Anouska Shanker - WL

Question 1

Indian Ocean

Answer 1

One of the first Indian fusion bands formed in
the 90s. Indo-rock fusion with jazz influenced
rhythms..
Mix of Indian and Western instrumental forces:
bass guitar, indian vocals, tabla, electric guitar.
Electric guitar plays modal riffs infused with
rag and pitch bending.

Question 2

The Beatles - Across The Universe

Answer 2

Collaborated with Ravi Shankar (Anoushka’s
father) in the late 60s and incorporated Eastern
practices and musical styles into Western popular
music.
Track was taped with acoustic guitar, percussion
and tambura, it also featured an overdubbed sitar.
Transcendental Meditation: mantra “Jai guru deva
om” included in the piece

Question 3

Susheela Raman - Salt Rain

Answer 3

Collaborated with Ravi Shankar (Anoushka’s
father) in the late 60s and incorporated Eastern
practices and musical styles into Western popular
music.
Track was taped with acoustic guitar, percussion
and tambura, it also featured an overdubbed sitar.
Transcendental Meditation: mantra “Jai guru deva
om” included in the piece

Question 4

R. Rahman

Answer 4

Bollywood composer. Fuses Western popular and Indian styles for film.
‘Jai Ho: Uses exaggerated tuning effect on long notes in the chorus through
technological means, emulating microtonal singing.
Combination of Hindi, Urdu, Punjab and Spanish lyrics.
Achieved more global success when a version was recorded with The Pussy Cat
Dolls.
‘Million Dollar Arm’: Punjabi elements and Iggy Azalea rapping over a tabla beat.

Question 5

Talvin Singh - Together

Answer 5

Collaboration between London based Tabla player and electronic musician
Talvin Singh and virtuoso sitar player Niladri Kumar, who modified the
instrument for a rock music audience, creating the ‘zitar’,
Indian influence: Long intro ‘alap’ like section. Tabla plays rhythm section.
Western influence: Functional harmony, use of strings.
‘River’: Uses electro backbeat, where Kumar plays expressive melodies with
pitch bending.