It’s not as if I’m just some socialite being written about: Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar in a no-holds barred chatathon about how her looks works  against her and more

It is said that you get media attention because of your looks and because you are Pt Ravi Shankar’s daughter…
Well, to a large extent it’s true. I do get a lot of media attention for my persona outside of being a musician, and I always have. However, the point is that that’s not the only reason I’m in the public eye, and I choose to use that extra attention to aid my career or causes I believe in, the same way anybody would. It’s not as if I’m just some socialite being written about for what I’m wearing all the time.

I worked really hard as a teenager learning and performing classical music, and in my twenties have continued to do so, while also growing and as a composer and crossover artist, and experimenting with other art forms as well. I’ve used my name and time to work with charitable causes throughout my career. I don’t know if anyone would do otherwise and purposefully avoid the media were it directly helping their career.

A group of classical musicians have also complained that only people who can afford a PR machinery manage to gete publicity…
Sadly, that is the case in every genre of music. It is always a few lucky ones who get more attention or success than others, for whatever reasons. However,, with something like our classical music, it’s really important that the media take some responsibility to help improve the current situation. People tend to get written about only if they do a “fusion” concert or package the music as something “new,” and this makes it very difficult for our pure classical music to get the focus it deserves. In other countries all major newspapers have arts and culture sections where all varieties of the arts, from opera to rap, and ballet to film, get equal space. Why don’t we?

What about an album with your half-sister Norah?
Not really. We have only worked together once, on the song Easy from my last album. I am  really happy with that song, and based on that one experience I’d say I’ve love to work with her again. But for the moment, I don’t think the sitar fits into anything she’s working on, and I’m also working in pretty different styles than her kind of music. So, I can only say if it were to happen, it wouldn’t be for a while.

How often do you guys keep in touch?
We’re sisters, and we’re close, but it’s hard to dissect it much more than that. I’m doing this interview from New York, where I get to see her much more often of course, since she lives here. The rest of the time it depends, we may not speak everyday, but the closeness and love is a constant.

So, what is the next international project?
Probably my next album, which I don’t think is wise to talk much about until it’s actually completed and ready for release. Along with that I’m also really excited about a date coming up at the end of the year at Sadler’s Wells in London, where I’ll be working with dancers to choreograph a new item based on my music.

When will you be coming to India next? We heard that the classical musicians are collaborating amongst themselves to provide a platform for the younger talents…
As far as I know I won’t be returning to India till closer to the end  of the year because I’ll be recording in the States until my father’s Autumn tour.

I think it’s wonderful that classical musicians are having all these musical dialogues between themselves to help enrich the music and its future. When I was growing up, all we would hear about was this rivalry or that rumour, and I think it’s great that some of the younger generations maintain friendly relations because it’s strengthens the musical community overall.