“New Dawn” closes Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn—the second release in Anoushka Shankar’s three‑part mini‑album cycle that charts a metaphorical journey from dusk to sunrise. Written with composer‑producer Peter Raeburn, the six‑track record was conceived during an intensive few‑day session in California and explores the “womblike power of darkness” that precedes first light. The EP arrived on April 5, 2024 and later earned Shankar her eleventh GRAMMY nomination (Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album).
Why this performance is special
Single‑take, no click‑track: Captured live at De Singel Arts Centre in Antwerp, the performance unfolds in one uninterrupted pass, allowing the ensemble’s subtle tempo shifts and dynamic interplay to breathe naturally.
Expanded sonic palette: Shankar’s sitar converses with clarinet, South‑Asian percussion, drum‑kit and upright bass, blending Indian classical phrasing with jazz‑inflected improvisation.
Cinematic treatment: Director Ali Clifton and cinematographer Jack Maddison used roaming Steadicam shots to mirror the music’s slow tilt toward brightness, while a discrete live‑mix team preserved the hall’s spacious acoustics.
Musicians
Anoushka Shankar – sitar, artistic direction
Arun Ghosh – clarinet
Pirashanna Thevarajah – mridangam, kanjira & hand‑percussion
Sarathy Korwar – drums & konnakol
Tom Farmer – double bass
Live arrangement by Danny Keane
Production
Cinematography – Jack Maddison
Steadicam – Horia Cojan
Focus – Josh Tue
Front‑of‑house & recording – Julian Hepple, John Duckett
Live mix – James Campbell
Lighting – Eric Collignon
Sitar tech – Niklaas Janssens
Tour manager – Saloni Thakkar
Filmed with the support of De Singel Arts Centre, Antwerp.
Released by LEITER Verlag / outer/most.
Listen / purchase
Full EP & high‑resolution audio:
https://leiter.lnk.to/BeforeDawn
For scores, tour dates and more on the forthcoming Chapter III: We Return to Light, visit https://www.anoushkashankar.com.