Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar grew up studying sitar with her father, Ravi Shankar, but her music has always reached beyond Indian classical traditions. She began recording in the late 1990s, and her work has often incorporated Western classical, jazz, and electronic elements. Songs like 'Traces of You' and 'Land of Gold' reflect this blend, with the latter featuring vocalist Alev Lenz.

Her collaborations have included musicians like Nitin Sawhney and Manu Delago, as well as unexpected voices like actress Vanessa Redgrave on 'Remain the Sea.' That track, along with 'Bright Eyes,' shows how she uses the sitar not just as a traditional instrument but as part of broader compositional textures. She has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and released albums such as 'Traveller' in 2007 and 'Land of Gold' in 2016.

While her father's legacy is part of her story, Shankar has developed her own approach to composition and performance over more than two decades of recording. The music doesn't settle into one category, moving between solo sitar pieces and layered productions with guest artists.