CARLOS SANTANA
For more than five decades - from Santana’s earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Francisco - Carlos Santana has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural, and geographical boundaries. To date, Santana has won ten GRAMMY Awards and three Latin GRAMMY Awards, with a record-tying nine GRAMMY Awards for a single project for 1999’s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Smooth”). He has received the Billboard Century Award (1996), was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), received the Billboard Latin Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement honor (2009), and was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award (2013). Among many other distinctions, Carlos Santana has been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time;” and has joined the Rolling Stones as one of only two bands to have an album reach the Top 10 in every decade since the 1960s. In 2018, he released his first MasterClass, and recently celebrated three epic milestones - the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking album Supernatural, the 50th anniversary of his legendary performance at Woodstock, and the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece Abraxas. His most recent album, the powerful, energy-infused Blessings and Miracles (2021) features collaborations with Rob Thomas, Chris Stapleton, Steve Winwood, and many others. Santana continues his residency at the House of Blues Las Vegas where he recently celebrated his 10th anniversary of performing in the intimate venue.
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KENNY LOGGINS
Kenny Loggins has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy® Awards. His songs have left his musical imprint on “the soundtrack of our lives.” Over the last four decades, his chart topping songs have included “This Is It,” “I’m Alright,” “Footloose," “Danger Zone,” and so many more.
In addition to his string of successful recordings, both solo and as a member of the famed duo Loggins & Messina, Kenny became the first major rock star to dedicate himself to recording music for children and families. His album Return to Pooh Corner remains the best-selling children’s album of the last 20 years. In 2016, he released his latest children’s project, the book Footloose (Moondance Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA, October 17, 2016), inspired by his 1985 Oscar® nominated and Grammy® Award-winning “Song of the Year.”
His song “Conviction of the Heart” was hailed as the "unofficial anthem of the environmental movement" by Al Gore, when Loggins performed it on Earth Day in 1995 at The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
In 2016, he was a recipient of the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award at the annual Chapin Awards hosted by WhyHunger. Later that year, The Guild of Music Supervisors honored the legendary singer, songwriter, and guitarist with the organization’s first-ever Icon Award for his outstanding achievements in film, television, and soundtracks. His gift for crafting deeply emotional music is unparalleled, and it's been a part of his life as long as he can remember. His generous support of countless local organizations has made a lasting impact on the causes that are close to his heart.
Through his work with Toys for Tots in Santa Barbara, CA, Kenny helped launch Unity Shoppe in 1988. An expansion of the Council of Christmas Cheer which previously only existed during the holiday season, Unity Shoppe expanded the program to exist year-round so individuals could volunteer their services to help low-income families, children, the elderly, sick, and disabled in Santa Barbara County. Kenny regularly lends his musical talent and generous heart to support youth-based programs like Make a Wish, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, and Little Kids Rock.
Kenny was honored with a Humanitarian of the Year Award from Little Kids Rock for his extensive commitment to children’s causes in 2016. In 2018, he helped re-open the original Notes for Notes (N4N) Studios at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara and United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County, giving over 600 kids each year access to a world of musical expression where they can record music, learn to play an instrument, and form a band with their friends for free.
In February 2021, Kenny released “The Great Adventure”, a brand-new single that is the theme song for San Diego Zoo Kids television network. The closed-circuit television adventure channel features programs produced primarily for medical facilities that serve pediatric patients and their families. The channel debuted at Rady Children’s Hospital in 2013 and offers family-friendly, animal-oriented stories that are both entertaining and educational, supporting Kenny’s core belief that “every child should experience the healing power of music.”
Loggins released At The Movies on June 12, 2021 – a Record Store Day exclusive vinyl that included some of his career-spanning soundtrack hits for the first time ever on one album, including "I'm Alright" (Caddyshack), "Footloose" (Footloose), "Danger Zone" (Top Gun), and many more.
His hit song “Danger Zone” was featured once again in Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick, which opened in theaters worldwide on May 27, 2022. The film has become the biggest release of the year earning over $1.5B in box offices globally and saw “Danger Zone” earning over 1M streams per day across streaming services at its peak.
On June 14, 2022, Hachette Books published Still Alright, Loggins’ long-awaited memoir. In Still Alright, Loggins gives fans a candid and entertaining perspective on his life and career as one of the most noteworthy musicians of the 1970s and ’80s.
For more information, please visit www.kennyloggins.com
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JAKE SHIMABUKURO
By now, if you know the ‘ukulele, you might know the name, the innovator who is Jake Shimabukuro. He has captivated audiences around the world with his unique and dynamic style. With his mother as his first teacher of the instrument, Jake embraced a deep love and respect for the `ukulele and has explored new and unexpected ways to push the boundaries of what was possible on the humble four-strings. Each album has showcased his mastery of the instrument and his ability to weave together diverse genres to create a cohesive and captivating musical experience. He is undoubtedly one of the most innovative and exciting musicians of his generation, changing the perception of the instrument itself and breaking barriers of what kind of music it is capable of.
Enter his newest, and most personal album yet. Grateful is a coming home for Jake. With a literal who’s who of Hawai`i based musicians, this collection of songs is performed live, in studio with Jake’s friends, contemporaries, mentors, and heroes – all kanikapila style in a return to his roots. Grateful is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed duets album with artists from Willie Nelson, Ziggy Marley and Bette Midler to Jimmy Buffett, Jack Johnson and Kenny Loggins. It was these collaborations that inspired him to go back to the beginning and play with the musicians who first inspired him as he was growing up in Hawai`i. Jake shares a connection with each and every artist on this album.
It all started with an after-concert hang with fellow musician Mark Yamanaka. Jake asked Mark if he would ever want to record something together. Ironically, Mark was the first to agree and one of the last to record, “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” which would be one of the many epic collaborations on the long-awaited album.
In addition to his impeccable musicianship, Jake is also a gifted storyteller, weaving together musical narratives that draw listeners in and leave them spellbound. He wanted to bring the power of each artist’s stories to this album.
Once the musicians decided on the song that they wanted to record, Shimabukuro along with producer and engineer Grande and Fletcher, worked on a plan on how to best capture the live collaboration. In the studio, the musicians played through the song a couple of times and then Michael would press record. All live in the studio and tracked in the same room together, just like the old days.
It was coincidence that brought him together with Hawaiian music legend Henry Kapono. Seated next to each other on a recent flight, Henry shared stories from his “hanabata” (childhood) days, the two talking story about growing up in Hawai`i and how music formed their lives. Jake’s humble nature would have previously prevented him from approaching Henry for a collaboration, but getting to know the man on a personal level gave him the confidence to ask. Jake wanted each artist to choose the song and Henry Kapono chose the iconic, “Sailin’.”
When Jake was at Ka`imukī High School, he would never imagine having the opportunity to perform with the musicians on this album. It was there where he began his longtime friendship with John Feary, nephew of the late Mackey Feary from the legendary Kalapana band. John sought him out after a performance at the school’s welcome back assembly. As Jake began playing his `ukulele, with his friend holding a microphone in front of him, none of the students were listening. He chose Ohta-san’s iconic song, “Bodysurfing,” a song he learned from his teacher, Tami Akiyama from Roy Sakuma Studios. As he slowly walked closer and closer towards the microphone, the sound of Jake’s Kamaka `ukulele started to echo throughout the gymnasium, and the crowd of over 1500 students fell silent until the end, when they suddenly erupted in cheers. It was a moment that the shy musician would never forget and the beginning of Jake’s journey in music performance.
John Feary approached Jake afterwards and they began a daily ritual of jamming after school. Other students joined in the kanikapila sessions and the song “Friends,” composed by John and inspired by a friend who had passed away, was always on the afterschool set list. Having never recorded the song, Jake and John share this special piece of nostalgia on Grateful for the first time.
Herb Ohta Jr. was one of Jake’s big influences, as his teacher and the son of the legendary Ohta-san, one of the biggest inspirations for Jake’s passion for the ‘ukulele. Jake has always been a fan of Ohta Jr.’s polished performance style and melodic sense and the two were lucky enough to collaborate during the pandemic. They chose to arrange a medley of two songs: one by Queen Lili`uokalani (Ahe Lau Makani) and another by Mekia Kealakai (Wai’alae). The one-take recording is beautiful. Like his father, Herb Jr. plays with a low 4th string, which is a nice contrast from Jake’s high 4th string. Together, their sound is rich and full.
Chris Kamaka and Bryan Tolentino are two musicians who’ve had incredible influence on Jake’s career. They were in fact the first to invite Pure Heart, Jake’s first band, to perform in front of a live audience at the Sheraton Waikiki during Ku’uipo Kumukahi’s concert.
Chris Kamaka, with his son Christopher Kamaka, Jr., chose to record a song written by Eddie and Myrna Kamae called “Dreams,” a tune that Chris would sing to his kids when they were little. Jake heard Chris sing it for the first time in Japan, a moment he remembers bringing him to tears. Chris and his son bring that same emotion to the recording on Grateful. “Eddie Kamae was the first ‘ukulele virtuoso and paved the way for all of us. It is such an honor to record a song composed by Uncle Eddie, one of the greatest players of the instrument with Chris and Christopher Jr. of the Kamaka family, one of the greatest makers of the instrument.
Bryan Tolentino, who Jake refers to as one of the true ambassadors of the ‘ukulele, promotes the instrument everywhere he goes – through word and deed. In what promises to be one of the most fun and spontaneous songs on the album, the two recorded “Māori Brown Eyes,” a classic tune that has been recorded by some of the greats like Peter Moon and Troy Fernandez. This is meant to be played in true kanikapila style and that’s how Jake and Bryan approached it in the studio – coming together with no plan, they jammed their way through it and share that joyful energy in the performance. “Like Bryan always says, ‘Ready, fire, aim.’”
When Del Beazley isn’t singing, he’s usually cracking jokes. The witty, kind-hearted jokester had Jake laughing all the way through his first tour of Japan with Bryan Tolentino, Chris Kamaka and Asa Young (Side Order Band). The pair recorded “Kahalu’u Night” in what Jake can only call magical. Del’s phrasing and the space he gives the music can only be captured when recording in this free form style. Jake recalls having multiple “chicken-skin” moments during the recording.
The track with Nathan Aweau, was originally recorded for Hawaiian Airlines as a music video for their in-flight entertainment programming. “Kawika,” which means David in Hawaiian, was originally recorded by the band, Sunday Manoa, and later the Ka`au Crater Boys. This iconic piece honors King David Kalākaua, also known as the Merrie Monarch. “When I was a kid, this was the song that I wanted to learn because it had the coolest intro. I sometimes think of it as the ‘ukulele equivalent to guitar players wanting to learn the intro to “Stairway to Heaven.” Nathan Aweau is a monster musician, and it’s always so inspiring to hear and see him play. It was an honor to record this with him.”
John Cruz’s original composition, “Song for Sin” was something the multi-talented instrumentalist and singer/songwriter had always wanted to record. Its Spanish-flamenco sound lends itself perfectly to the pairing of Jake and John’s virtuosic playing styles. “John just plays everything with so much soul. It doesn’t matter if he’s singing, grooving on the bass or strumming away on the guitar… you always know it’s John Cruz.”
Jake has been a longtime fan of Raiatea Helm. They’ve known each other for years and have collaborated on several occasions. Jake was surprised when she decided on a Japanese pop song for their duet. “Stars,’ by Nakashima Mika, is a wonderful addition to the project, and it truly showcases a side of Raiatea that I’ve never seen or heard before. Her phrasing and pronunciation of the Japanese lyrics was sheer perfection – you would never know that she doesn’t even speak the language. She sounds amazing as always.”
Another Japanese thread weaves through the project in the song recorded with Ron Artis II. While touring together, Jake asked Ron if he could write some lyrics to one of his original songs. An incredibly talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Ron brings so much soul to their recording of “Ichigo Ichie,” which means, “once in a lifetime.” A Japanese phrase that reminds Jake to be present and grateful because each moment in life will never happen again in the exact same way.
One of Jake’s dearest friends and favorite singers is Pōmaika`i Keawe. In addition to her incredible musical talent, Jake is always so inspired to see how much time she dedicates to local non-profit organizations, lifting up the community through outreach opportunities. Pomaika`i had always wanted to record “Ho`okahi Akua,” as a tribute to her late grandmother, the legendary Aunty Genoa Keawe. It was Aunty Genoa who arranged the music with the help of her friend Malia Craver who provided the Hawaiian translation. They had originally recorded the song during the pandemic and both were in tears by the end of it. Fate would have it that the song had to be re-recorded and the recent track captured the more hopeful and joyful feelings they now share.
Jake and his manager Van sought out newcomer and “America’s Got Talent” contestant Connor Johnson after seeing him on the show. They all had lunch at Happy Days in Ka`imuki one day and was moved by Connor’s passion for songwriting and storytelling. Connor came into the studio with his original song, “I’ll Be There,” and it was an instant chicken skin moment. “Connor is so talented and it was an honor to work with him in the studio.”
Jake has always wanted to work with Kimié Miner, a force of nature who dedicates so much of her time to the local community, not only in music, but in education for the children of Hawai`i. It is this same enthusiasm that she approached the recording of “Kawaikini” and the joy she brings to the music is awe-inspiring. “Kimié is such a great leader in the music community and she does so much positive work in mentoring the next generation of artists.”
Jake speaks of Brother Noland as one of his musical inspirations. Jake’s father used to take him down to see Brother Noland perform in Waikiki and his soulful voice and conviction captivated Jake at a very young age. Their duet of “Hualālai” takes you on a journey back in time.
After performing live with Kawika Kahiapo at Jack Johnson’s Kokua Festival, Jake was inspired to record with the iconic artist. Kawika chose a sweet and heartfelt rendition of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” his deep and resonant voice is the perfect complement to Jake’s melodic phrasing.
Fiji, an awe-inspiring vocalist, is as raw and authentic as they come. His genre-bending approach to music takes listeners through reggae, soul, gospel, and R&B. Jake was surprised when he chose “Rusty Old Steampipes,” a classic song written by Warren Ka`ahanui while serving time in prison. Jake recalls playing this song with friends in the stairwells of Kaimuki High School. “I was so thrilled when Fiji agreed to record with me. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to make music with him. He is truly a genius.”
Jake felt like a fish out of water when he stepped on stage in front of the Honolulu Symphony in 2015, now known as the Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra, to perform Dr. Byron Yasui’s ‘Ukulele Concerto, conducted by Maestro JoAnn Falletta. Jake recalls Concertmaster Ignace “Iggy” Jang who encouraged him with non-verbal cues throughout the 36-minute piece. Jake said that was one of his most inspiring musical experiences of his career. The encores on both evenings were “Pianoforte,” an original piece by Jake, performed as a duet with Iggy on violin. This was the natural choice for their collaboration and one that has always been a favorite of Jake’s wife Kelly. “Ever since she heard Iggy and I perform the piece, she kept asking me when we were going to record it together.” The recording truly captures Iggy’s incredible sensitivity and tone as the two instruments melt together in this beautiful and haunting rendition.
Another expert at his craft is classically trained guitarist Jeff Peterson. Having fallen in love with Hawaiian culture and kī hōʻalu, or slack key guitar, Jeff is constantly pushing musical boundaries, experimenting with his color palette and virtuosic arrangements. Years ago, while performing together at the `Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Festival hosted by the Kahilu Theatre, Jeff and Jake performed a memorable version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The experience of the performance was so meaningful to Jake, that when the opportunity came up to record a song for this project, there was no other choice.
Going back to his roots – Jake teamed up with former bandmates Jon Yamasato and Lopaka Colón, of “Pure Heart.” Though, they performed it many times together, the group never had the opportunity to record, “Can You Believe,” a song written by Jake for the group. “I felt like a teenager again being back in the studio with Jon and Lopaka. Just like old times…”
While Jake loves paying homage to the past, he also is excited about trying new things. During the pandemic, Jake went for long periods without playing the ‘ukulele or doing anything creative. At the end of 2020, Jake had a conversation with longtime friend and videographer, Tracey Niimi, and abstract visual artist, Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides. This virtual meeting would eventually take him on a journey through Hawai`i Island as part of a commissioned work to help create an art installation at the Hilo International Airport. Kristie and Tracey wanted to explore nature for inspiration and had the idea to collaborate with Jake to compose a song to inspire the visual piece. The three of them toured tropical locations on Hawai`i island, documenting the trip with amazing video footage that would serve as the basis for the five-panel installation. This project, now known as Abstract Collab, really opened Jake’s mind on ways to push the boundaries on collaborative creativity and will culminate in a music video combining the different mediums in one vision. “Eyes Of The I`iwi” is the song that came out of this unique experience.
The title track of the album, “Grateful,” is an original song by Justin Kawika Young. The two friends toured together on the mainland and the simple message from the chorus struck a chord with Jake each night as they performed it.www.jakeshimabukuro.com
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CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA
Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso drummer whose artistry spans the realms of jazz and rock. As a bandleader and as a musician, Cindy is a sound innovator with a passion for pushing creative boundaries and exploring movement and change. She is as known for the nuances and colors she brings to her beats and fills as she is for the sheer power of her soulful playing. “Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. Cindy Blackman Santana is among the few who can,” writes Mike Zwerin for the International Herald Tribune.
Cindy has been creating magnificent musical time and space since the beginning of her career as a busking street performer in New York City in the ‘80s through the present day, touring the globe and making albums at the top of her game – including her latest, the critically acclaimed Another Lifetime (2010). In addition to collaborating onstage and in-studio with her own group – also know as Another Lifetime – she has toured and recorded with artists including Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, Joe Henderson, Buckethead, Don Pullen, Hugh Masakela, and Angela Bofill. From 1993 to 2007, she was also the drummer in Lenny Kravitz’s band, through multiple world tours and hit albums.
Most recently, Cindy has been sitting in with Santana on the road. “They have a great band vibe. It’s nice to play with people who have grown together, built a sound together, and stayed together,” she says. “When that happens, you can create so many different levels of communications. That’s what they’ve done, and I love interacting with it.”
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Photo credit: Jimmy Bruch
NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN
"Among a handful of the most innovative, original and influential artists of our time, Narada Michael Walden’s stature as an authentic musical renaissance man is a matter of record."
Producing Hits for Artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin (including the platinum “Freeway of Love.”), Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Lionel Ritchie, Lisa Fischer, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck and The Temptations, the EMMY and multi-GRAMMY winner (Producer, Album and Song of The Year) has been at the helm of hit music that spans decades. His music flows freely from pop, rock and soul, to the rarified realms of jazz, fusion and world music. Walden was an integral part of introducing Whitney Houston, (producing 6 of her 7 number one hits to break Michael Jackson’s record) and Mega-star Mariah Carey to millions of fans worldwide, producing and writing their breakthrough hits that first brought these divas to the spotlight. Billboard Magazine honored him as one of the Top Ten Producers of all time.
As impressive a production and songwriting resume as Narada Michael Walden has assembled over the past thirty years and counting, he has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist in his own right. Beginning as a drummer first with the pioneering Mahavishnu Orchestra following Bill Cobham at 21 years old).
Narada also toured with Jeff Beck, Tommy Bolin, and Weather Report. Through eleven acclaimed solo recordings, along the way he has branched into a wide range of sonic arenas. Walden’s music includes groundbreaking soundtrack work on such blockbuster films as The Bodyguard, Free Willy, Beverly Hills Cops II, 9 ½ Weeks and Stuart Little to the EMMY-winning “One Moment In Time,” the theme to the 1988 Olympic Games.
The list goes on, but the artistry of Narada Michael Walden is about more than charts positions and record sales. There is a powerful spiritual component at the heart of everything this richly gifted artist undertakes, an attuned and intuitive approach with a deep appreciation for music’s transforming power. Simply put, the artistry of Narada Michael Walden gets to the heart of matter, about matters of the heart.
It’s a commitment that reaches into the philanthropic arena as well, where Walden consistently lends his time and talent to causes ranging from the Cancer Society to funding music programs in the nation’s schools through his own foundation. For over 7 years running he has served as Music Director for the Rainforest Foundation Concert at Carnegie Hall, the high profile conversancy benefit spearheaded by Sting and Trudie Styler that has featured the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel, Ravi Shankar, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Lada Gaga, Bruno Mars and, of course, Sting himself.
His “Narada Michael Walden Foundation” delivers its services through a network of non-profit organizations with proven records of success in youth education and community empowerment. The Foundation also endows scholarships for aspiring musicians and enables the stars of tomorrow by offering emerging young artists from around the world access to recording facilities, coaching and production support.
In 2013, Narada established his own Independent Label, Tarpan Records and released 2 new solo projects, Thunder 2013 and Rising Sun. In Addition to his own projects Narada is activley signing and releasing up and coming international artists. New Music coming soon from Tarpan Records
LIGHT UP THE BLUES
Neil Young, The Rides (featuring Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Barry Goldberg), Jakob Dylan, The War On Drugs, Nikka Costa, Chris Stills and emcee Jack Black, plus many special guests, returned to Los Angeles on Saturday, May 21 at The Hollywood Pantages Theatre for the 4th Light Up The Blues Concert—An Evening of Music to Benefit Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. Hosted once again by Kristen and Stephen Stills, the event featured performances by three artists with autism: Nikki Nik, Soulshocka, and Kyle Cousins. This year’s sponsors included Toyota, Guess Foundation, and Roland.
The May 21 event spotlighted Light It Up Blue, Autism Speaks’ annual global awareness and fundraising campaign, which is celebrated by the international autism community on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day, and throughout Autism Awareness Month in April. Each year, Light Up The Blues celebrates the many gifts of individuals with autism, while supporting Autism Speaks in their mission to raise awareness and support their successful advocacy on behalf of all those who navigate through the journey of Autism. Proceeds from the Light Up The Blues Concert will go towards Autism Speaks’ research and advocacy efforts for families and individuals impacted by the disorder.
GINGGER SHANKAR
“It is an artist’s duty to reflect the times in which we live.” Gingger Shankar points to this famous quote by the legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone as being both an inspiration and a perfect summation of her own personal mission statement. “As an artist, I’m constantly inspired by what’s going on around me, socially and politically, and I try to jump in any way I can,” Shankar says. “And hopefully, in my own way, I can help be a part of change.”
Shankar is affecting change in a myriad of ways, and it’s safe to say that we haven’t seen a multi-talent of her caliber in some time. Singer, songwriter, virtuoso violinist, film composer, documentary producer, CEO and social activist – whatever hat she’s wearing, her goal never waivers: to tackle any challenge head-on and prevail.
“It’s amazing that we still live in a time when women are told they can’t do certain things,” she says. “So when a young girl comes up to me and says, ‘I want to do what you’re doing,’ that means I’ve made a difference. Or when I premiered the film I co-produced, Akicita: The Battle of Standing Rock, at Sundance, and I saw people crying and I realized that the film was going to stand the test of time, it’s another moment when you say, ‘OK, I’m using what talent I have and I’m giving back. To me, that’s what it’s all about.”
As the only female in the world who has mastered the double violin (a 10-string instrument that covers the entire range of the orchestra’s double bass, cello, viola and violin), Shankar already inhabits her own niche in the musical world. One might assume that she came by her talents naturally – born in Los Angeles, she grew up in India amid a family of musicians: her father, Dr. L. Subramaniam, was a touring violinist; her mother and grandmother, Viji Subramaniam and Lakshmi Shankar, both classical singers; and her great uncle, Ravi Shankar, was the internationally acclaimed sitar star – but she went kicking and screaming to music and dance boarding school.
“I rebelled at first,” she recalls, “It wasn’t until my mother passed away that I thought, ‘I need to do this.’ She never really got to be the artist she wanted to be – women were held back in India – so I picked up the cause and moved forward.”
Her family bounced back and forth between India and L.A., but when she was in junior high, Shankar moved with her family to Los Angeles permanently. It was during her formative teenage years that she began to analyze and reconcile the sometimes conflicting social and cultural influences she was experiencing. “I felt as if I didn’t quite fit in anywhere,” she remembers. “In some ways, I wasn’t Indian enough, but I also wasn’t quite American enough.” By the time she struck out on her own as a musician in her early 20s, Shankar decided to follow her own path. She started singing opera, debuting with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and performing in venues such as
Carnegie Hall; she accepted an invitation from Billy Corgan to play violin on a Smashing Pumpkins tour; she worked with artists as diverse as Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Trent Reznor, Steve Vai and Katy Perry. “This is what happens when you stop trying to limit yourself,” she notes. “You realize that there are no limits.”
By her own accounts, Shankar got into film composing “by accident” – her music was used as a temp piece in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, which led to Gibson and film composer John Debney calling upon her services for additional work. “It was daunting at first,” she says, “but it was an incredible experience, and it stretched the boundaries of what I thought I could do.” Shankar’s music in the picture so impressed the folks at the Sundance Composers Lab that they invited her to the workshop. Soon, she was collaborating with James Newton Howard on the score for Charlie Wilson’s War, and more films followed – Maryam Keshavarz’s Circumstance, Sean Hackett’s Homecoming and Amit Kumar’s Monsoon Shootout, among others.
A longtime advocate for girls’ education, Shankar leaped at the opportunity to score the CNN film We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World, in which the First Lady, Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto and CNN's Isha Sesay journeyed to Morocco and Liberia to meet young women overcoming incredible obstacles to change their lives. “What an extraordinary experience,” Shankar enthuses. “It premiered at the White House, and they brought in girls from around the world to tell their stories. At that moment, I thought, ‘Art and activism can truly meet. You can mix all of these things together beautifully and really make people pay attention.”
One day Shankar was going through some scrapbooks her grandmother had given her before her passing, and she was realized that there was a story that had to be told – “how my grandmother and mother contributed to the explosion of Indian music in the world.” It became her passion project and grew into the documentary short and multimedia project Nari. In Sanskrit, “nari” means both “woman” and “sacrifice” – two themes that were evinced powerfully and emotionally as Shankar, serving as producer and director, explored how her mother and grandmother fought to overcome numerous challenges artistically and personally in their homeland as they helped to establish Indian music in the West.
Screenings of Nari were so successful that Shankar is now working on a full-length version of the picture. “It’s a big story, and it’s an important one,” she says. “I guess you could say I’m mixing art and activism in a deeply personal way. But the fact is, I owe so much to my mother and grandmother. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for those two women.”
More films are on the way from Shankar, who recently formed Firestarter Films with director Cody Lucich with an eye toward creating works focused on social justice, indigenous rights and activism across multiple artistic platforms. Their first production, Akicita: The Battle of Standing Rock, which chronicled the Native American occupation at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North and South Dakota in 2016-17, galvanized audiences at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Shankar, who threw herself into an all-hands-on-deck roll during the filming (everything from handing out supplies to working a camera), hails the picture as “the only true account of Standing Rock, because it was told from an inside perspective, through the eyes of a Native American.”
While she’s making her own films, Shankar continues to work as film composer (she’s currently scoring Vulture Club, directed by Maryam Keshavarz and starring Susan Sarandon), and she’s using her clout to open doors for other multimedia musicians. Little Girl and the Robot is a full-service, artist-driven production company she founded that specializes in music production, supervision, sound design/FX, and post audio production. “We’ve got a great group of indie composers that banded together to make music for commercials and TV, as well as other vehicles,” she explains. “We’re looking forward to growing and taking on as many projects as we can.”
Creating music in a studio is one avenue of expression, but Shankar also revels in the sensation she gets from live performances. For the past few years she’s led her own band, Beautiful Imperfection, that features multi-instrumentalist Vivek Maddala and drummer Carlo Ribaux. “We play clubs and have the best time,” she says. “That’s still my favorite thing to do, getting in front of people and playing music.” Maddala and Ribaux join Shankar on the forthcoming soundtrack album of Nari (her debut for Concord Records), which she describes as “a little jazzy and electronic, with some Indian samples.” At the same time, she’s completing a more pop-oriented project with noted songwriters Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera, Pink), Devin Parker and Dan Crean, among others.
She returns to the Nina Simone quote that fuels her spirit – “It is an artist’s duty to reflect the times in which we live.” It’s a message she plans to take to young women however she can. “I’ve done TED Talks and some speaking engagements, and I definitely want to do more,” she says. “Girls’ education and empowerment are so important to me. We’ve taken important baby steps recently, but there’s been some very troubling steps backward, too. Some of the problems that I’ve seen in India actually exist in the States – these are worldwide issues. I want to let girls know that my circumstances growing up weren’t ideal. I’ve had people tell me I couldn’t do things. But I went forward and did everything that scared the crap out of me. I’m a testament to the idea that, when people tell you ‘no,’ you’re the only person who can say ‘yes.’ And then other people will. You just have to be yourself, and you’re the only one who can do it.”
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STEPHEN STILLS
Legendary singer-songwriter and guitarist Stephen Stills is the only artist ever to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two times in one night—in 1997, for Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, and Nash (CSN). One of rock music's most enduring figures, Stills is also a member of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, a BMI Music Icon (with CSN), and has a career now spanning six decades, multiple solo works, and four hugely influential groups—Manassas and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (CSNY), in addition to the Buffalo Sprinfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Most recently, Stills toured solo and with The Rides, his blues-rock trio with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg behind their debut album, Can’t Get Enough. In 2013, he released a four-CD anthology called Carry On, produced by Graham Nash and Joel Bernstein, capturing the remarkable scope of his career. This year, he is on tour, solo and with Crosby, Stills & Nash.
JENNIFER SARAN
A soulful, heartfelt singer with a passion for beautiful melody, Jennifer Saran creates moving, thought-provoking music which draws from her unique and powerful experiences.
Featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Carlos Santana and Narada Michael Walden, Jennifer Saran’s current single ‘Wake Up‘ is a thought-provoking, heartfelt appeal to the world to recognise and address inequality and impoverishment, a cause incredibly personal and important to all the legendary artists involved.
Recorded and produced at Tarpan Studios by number 1 hit producer Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin), the proceeds from this incredible track will be donated to the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
Pre-order here to help make a difference: http://apple.co/2ezpDUZ