I Know

\"I Know\" is a composition by Indian violinist and composer L. Shankar featured as the second track on his 1985 studio album Song for Everyone. Released on March 5, 1985, the album appeared under the German record label ECM Records in CD format. The track spans 7 minutes and 38 seconds and exemplifies Shankar’s fusion of Carnatic classical traditions with Western jazz and contemporary improvisation.

Shankar composed and performed the violin parts for \"I Know,\" blending his signature double-violin technique with electronic processing. The album Song for Everyone marked his third collaboration with ECM Records, following earlier experimental works that explored cross-cultural musical synthesis. Production details credit Jan Erik Kongshaug as the recording engineer, with sessions conducted at Talvin Singh Studios in London. The track’s arrangement incorporates layered violin harmonies, rhythmic percussion, and ambient textures, though specific contributing musicians remain partially undocumented in available sources.

The album received attention for its innovative approach to global fusion, with \"I Know\" often highlighted for its meditative yet dynamic structure. ECM Records promoted the release as part of its broader catalog of avant-garde and world music recordings. No commercial singles derived from Song for Everyone, but the track gained traction in niche circles for its technical virtuosity and genre-defying character. Later reissues of the album retained the original tracklisting, including \"I Know\" as a centerpiece of Shankar’s mid-1980s output.

Limited archival material exists regarding the track’s live performances or alternate versions. Shankar’s subsequent projects continued to explore similar fusion concepts, though Song for Everyone remains a distinct entry in his discography for its balance of traditional Indian raga elements and electronic experimentation. The album’s liner notes, authored by Shankar, describe the work as an attempt to create music accessible across cultural boundaries while preserving improvisational depth.