MUMBAI: Coming together for Earth Day in a groundbreaking musical collaboration are internationally acclaimed musician and violin virtuoso Gingger Shankar and Inuit throat singer and member of Juno Award-nominated band Silla and Rise Charlotte Qamaniq. Together they have reimagined Sheila Chandra's iconic track "Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean" into a mesmerizing love song to nature. This is the first time the Inuit throat singing tradition and South Indian classical vocal tradition have come together. “Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean” comes out on April 22 via Naughty Horses Records and is the first single from Shankar’s upcoming full-length acapella record.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RPwijltyuKU&si=Vs43E64n6IGGhtDY

Shankar, celebrated for her film composing work (The Passion of the Christ, Charlie Wilson’s War, And She Could Be Next) and mastery of the rare double violin - she is the only female in the world to master it - lends her innovative blend of classical Indian and contemporary influences to “Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean” while Qamaniqweaves her mesmerizing throat singing, most recently heard on the score of HBO Max’s True Detective: Night Country, throughout.

Qamaniq hails from Nunavut and has worked to put traditional throat singing into a modern context and keep it thriving despite the historical and modern threats posed by colonialism.

She grew up with the Inuit legend of Sedna, the sea goddess, and the duo thought it was a fitting story that adds depth and universality to the original song, creating a poetic narrative that speaks to the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment.

The story of Sedna revolves around the consequences of disrespecting the environment and the importance of restoring balance and harmony.

Qamaniq says of Sedna, “She lives at the bottom of the ocean with extremely long hair. She was betrayed by her father and thrown into the sea to die. This act of betrayal turned her powerful and she became the mother of all beings in the sea. She is who we pay respects to, she controls the weather and monitors our behavior. If we displease her, she grows angry and will keep game animals in her hair to cause bad hunting. All she wanted was the love and protection of her father, and she continues to want love between all humans but has the wrath of the most powerful storm. I think of her when we disrespect the environment; it would be fitting to make an ode to her on Earth Day.”

The entire track is comprised of only Shankar and Qamaniq’s voices spanning four and a half octaves.

To complement the story, Shankar uses svaras - sanskritmusical notes which are simultaneously a breath and a vowel, with each note representing animals including peacocks, herons, and elephants. Charlotte uses throat songs that also imitate and interpret animals and nature - seagulls, geese, the sound of the wind, the sound of the river, the polar bear, and the wolf. Together, the duo creates a geographically and culturally fluid sound melding Indian and Inuit culture and language through animal calls. With it, their voices create an orchestra that grows into an ocean of sounds.

"Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean" was written by Steve Coe, Martin Smith, and Sheila Chandra and originally released in 1981 as the debut single by British band Monsoon with Sheila Chandra on vocals. It became a cult hit, reaching No. 12 in the United Kingdom, and Chandra became the first Indian woman with a pop hit in the U.K.

Gingger Shankar expresses her excitement about the project: "This collaboration is about telling our own stories and preserving culture, traditions, and wisdom. In blending Sheila Chandra's timeless and iconic melody with the Inuit story of Sedna, we wanted to create a musical experience that transcends cultural boundaries, connects people on a deep, emotional level, and celebrates the beauty of nature while underscoring the urgency of preserving it for future generations."

A short film produced by Little Indian Girl Collective and directed by shadow puppet artist Maisie O’Brien will be released as a companion to the song later this spring.

Little Indian Girl Collective is led by women, female-identifying, LGBTQIA2S, and globally Indigenous folks who embody revolution through art. This project brings together musicians and artists from diverse backgrounds, showcasing the power of artistic collaboration in fostering understanding and appreciation for different cultures.

Shankar and Qamaniq’s release of "Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean" comes out April 22 via Naughty Horses Records and will be available on all major music platforms. Music lovers, environmental advocates, and culture and language enthusiasts are invited to experience this innovative musical journey that transcends genres and borders.