Sitar player Anoushka Shankar on plans to collaborate with half-sister Norah Jones again
Anoushka Shankar
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Being the daughter of the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar, sitar player Anoushka Shankar has managed to take her father’s legacy forward. Currently on a six-city India tour, Anoushka performed in Mumbai two days ago. Given that she has spent most of her life outside this country, does she identify with Indian culture? "I consider myself part of all three cultures — Indian, British [she was born in London] and American [studied in the US]. I have coined a term for this — tri-cultural.
"As someone who has grown up across three continents, I always felt I had many homes, but no home. In the last few years, I have managed to cultivate a feeling of being rooted, when I am with my family. I feel more settled than I did before," she says. walking down memory lane and reminiscing about her musician father, Anoushka says, "He practised intensely before concerts, and took time to focus before going on stage. Despite having performed at thousands of shows, he considered every concert important. He was never casual about a show, even if it was held in a smaller city. That commitment and discipline was amazing."
Norah Jones
Last month, Anoushka spent quality time with half sister, Norah Jones. Their collaborations in the past have been successful and one expects them to work together again. "There is a possibility that we will team up in future. It was quite an experience to write songs and record with her ." The two share a warm rapport. "We have a deep sense of love and support for each other. I spent a few days with her when I visited New York for a performance last month. And a couple of weeks ago, she stayed with me for the weekend, with all our children hanging out together," she says.
Anoushka feels Norah is exceptionally talented. "She has great skills as a vocalist and instrumentalist. She is an amazing songwriter too, and has a sense of artistic integrity, which is, perhaps, what I admire the most about her."
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