‘REPRODUCTION’ is not just a musical album. It’s first and foremost an immersive, authentic artistic experience, the work of an enlightened creative channelling years of experience and cultural turmoil into thirteen majestic tracks. Shilpa Ananth is the creative in question, and ‘REPRODUCTION’ is her latest offering. Blending her South-Indian roots with modern Western elements, she offers a meaningful and nuanced record, aiming at scrambling societal pressures and empowering the upcoming generations.
From a sonic standpoint, the level of sonic research is incredible. Jumping from traditional Indian stylings to Western-style sampling, with a healthy dose of leftfield electronica, everything screams eclecticism, resulting in an album that feels universal and inclusive, yet incredibly specific and niche.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Ananth to find out more about her artistry and origins… Interview below!
Hey Shilpa, how is it going? Welcome to Mesmerized, we are honoured to be able to chat with such an inspiring artistic figure!
Hi! Thank you for having me here, I’m so excited to be featured on Mesmerized.
Your current work is the result of a long journey; What first drew you to making music?
I just cannot imagine doing anything else. I have tried, trust me, but there’s a voice inside that constantly tells me this is what I need to be doing with my life, that I am here to empower other voices, and live out my life purpose through my art and personal expression. I started singing at the age of 3 and haven’t looked back since!
Reading your biography, I noticed you have been studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Quite a renowned institution. Going back to your days in the school, were you more into artistic creation or technical performance?
Definitely a good balance of both while I was at school, although as a person I am much more inclined towards artistic creation. I like to learn all the rules and then figure out how to follow them in my own way.
You have collaborated with a wide number of legendary musicians and performers. Is there any in particular that has shaped you for the better?
This is a tough one, I can’t really pick one as I’ve learnt so much at different times of my career and life from each person, and it has felt like they were sent to guide me or give me signs in exactly the way I needed at that particular time. However, if I really had to just pick one legendary musician I would say A.R.Rahman, as he has sparked my creativity and imagination from a very young age, and has always dared to be different from all the mainstream, commercial sounds. So though the actual list of those who inspired me or shaped me for the better is pretty long, he’s at the top of it always.
‘REPRODUCTION’ is your latest album. Quite a triumph, the record feels eclectic and modern, yet firmly planted in tradition. There’s a great deal of enlightened sound design and artistic research into it. What’s your relationship with it? What does it mean to you?
The title track ‘Reproduction’, is a statement I am making about how as a woman I do not need to married, or have a physical baby, along with all the milestones of what is considered ‘success’ by South Asian culture and society in general, in order to find value or a place for myself within it. I am the mother of my music, each song is my baby, and I will live my life the way I choose, reproducing through my art.
I love the way you are able to blend Indian references with Western stylings. In fact, the Western world has been hard at work sampling Indian music, especially when it comes to leftfield electronica (Four Tet, Daphni, among others). I imagine that for you it’s more of a personal feature. Did you have a particular goal in mind for the album?
With this album, I’m working hard to take down these types of stereotypes and cultural expectations that are burdened upon us from a young age, and am hoping that it creates a change from all the pressures that are considered a norm currently. I’ve pushed boundaries in terms of genres, languages, influences, styles, and artistic expression, and truly hope it impacts and helps someone to be brave enough to follow their own voice, their own path, and seek their true life purpose after they give it a listen.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
I prefer locking myself up and writing on my own at first, and usually only invite more ears into the mix when I’m ready to share something tangible that I’m somewhat happy with.
If you had to recommend us a track from your album as a ‘starting point’ in approaching your artistic universe, what would it be?
‘Enge Nee’ from my debut album ‘Indian Soul’ is a great one to begin with, as it talks about finding my artistic voice and touches upon my usual themes of identity, understanding the meaning of life, and seeking a sense of personal empowerment. The song also fuses English and Tamil, as well as genres such as Jazz and Soul with my unique Indian melodic style, and I think it’s a beautiful preview into all the madness of my world.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
So many cool things have already happened this year what with the new album and music video release, and a massive India tour, and I’m hoping that this energy continues to manifest more opportunities in the form of live performances at music festivals, international tours, and as a featured or headlining act.
