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'The last thing I need is a rival in my own home!'
DATE: WRITE-UP
Rahul : Well we dont see u performng much , atleast in
India, may be overseas... could we see u bringing out more of urself in either
Albums , or maybe film music Anoushka Shankar : I tour
around the place a lot so I only get to perform in India in the winter. You can
find two of my solop albums out though, as well as a couple with my dad. I have
a new live album coming out soon too
moin : how tall r u? Anoushka
Shankar : just 5'4"
Prince : Anoushka excuse my ignorance of music I have just
started learning music but I would like to know -what was the original intent of
music. Was it merely a recital to please the Vedic gods and later on developed
into its present form or was music developed purely to please the
self? Anoushka Shankar : Indian music did start with the
Vedas, and from the theory that sound was another way to meditate and reach God.
That slowly over time became more and intricate music and the raga system was
developed....It's hard to put this in a nutshell but it slowly became an
entertainment as opposed to meditation.....true Indian musicians try to keep the
combination- to excite but also move the listener
Administrator : A minor snafu, folks! Anoushka is here and
is ready to answer your questions.
Rahul : Anu, what turns u On ..? Anoushka
Shankar : intelligence, confidence, humour, passion and
SUBTLETY!!! And people who call me Anoushka :)
vivekthecool : hey anoushka what do you listen to in your
spare time? Anoushka Shankar : mainly a lot of Goa trance
and Israeli trance, drum and bass, Western classical, flamenco and mellow chill
out stuff
vilafromusa : what does your name mean? Anoushka
Shankar : Anoushka is a Russian name meaning "Little Anna" and is
usally just a nickname for people who later grow up to be known as Anna, Anne or
Annie. Lately though, it's gotten popular as a proper name.
Rahul : Well thats was a Wow Answer :) and here I call u
Anoushka ... well we here dont find very many people who are chartitious , could
u change the outlook so that people really take charge of the situation and
improve on to the fellow humans... Anoushka Shankar : I can
only do my best. When ther is something I believe in I speak aobut it in my
publicity and try to participate in various events. I donate, I volunteer, but I
can't change the world though sometimes I wish I could! I can only help a
little.
vivekthecool : anoushka what do you to plan to study? will
it have anything to do with music? Anoushka Shankar : I'm
still not sure when or how I will get to college. If I do it will be to study
English, French and/or psychology. Nothing to do with music!
Nagarjun : Anushka jiHow do you feel about the fusion
going around which actually making the Original India Classical music to perish
one day Anoushka Shankar : Look at the West. They have rock,
rap, techno, fusion, flamenco, folk, classical and ten million other things. Is
any genre dying because of another? It's time that India moved forward and
broadened it's musical horizons, but I firmly believe that that does not pose a
threat to our classical music. The audience that was there, will always be
there.
shakyamuni : who, according to you, is the greatest all
time sitar player, anoushka? Anoushka Shankar : Why don't
you take a guess?!?
Vikas : Anoushka would you tell us about your childhood
crush in Madras? Anoushka Shankar : Ha ha. Well my mother's
best friend in Madras had a son and a daughter. The son is a few years older
than me (his name was Pritham) and I thought he was absolutely gorgeous! I used
to get really shy around him and never spoke. Apparently my mom found his
picture under my pillow when I was only two!!
Shan : Anoushka... u speak Tamil... Anoushka
Shankar : yes but I can't read or write
ram : Do you have any concerts in Big D this year
? Anoushka Shankar : Big what?
shakyamuni : don't tell me it is pt. ravi shankar.
Anoushka Shankar : Yes it is. Not only is he brilliant
technically but he is also playing from the soul and well as staying pure in the
music. I don't find other people who have EVERY aspect of a musician to the
degree that he has. Whether there may be someone who plays faster or whatever,
is not the issue for me
Vikas : I heard about your childhood crush in an interview
that you gave on MTV. You looked absolute gorgeous in that Anoushka
Shankar : thank you!
Mustafa : So waht are your marriage plans. Anoushka
Shankar : It's a bit early for that! I'll get married perhaps but
it's not the most important thing- it's the relationship itself and if a
marriage follows out of something in the future then it'll happen.
Vikas : Anoushka but Pandit Ravi shankar is from north
india so do you know some hindi? Anoushka Shankar : I learnt
how to speak Bengali from him. Because I've lived in Delhi I can understand
Hindi but really, I speak it very badly!
vivekthecool : what are your favourite novels? do you read
comics? Anoushka Shankar : Ayn Rand books, Roald Dahl's
children's books, and the Mahabharata. I used to read a lot of Archie's
arung : Hi Anoushka, u were saying that you want to learn
French. Any specific reason? Anoushka Shankar : My father
used to speak it with me when I was a kid, I learnt it in school and would love
to pursue it.
soulmusic : Your father has scored some fine music for
Hindi films....Do u have any plans of doing so? Anoushka
Shankar : I fthe right opportunity cam along I would love to but I
don't think I'm ready for that yet
Rahul : Ano, who as been ur greatest inspiration as of
date ...? Anoushka Shankar : My mother
Vikas : Mustafa: Anoushka is only 18-19. and Girls are not
made just for marriage. They too have to make a niche for
themselves Anoushka Shankar : THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
0Mustafa : Will you marry somebody from the music world
only??? Anoushka Shankar : I'd prefer it if had nothing to
do with music actually! The last thing I need is a rival in my own home!
Besides, who'd do the cooking? :)
Rahul : If u were born as a Guy , who would u choose to be
..? Anoushka Shankar : What a great question, I'm not sure
though. Me but male, I really love who I am you know....Let's see I'd hopefully
be taller and have more apendages but other than that....just me!
vivekthecool : have you read "catcher in the
rye"? Anoushka Shankar : yes, in tenth grade
Zinch : Hi Anoushka.. Does it feel great to carry on the
legacy into the new age? Anoushka Shankar : It's inspiring.
I love being able to take what I love around the world. I do a lot of lectures
and demos in schools and colleges and I love that- especially with little kids.
People always think it will be above them but they just love our music! It's too
cute
Vikas : Anoushka I saw your step sister, She resembles you
a lot. but to tell you the truth i think you are much more
beautiful Anoushka Shankar : Thanks, but I persoanlly think
she is gorgeous. Just in a different way perhaps. She is actually my
half-sister, we have the same father
Shiv : Anoushka, since you seem to be interested in techno
stuff, are you planning on coming out with a techno fusion album? Like the music
Talvin Singh puts out? Anoushka Shankar : I don't have any
plans, no. It might happen in the future, who knows> Talvin is a good frriend
and has been trying to get me involved for years but at present I want to stick
in the classical sphere
wishu : I m from Austin, Anousha will u be visiting(with
ur father) austin ? Anoushka Shankar : You know I'm not
exactly sure where all I am going, why don't you check my website for tour
dates? Sorry
pervezaziz : your name is very new...who gave you your
name Anoushka Shankar : My mother named me after the actress
Anoushka Hempel
Vikas : Anoushka how can we contact you if we have want
you to have concert in our area? Anoushka
Shankar : E_Blackburn@imgworld.com. That's my manager Earls' email
address. Or you can write to me at my website and someone will forward it
along
pervezaziz : anoushka have you ever visited
Hyderabad Anoushka Shankar : Not in years, but actually my
parents got married there when I was seven so it always has been very special to
me!
ram : Anou What is you fav hindustani raag? Anoushka
Shankar : Bageshri, Yaman Manj, Mishra Piloo and so many
others
vilafromusa : how u feel about being a celebrity. do u
prefer a love marriage. Anoushka Shankar : sometimes the
whole celebrity thing is a lot of fun and sometimes it can get a little tiring.
but on the whole i enjoy it.definitely a love marriage!
wishu : Would you like to go out with an engineer or a
musician? (i m an engineer) Anoushka Shankar : nice try
Rahul : How do u chalk ur day ? guess its not all music
and no Fun ! Anoushka Shankar : NO I practice a couple of
hours if that, and the rest of my time is free depending on where I am.
Sometimes it's lots of dancing and clubbing, or lots of solitary time, or lots
of press and publicity, there is no routine per se because it keeps changing
arung : Anoushka, inspite of your dad being a
world-renowned Sitar maestro, you mentioned that you are/were inspired by your
mother. Can u please explain? Anoushka Shankar : well she is
the main one who raised me snce at the beginning my father was always away
touring. she's my best friend, she is a fantastic mom and on top of it she is
the reason i started to play music. she's what keeps me grounded and it is
because of her that i am where i am.
Rahul : What has been the greatest thing to happen to u so
far ..? Anoushka Shankar : being alive, as cheesy as that
sounds
Enti : Anushka, do you think audiences away from india
make good audiences? And do you think Indian music can make an even better
global impression. Anoushka Shankar : they DO, it's happend
to me all the time! They love the music, the feel the energy, often times they
clap for so long i have to go and do encores. I don't believe there is anything
excusive about our music
ram : Anou, Any future plans of opening music school in
future? Anoushka Shankar : the Ravi Shankar Centre in New
Delhi is in the process of being copleted. I am one of the founder trustees,
will help to run it and organize concerts, workshops and events, and may
probably get involved in teaching a little too
raviji : Do you think you would have got the attention you
do if you did not have a famous father? Anoushka
Shankar : Definitely not so quickly, it would have taken a lot
longer and been a lot harder to get all the initial attention I have received,
though I want to stress that I don't believe I could have kept the interest thig
long if I wasn't doing something right!
Shan : Anu, where are you now... Anoushka
Shankar : In my house in San Diego
Enti : Anoushka, do you like carnatic music?
Anoushka Shankar : I love it, my mom used to teach me
singing when I was really young and it's always very comforting to me now
Rahul : How would u prefer ur man to propose to U ...?
Anoushka Shankar : Why don't you come up with
something?
panx : what is your greatest fear? Anoushka
Shankar : Being truly alone, not living up to my OWN beliefs in my
capability
msjam : Which has been your most memorable audience in the
US? Anoushka Shankar : um, Central Park, Carnegie, and
surprising places, like Reading PA and Des Moines!
Rahul : Have u any plans of cutting an Album with any
Western Musical group ..? Anoushka Shankar : there are plans
for me to do an album with several Western CLASSICAL musicians at the moment
arung : Do you live in San Diego when you're not
travelling? Is your mom also with you now? Do you miss India? Anoushka
Shankar : When I tour the States I live in San Diego, we stay in
London for the Europe tour and in Delhi for Asia. My mother comes everywhere if
my father is there, if it's my solo tour she stays back with him. I always miss
India
panx : and what are your beliefs about your capability,
Anoushka? Anoushka Shankar : I know my talents and my
inteligence, and I know I have it in me to do many things....but I also know my
procrastination and the fear of failure that sometimes stop me from taking
risks. I need to overcome that
vivek : Anoushka,How would you have developed as a person
and as a musician if you were not the daughter of Panditji Anoushka
Shankar : your guess is as good as mine, i'm not a psychic :)
Shruthi : did you go to school in SanDiago? Anoushka
Shankar : high school yes, i also studied in london and delhi
panx : vivek, how would u have developed if u had been
born in antartica as a penguin? Anoushka Shankar : you sound
pretty cool!
Shruthi : I am going to take off now since I am not
getting any questions answered by you Anoushka
Shankar : sorry i had already answered those by other people
Rishi : Anoushka I imagine living in CA you have a very
diverse group of friends. How do they see your (amazing) muscial talents and
interests? Are they open minded about your music? Anoushka
Shankar : they love what i do, perhaps initially it may seem a bit
strange to them that i have this completely separate life, but i draw them into
it
Enti : Anoushka, do you think talent is inbounce or can it
be inherited? Anoushka Shankar : talent is inborn, skill is
cultivated
Shruthi : how do you relate to your dad? Anoushka
Shankar : we're incredibly close
Yahoo : Cricket or Baseball? Anoushka
Shankar : basketball and soccer
Shruthi : do you have any plans to sing for bollywood
films? Anoushka Shankar : i can't sing!!
vivek : Anoushka,Is there a short name of yours , like Anu
or anush? Anoushka Shankar : no official short name, the
people im close to end up coming up with one themselves that is totally unique,
like noukita, sushi, pirelli, pampoush and so on
aaryan : i meant can you blend indian music with american
culture Anoushka Shankar : i don't try to blend or be
anything. i think naturally i have ended up as a sort of mix but it happened on
it's own so i can't really explain it
panx : i am sorry if this question is being repeated,
which is your official web-site, Anoushka? Anoushka
Shankar : anoushkashankar.com or ravishankar.org
Enti : Anoushka, how would you promote Indian music if
you're given a chance to do that? Anoushka Shankar : I
already do, with every concert and interview that I give outside of India and
infact even within India. I'm lucky that I'm young, I can speak to younger
people in a way that our older musicians cannnot and I would like to help
introduce them to our music
arung : Do you feel you are always on the move? Which
place do you consider as home at a deeper level? Anoushka
Shankar : I am always on the move, India is home in a way that no
other place can ever be, but having spent my first years in London I also have a
soft spot for that city
vilausa : which profession u choose for ur
children?? Anoushka Shankar : that would be up to them
aaryan : i think anu..u are very snobbish..u dont care to
answer even one questin of mine Anoushka Shankar : ask me
something worth taking time with
vilausa : what kind of musical relations u have with Juben
Mehtha. Anoushka Shankar : He is a very close family friend
and I have only performed with him once. I did mydads first concerto along with
him and the London Symphony Orchestra a few years ago
Rahul : Which vegitable would resemble U
..? Anoushka Shankar : i don't know, a strawberry is coming
to my ming but that doesn't really answer your question. if you want to know
what fruit i am there's your answer
raviji : Have you listened seriously to the music of the
old masters? Anoushka Shankar : yes
Rahul : Any incident about any Fan of Urs
..? Anoushka Shankar : lots of beautiful fan mails, lots of
rude ones, one stalker, is that what you meant?Last questions now guys, this has
actually been fun but I need to get going soon
aaryan : annu....would you marry an american..or u think
that indian fits this job perfectly Anoushka Shankar : itr
really doesn't matter to me though i suppose it would be nice to be with an
indian when i started having children- i want them to grow up being comfortable
in my culture
vilausa : what is your most coveted honor? How u felt when
u r receving it.? What r u aiming at? Anoushka Shankar : the
British House of Coomons Shiled was amazing. But my favourite was representing
California in a nationwide Youth Conference. I knew it had nothing to do with
who my fathe was , also being Homecoming Queen!!!
Administrator : Enough of this juvenile vitriol, guys!
Rishi : With concerts, travels and school you must be
terribly busy! Do you have time to hang out and enjoy yourself? How do you
manage your time? Anoushka Shankar : i MAKE the time, it's
about compromise, on tour perhaps i don't get to hang out much but then in time
off i definitely make up for it!!
teddy : do you like travelling? Anoushka
Shankar : travelling is my favourite thing to do, seeing places
and meeting people are the best part of my job
Rahul : Thats was cool , Ano Strawberry , well am Rahul
Berry Anoushka Shankar : :)
Enti : Anu, how do you compare Indian values to western
values? Anoushka Shankar : I don't really think about it.
Respect for elders and family closeness touch me about Indian culture, but other
than that it's the individual I look at.
panx : what is your best memory, Anoushka?I mean like "top
of the world" or "at peace with the universe" kinda feeling? Anoushka
Shankar : I ain't sharing those with you!!!
Dude : Hey Administrator did you see what Anoushka did?
She is the one who is Juvenile Anoushka Shankar : What'd i
do????????And there's nothing wrong with childish
arung : What is your observation about people from
different countries? Anoushka Shankar : you find
sweethearts and jerks in every country
Administrator : What'd she do?
Vikas : ANoushka you are cute Anoushka
Shankar : thanks!
aaryan : anyway..annu..see you..and nice talking to you..i
will wait for two mins..to see if u are able answer my questions Anoushka
Shankar : okay mister, ask me one valid question and i'll answer
it. then i'm outta here.
panx : No sweet memories either...:( Anoushka
Shankar : hmmm, first crushes, standing ovations, chocolate sauce
and the way my mother's skin smells. happy?
Vikas : Whats the name of your half sister? Anoushka
Shankar : My father named her Geetali but she goes by the name her
mother gave her, Norah Jones.. You should actually watch out for her, she just
signed with Blue Note records and is coming out with an album. She sings
beautifully and plays piano
Vikas : Anoushka Why dont you perform here in seattle
area, you have a big fan following in microsoft. Should we attribute to young
indian Guys ;) Anoushka Shankar : I would love to perform in
Seattle sometime
aaryan : what do you think is the greater
contribution....shekar kappor winnig award for elizabeth..or leander paes
winning an olympic award..and why Anoushka Shankar : they
have each achieved immense success in their respective fields and I am happy for
both of them. I don't believe in comparing and contrasting in this way
ram1 : Anou, do u fight with ur Sis? Anoushka
Shankar : sometimes, like normal sisters!
Yahoo : Ginger or Mary ann? Anoushka
Shankar : what?
ram1 : What is ur fav food? India or
chinese..... Anoushka Shankar : indian, thai and italiancmon
Aaryan where's your question? I'm leaving....
Rahul : Ano , whats ur most treasured pocession
..? Anoushka Shankar : my mind
arung : Do you have siblings other than your half
sister? Anoushka Shankar : i had a half brother from my
dad's first marriage but he died when i was around ten. he was also a
sitarist
aaryan : dont you think what shekar kapporr did was for
class of people and and what paes did was for mass of people..so his contri was
greater Anoushka Shankar : No, they are both talented and
hard-working individuals
ana : What is your greatest weakness? Anoushka
Shankar : my impatience and my short temper
vila : do u go for pedicure and all in san
diego? Anoushka Shankar : no i take care of myself pretty
well
Yahoo : What's your fav Indian food? North Indian or
South? Anoushka Shankar : i like all the rich fatty mughlai
stuff and also adais, dosas and things, so both really
Vikas : Anoushka would you like to Act? Anoushka
Shankar : yeah maybe one day.......anywa everyone it was nice
chatting with you. take care and have fun!
Yahoo : Would you classify yourself as high maintenance?
Or does that apply to all girls? Anoushka Shankar : i'm a
lot to handle in some ways but i'm also pretty easy going. it goes from girl to
girl, and from guy to guy for that matter!
Vikas : Are you vegeterian Anoushka? Anoushka
Shankar : no way
Rishi : Take care Anoushka. I just want you to know I
respect and admire what you have done for our culture. You are an inspiration,
and you are very real down to earth gal, despite being a prodigy.PLease do come
see us in Seattle, we'd love to have you here Anoushka
Shankar : thank you! good grief it's hard to leave this chat, it
was more fun than i thought it would be. but i have to go now thanks for being
here and take care!anoushka
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