The first public sitar performance for Anoushka Shankar occurred on 27 February 1995, at Siri Fort in New Delhi. Aged only thirteen, she performed during her father Ravi Shankar's seventy-fifth birthday celebration, marking the start of a career that eventually spanned multiple continents and earned her fourteen Grammy Award nominations as a composer, musician, and songwriter.
Early Training and Debut
Born in London in 1981, she was the daughter of Sukanya Rajan and sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. Her early musical education began at age eight under the guidance of Gaurav Mazumdar. By age ten, she accompanied her father on the tanpura. After assisting with the album Chants of India, she signed an exclusive recording contract with Angel/EMI at sixteen.
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Following her 1999 high school graduation from San Dieguito High School Academy, she focused entirely on touring. She released her debut album, Anoushka, in 1998, followed by Anourag in 2000. Her third album, Live at Carnegie Hall, made her the youngest nominee in the World Music category at the 2003 Grammy Awards. She subsequently spent several years establishing herself as a concert performer, completing roughly 50 to 60 shows annually.
Creative Evolution and Collaboration
Her output shifted toward contemporary and electronic fusions, beginning with the 2005 album RISE. She later collaborated with Karsh Kale on Breathing Under Water and worked with producers like Nitin Sawhney on Traces of You. In 2011, she signed with Deutsche Grammophon, producing works like the flamenco-inspired Traveller and the 2016 album Land of Gold, which featured contributions from Vanessa Redgrave and MIA.
Recent Projects
Her 2020 EP Love Letters marked a shift in direction, featuring collaborations with artists such as Ibeyi and Shilpa Rao. Released on Mercury KX, the project included engineering work by Heba Kadry and Mandy Parnell. That same year, she performed at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall alongside percussionist Manu Delago and the Britten Sinfonia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1981, London
- Primary Instrument: Sitar
- Citizenship: United Kingdom; United States
- High School: San Dieguito High School Academy
- First Public Performance: 27 February 1995
- Grammy Nominations: 14
Questions readers ask
What is the primary instrument of Anoushka Shankar?
She is a sitarist who performs across classical, contemporary, acoustic, and electronic genres.
Did Anoushka Shankar attend university?
No, she decided against university to pursue a career as a touring solo artist after graduating from high school in 1999.
Achievements
- Instruments: sitar
- Genres: blues and Indian classical music
