Delaquilla worked with me on designing the cover . And in India , I produced a music video for the single Home that was shot at Borivali National Park in Mumbai - directed by the awesome Megha Ramaswamy .
By the time I returned from India , the pandemic had hit the roof here in NYC . Everything went quiet . My album roll out plans had to be put aside . The album was released during the lockdown in NYC . It was quite an unusual and surreal experience to be putting it out at a time like that and not being able to tour with the music .
You are involved in myriad conservation efforts . Give us a little insight into that .
Currently , I ’ m on the board of International Wildlife Conservation Network ( IWCN ), and educating myself in sustainability , and circularity for an upcoming project related to conservation .
IWCN provides expert interdisciplinary assistance , training , collaboration , and shared research to enable communities around the globe to coexist with wildlife . We work with our partners on the ground from around the world , to provide co-existence solutions to peacefully resolve conflicts with wildlife .
Our interdisciplinary teams include scientists , agricultural managers , researchers , ethicists , economists , government specialists , educators , indigenous leaders , technical engineers and more who are helping to pioneer new ways to live peacefully in coexistence with our beautiful wildlife . You can find out more on wildlifecoexistence . org in the What ’ s new section .
Outside of music , what are your other creative pursuits ?
I like to read , cook , learn and teach about the physiology of the voice . I like studying about biomimicry , sustainability , and circularity and finding ways to incorporate that in what I do .
PHOTO BY SHERVIN LAINEZ - WEARING GIAMBATTISTA VALLI
Where do you get your ideas from ?
My experiences , the arts , nature and silence .
If you had to recommend three albums to a completely alien civilization , what would they be ?
Ahh tough one . Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko ’ s New Ancient Strings Miles Davis ' Kind of Blue any live performances by MS Subbalakshmi , and Ustad Bade Ali Khan Sahab .
How have you been enduring the pandemic and everything it has inflicted ?
I ’ m just trying to keep my head above the ground , and adapt to the changes , just like everyone else . I ’ ve been trying to keep gratitude , and love at the center of it all . I ’ m focussing on mental health , offering healing in whatever way I can , and trying to find peace in music and the work I do .
While I ’ ve kept myself available to whoever needs me , I ’ ve been selective of the people I reach out to when I ’ m in a rough place . I ’ ve learned that it ’ s important to curate the kind of energy you surround yourself with .
What have you been up to since the nomination ?
I ’ ve started working on my next album - my first studio album ! I ’ ve been working on Covid relief work with my non profit in India - Jana Rakshita , and with IWCN .
I ’ ve got some cool new toys I ’ m working with - pedals and such . I continue to study with my teacher in India , and work on expanding my craft .
Where are you most comfortable ? In the studio ? In your home with family ? On a hike ?
- In nature .
What ' s keeping you going right now ?
Possibility . This incredible gift of life , and the people who are inspiring me to be better .
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