Breathing Under Water

Breathing Under Water is a collaborative studio album by Indian sitar player Anoushka Shankar and British musician Karsh Kale. The album was released on 28 August 2007 under the label Manhattan Records. It blends Indian classical music with electronic, ambient, and world music elements, featuring contributions from Norah Jones, Sting, and Ravi Shankar, among others. The project marks Anoushka Shankar’s first major foray into fusion genres beyond traditional Hindustani classical music.

The album comprises twelve tracks, including the title piece Breathing Under Water, which runs for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Other notable compositions include Burn, featuring vocals by Norah Jones, and Sea Dreamer, which incorporates electronic textures. The production integrates live instrumentation with programmed beats, synthesizers, and field recordings. Karsh Kale co-produced the album and contributed to its electronic arrangements.

Anoushka Shankar composed the majority of the album’s material, drawing from her training in Hindustani classical music under her father, Ravi Shankar. The album’s themes explore emotional and environmental narratives, with lyrics in English and Sanskrit. Critics noted its experimental approach, though specific chart performance or awards are not widely documented.

The album’s release included a physical CD format and digital distribution. Live performances of its tracks have been featured in Shankar’s concert tours, though no official live album or video release accompanies the studio recording. Additional details about recording locations, session musicians, or mixing engineers are not publicly confirmed.