Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur) - Hindustan Times (Jaipur) - City
ANOUSHKA BATS FOR MORE WOMEN IN MUSIC INDUSTRY
Address the issue
Gender equality has been a hot topic of conversation in the global music industry. While many agree that there’s still a long road ahead, sitarist Anoushka Shankar has decided to lead by example by spearheading projects that comprise mostly of female artistes.
Talking about the thought behind it, Shankar tells us, “It was twofold. First, I naturally gravitated towards my female musician friends due to the content of Love Letters (album). Writing about heartbreak, vulnerability and healing meant getting really intimate with my collaborators. I naturally found myself drawn towards beautiful, strong female artistes.”
Another reason why she roped in majority of women for the project, is to let her actions reflect her beliefs. “I need to put efforts into sharing my platform and giving opportunities to other women. This is why it felt important to hire as many women as possible behind the scenes too, and not just in more visible roles,” she says.
The musician believes that there’s clearly a need to empower and promote more women in every segment of the music industry. On being asked what according to her might have led to such disparity, Shankar says, “Equalising structural inequalities requires structural solutions.”
Elaborating her point, she adds, “Education, and a willingness to change by accounting for and amending existing imbalances, is certainly important on the part of the individual. But it also requires structural changes and accountability. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the gender gap, racism, casteism, or discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.”
Shankar’s new creation Opening, Flowering and Drinking, also features her half-sister singer Norah Jones. Talking of working with her, Shankar says, “We worked on it during the lockdown so it was a remote process. However, we have a shorthand communication and she immediately got what I wanted and sang beautifully…i had sung the demo parts for her, so it was a relief when Norah’s magical voice finally came onto the song,”
I need to put efforts into giving opportunities to other women. ANOUSHKA SHANKAR, Sitarist
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