Remain the Sea

Remain the Sea is a solo instrumental track by Indian sitarist Anoushka Shankar. The composition appears on her 2013 studio album Traces of You. The piece lasts 4 minutes and 11 seconds. Anoushka Shankar performs the sitar throughout the track, accompanied by minimal percussion and ambient textures. The work blends Hindustani classical raga structures with contemporary electronic and ambient influences. Deutsche Grammophon released the album on October 4, 2013. The track does not feature vocal elements or lyrics.

The composition opens with a slow, meditative sitar alap, establishing the raga’s tonal framework. Shankar gradually introduces rhythmic patterns, incorporating electronic effects that create a layered soundscape. The percussion, played by Tanmoy Bose, enters midway, providing a subtle yet steady pulse. The track maintains a contemplative mood, with Shankar employing meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques characteristic of Hindustani classical music. The electronic elements, produced by Nitin Sawhney, enhance the atmospheric quality without overshadowing the sitar’s prominence.

Traces of You marked Shankar’s first collaboration with Sawhney as a producer. The album explores themes of loss, memory, and resilience, with Remain the Sea serving as an instrumental interlude. The track’s title reflects its fluid, expansive sound, evoking imagery of water and continuity. The album received critical attention for its fusion of traditional and modern sounds, though specific chart performance details for Remain the Sea are not publicly documented. The piece has been performed live in Shankar’s concerts, often as part of a broader setlist featuring works from Traces of You.