangalorean. Yes indeed, this is the first ever Mangaluru Based Band who’s song was played on a Radio Station in United Kingdom. (Ref: ‘Sounds Fishy’- the 1st Ever Mluru Based Hard Rock Band Who’s song Aired on UK Radio
After a little bit of intro of Kudla’s Hard Rock band ‘Sounds Fishy’, let’s dig into Ramprasad Ashok’s profile, who has been with this Rock Band since its formation, and apart from that, He has been a DJ for over 12 years, Ramprasad says, it’s been a great opportunity to collaborate for the FIRST time with two foreign artists. It was with Talented guitarist from Germany Michael Schmid and Amazing metal musician youtuber; and Former Frontman of Lithuania based Death Metal Band “Halterus “ Ugnius Skirgalia. And it’s nice to note that for first time a Mangaluru Guitarist has collaborated for a Metal act with two International Artists under youtube channel Red Scorpion Studios.
German Guitarist Michael Schmidt
Ramprasad Ashok a metal head fan from his younger days, has been influenced by Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Megadeth to name a few. His play style has been hugely influenced fast running metal riffs and shredding solos. Prior to joining “Sounds Fishy” Ramprasad was a lead guitarist for bands like ‘Acid Brain’, and ‘From the Ashes & Decibels’.Having done his MBA in Marketing Specialization from St Aloysius Institute of Business Administration, Mangaluru, he worked in Banking Industry for nearly five years, and currently looking after a private Shipping and Logistics business in Baikampady, on the outskirts of Mangaluru.
Lithuanian Vocalist Ugnius Skirgaila, also manages Red Scorpion Studios YouTube Channel
Among his hobbies are dancing, being a former dancer in ‘Ocean Kids’dance group, writing poems, and belting out dance hits as Dj since 12 years, playing in many popular pubs/clubs across Mangaluru and Manipal like Hotel Goldfinch Howzat, Cafe Mojo, Night Flight, Cafe 18-Manipal , etc . He loves to listen to music and watch movies and Netflix stories. Only child to parents, Ramprasad was always interested in music since his dad used to get Mohammed Rafisaab cassettes home and play/listen to them in tape recorder, which got him interested In music. “Also since young age from the collected pocket money, I used to buy new movies and album/cassettes and used to listen in Walkman, thus I got hooked on to music. In the years to come I was Introduced to Rock metal music by childhood friend Kishan who used to get cassettes from Dubai during holidays, and thus my journey into heavy metal/rock music started” added Ramprasad.
This is the original pop song “Break My Heart” by Popular pop artist “Dua Lipa” from United Kingdom.
FOLLOWING VIDEO IS THE HEAVY METAL VERSION OF THE POP SONG ‘BREAK MY HEART’ BY THE TRIO: (Ramprasad Ashok has played two solos and also backings riffs in this song. His guitar rendition Video was shot from Mangaluru and later Collaborated with other artists. Song was mastered by Red Scorpion studios in Lithuania
Good to hear
Congratulations.
Thank u sir