Interview with L. Shankar (Tape 1, Side A)

Title

Subject

Indian classical music; world music; musical collaboration; Shakti; Peter Gabriel; Bruce Springsteen; Human Rights Now! Tour; ethnomusicology; violin innovation; artist biography

Description

This item is a transcript of an audio interview with violinist and composer L. Shankar. The conversation covers Shankar’s early musical training, his work in Indian classical music, his collaborations with Western artists including Peter Gabriel, John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, and Bruce Springsteen, and the development of the group Shakti. The interview also explores his teaching background, his experiences with musical politics in India, his creation of the 10-string stereophonic double violin, and his involvement in the Human Rights Now! concert tour. The transcript includes reflections on musical influence, improvisation, world music, and Shankar’s personal and professional history.

Creator

Interview conducted by an unidentified interviewer; primary speaker: L. Shankar

Source

Audio recording, “Tape 1 Side A” (original interview tape)

Publisher

Cross-Cultural Dance Resources Collections

Date

Circa mid- to late-1980s

Contributor

L. Shankar (interviewee); interviewer (unnamed)

Rights

Copyright held by Cross-Cultural Dance Resources Collections. This transcript is provided for research and educational use. Permission from the rights holder is required for reproduction, publication, or distribution beyond fair use.

Relation

Part of a series of interviews or recordings related to L. Shankar

Format

Text; 1 digital file (text/plain, transcript of audio cassette)

Language

English

Type

WAV file

Identifier

Tape 1 Side A.wav

Coverage

India; United States; United Kingdom

URL

Collection

Sharon Lowen Collection

Tags

10-string violin, accompaniment, artistic freedom, artistic identity, Asian diaspora music, bhangra, British Asian music, Bruce Springsteen, calluses from drums, Carnatic music, Chernobyl contamination case, classical training, collaboration, concert touring, corruption in arts, creative process, cross-cultural collaboration, cultural exchange, double violin, emotional experiences, ethnomusicology, family musical lineage, feedback issues, Frank Zappa, fusion music, global music, Hindustani music, Human Rights Now tour, improvisation, Indian classical music, Indian festivals, instrument design, instrumentation, John McLaughlin, Last Temptation of Christ, live performance, loss of parent, music career challenges, music education, music politics in India, musical influence, musical innovation, musical space, musical upbringing, nepal, North Indian music, outdoor concerts, performance practice, peter gabriel, pop music, quick studio work, radio competitions India, Rajiv Gandhi, recording industry, returning to India, rock music, Shakti, soundtracks, South Indian music, stereophonic violin, studio recording, talking heads, Times of India, Turiyananda Sangeet, Vikku Vinayakram, violin, vocal music, Wesleyan University, world music, world tours, Zakir Hussain

Citation

Interview conducted by an unidentified interviewer; primary speaker: L. Shankar, “Interview with L. Shankar (Tape 1, Side A),” Cross-Cultural Dance Resources Collections at Arizona State University, accessed October 14, 2026, https://ccdrcollections.omeka.net/items/show/1111.