Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows is a solo instrumental composition by sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar. The track appears on her 2013 studio album Traces of You. Shankar performs the piece on sitar, accompanied by minimal percussion and electronic textures. The composition spans 8 minutes and 17 seconds.

The work blends traditional Hindustani classical structures with contemporary production techniques. Shankar employs alap, jor, and jhala sections characteristic of raga performance. The track features a gradual intensification of rhythmic patterns, transitioning from free-meter improvisation to a structured teental cycle. Tanpura drones and subtle electronic pads provide harmonic support.

Deutsche Grammophon released Traces of You on October 4, 2013. The album includes collaborations with Norah Jones, Shankar’s half-sister, though Chasing Shadows remains a solo sitar performance. The composition received attention for its fusion of classical Indian elements with ambient soundscapes.

No specific raga is explicitly named in the liner notes for Chasing Shadows. The piece does not follow a conventional raga format but incorporates melodic motifs common in Hindustani classical music. The track’s structure prioritizes atmospheric development over traditional raga exposition.

Anoushka Shankar produced Traces of You alongside Nitin Sawhney and Javier Limón. The album marked Shankar’s seventh studio release and her second with Deutsche Grammophon. Chasing Shadows stands as one of the album’s purely instrumental tracks, distinct from the vocal-driven compositions.