In conversation with sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar on her latest album 'Home'Nov 16(AZINS) Her last trip to India was two years ago. This time around, Anoushka Shankar, sitar virtuoso and composer, is coming down to promote Home, her latest studio album, with a four-city tour (Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru on December 12, 13, 15 and 18 respectively), accompanied by husband, director Joe Wright, and her two sons, Zubin and Mohan.

She might have been away, but she’s definitely been busy, balancing her dedication to her art with her personal life and motherhood. In fact, Home was recorded when she was expecting Mohan. This will be his first trip to India.

Home is special to you. How much more than, let’s say, your last, Traces Of You?
It’s a bit like comparing children, really (laughs). Every album is close to my heart. Home was a special album for very specific reasons. It is an homage to my father. And it is the first classical album I’ve released in over a decade. So it really felt like a kind-of coming back to my roots. And therefore, that connection to my father. It was very unique at this time of my life to make this kind of album.

Do you think the guru-shishya tradition is fading? Or is it alive and well?
To be honest, I don’t know if I can speak well enough on that. I only know my own experience. I think a lot of people feel the world has to be a certain way for that relationship to blossom, but I believe it can be alive and well, no matter what. it requires dedication and focus on the part of both — the shishya as well as the guru. If learning is the value, it will be fine.

What can you tell us about the Raga Jogeshwari, which features on the album?
It’s a beautiful raga. Something that I have played with my dad for many, many years. It’s one of his raga creations. And it’s what’s known as a compound raga. It’s a combination of two ragas: Jog and Rageshwari. Jogeshwari seems to have the best of both these ragas. I definitely wanted to include one raga that was a creation of my father’s. And that’s why I chose Jogeshwari.

What is it about the sitar that blurs boundaries?
It’s got a huge amount of heritage and culture behind it. It’s also really such a beautiful instrument. It’s got a stunning sound. And it can be played in such a versatile way — whether it’s soulful or dynamic. And so, it lends itself to any number of styles, in the hands of a good musician. I think, for me, it’s nice to take it beyond that cliché - the workplace. The sitar has an association — whether it’s yoga, meditation, a relaxation technique or you know... flying carpet (laughs), all kinds of ideas. In India, the connotation might be something that’s purely classical. But it is so much more. It’s important to push the instrument forward.

How often does Joe attend your concerts?
Whenever he can. Sometimes, he’s unable to be present. Both of us are working. He comes to as many as he can.

Ever thought of playing a collaborative role in each other’s professions?
Yeah, we definitely take an advisory role on each other’s work as partners. But as colleagues, not often. He did do a music video for Traces Of You, which featured my sister Norah (Jones). And he’s been helping as the co-producer on next album. Now that I’ve completed it, it’s going to release next year. We do cross over now and then. But largely, we kind of lend advice, unofficially.

What’s the progression been like from Traces Of You to your next album?
It’s non-classical, very experimental and we’ve gone forward from Traces Of You. It’s not about crossover or fusion anymore to me. It’s just about music. It’s just a truly international sound, I think. And it’s got very strong themes — inspired by the refugee crisis happening — so that’s been affecting and influencing the music along with, you know, more feminist themes, which are always something I value. But I think on this next album, I’ve just gone forward with saying what I want to say and it’s going to be an unapologetic, very strong album, I guess.

One artist you'd like to collaborate for the first time.
I'm going to say Bjork. I've always wanted to work with her. And I've actually met her now. I went to one of her shows over the summer and met her backstage. And I do have some amazing women collaborating on this (upcoming) album obviously, but she's very high on my list. I just love her so much, I just wish I had asked her. I wish I get the courage to do that one day. She's amazing.

One artist you'd like to repeat?
I couldn’t pick one. I think I've been lucky to work with so many lovely people. But there's Joshua Bell, who's the world’s greatest violinist. We worked together live and once, for his record, but I really would want to work with him on one of my records.

Tell us about your association with your current label Deutsche Grammophon.
I was with EMI for my first four (or five) records. Anyway Home is my third with Deutsche Grammophon. It's a very special label. What they stand for is prestige and culture and they really feel like a good home for someone who is a classical artist. But also, they're part of Universal, which is a global label. It's under the Universal umbrella. I like to do non-classical and experimental albums as well. They have that classical background but they're also forward-looking. They really encourage me with my experiments as well. So I feel they've given me a lot of freedom to create and have been very supportive of the things I want to do. They've been wonderful.

HER ALBUMS
Home (2015)
Traces Of You (2013)
Traveller (2011)
Breathing Under Water (2007)
Rise (2005)
Anourag (2000)
Anoushka (1998)

About Home
- The album features two ragas: Raga Jogeshwari, which was written by her father and Raga ManjKhamaj.
- A treatise on Indian classical music written by Ravi Shankar in 1965 accompanies the album.
- Recorded in her home studio in London, Home is Anoushka’s third release on the prestigious label Deutsche Grammophon.

MEANWHILE...
- She promoted her last album Traces Of You with an extended world tour.
- She headlined the iconic Boom Festival in Portugal for a 30,000-strong audience.
- She curated and performed at a festival celebrating Rabindranath Tagore at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
- She also teamed up with the likes of ABBA, AR Rahman and Philip Glass for a music project titled Peace Tracks on UN International Day Of Peace.