SHILPA RAO recently released a single in collaboration with six-time Grammy Award nominated sitarist- composer-producer Anoushka Shankar and Ayanna Witter, a British singer-composer and cellist. She speaks with SHALINI SAKSENA about her journey and cross-culture collaboration
How did the collaboration happen?
Anoushka (Shankar) and I had met many years back and then we met again recently when I was in London for a holiday. We had talked about our music and things related to it. We also talked about a collaboration. Then we came together in Mumbai on a music that she had composed. It was such simple and minimalistic that I wanted to be a part of and couldn’t refuse.
What is the song about?
The song, Those Words, is about a journey of a woman who is all by herself now. She is out a relationship now. In the song she talks about the times when she was in one and the moments she lived in that relationship. It is a not a sad or a depressing song. More of a song that is based on internal thoughts. Something that we all do when we sitting by ourselves.
Was there a reason why you chose this theme?
When I heard the song, there weren’t any lyrics to it. But the music was so beautiful and moving and we wanted to do something on those lines. We discussed and we wanted to do a song that internalised feelings. Shirin then wrote the lyrics. And the whole thing fit perfectly and the song is so beautiful.
How much fun did the three of you have doing this collaboration?
The whole thing started on a simple note — a thought — which was very simple. The whole process was not complicated. It was just that she had a thought and shared it with me and I shared it with Shirin. The best part is that all this happened face-to-face and not over the mail. It was the first time that I was recording in London at the Guildhall School; it is one of the top schools for music in in the world. It was my first international collaboration. We spent an entire day together to make this song. It was little things that mattered while we made this song. It was not about what the song became later on but the whole journey that made it possible.
How important is it to have more such collaborations to experience global music?
Indian music has always had a certain awe factor for those who live abroad. It is not a new concept for people outside of India to listen to our music. Indian music is one of the most progressive music’s in the world; it has been It has been there for centuries. The best of this song is — Ayanna didn’t know anything about the words, Shirin had written them; we came from different backgrounds, we learnt a lot about each other since human emotions are the same. This is what you learn from such collaborations.
Where is Bollywood music heading?
Music keeps changing every month. When people ask me where I will be a year down the line, it is difficult to answer it. I live in the moment and committed to it. I love the unpredictability that is associated with the music and the business. It makes you want to learn more and keep evolving.
How did your musical journey begin?
It was an everyday life for us while I was growing up because of my father. We were surrounded with music. I didn’t always want to be a musician as a child. I learnt and listen to music because I loved it; it was till I was older that I wanted to sing. My musical journey was simple.
What is waiting for you?
There are a few Bollywood projects and a couple of more single releases coming up in the near future.