Anindo Bose and Pavithra Chari might have different musical backgrounds, but when they come together as Shadow and Light, the result of their collaboration is eclectic, melodious and cohesive. Chari (singer, songwriter) and Bose (keyboardist, sound engineer), are the contemporary-classical duo from Delhi who compose music in Hindi, English and Tamil.What began as two friends are now joined as one, making music together for a lifetime.

As a duo, their originals Together they have released three albums, Shadow and Light (2014), ‘Elements’ (2016) and ‘Sabar’ (2018).

They have been recipients of multiple awards and most recently were nominated for the 65th Grammy Awards for their song Dua, from the Berklee Indian Ensemble album “Shuruaat” in the Best Global Music Album category. The two-member group from Delhi fuse a harmonious confluence of a variety of genres from Hindustani classical, pop, jazz, and electronic. They also recently released a new track Tu Kaun Hai in collaboration with composer Salim Merchant.

Verus Ferreira spoke with the duo on their Grammy nomination, the sound of the new single and about the band.

You were nominated for Best Global Music Album for Berklee Indian Ensemble debut album “Shuruaat”. How does it feel to be part of such a mega project where your song Dua is part of the 10 track album?

Anindo: We are extremely proud to be part of BIE’s Shuruaat. A Grammy nomination for Best Global album is a massive deal. To be considered for one of the highest musical honours in the world feels surreal. Our song Dua is one of 4 originals on ‘Shuruaat’ and we join some of the most celebrated artists across the world on this record. To represent your country, and showcase your artistry to the world is something we’ve aspired to do.

So tell us something about the song Dua which was also your first official music video.

Anindo: Dua was written by us in 2016 for our second album “Elements”. It's a song that talks about a very human trait - to ask. The song questions the ideas of having desires, what it means to be content and understanding life in the process. It is written from a place we rarely reflect on - do we ever stop wanting more? We decided to make our first music video on Dua because its narrative had so much to convey to a listener. We’ve tried to convey the essence of the song through metaphors and symbolism (for example the dominoes, story blocks, intertwined thread). To a passionate viewer/listener, there are multiple Easter eggs in the video to enjoy. A lot of the production has been DIY between me and Pavithra and our videographer Steve Peter. Pavithra has also danced in the video. It was an extremely challenging but also gratifying process for us to conceptualise and execute everything. We are so proud that Dua is a part of “Shuruaat” and has received so much love and respect. It really means the world to us.

So let’s go to how the two of you met and formed Shadow and Light?

Anindo: We met at an audition for a musical in June 2012, Pavithra auditioned for it and we kept have kept in touch since then. What was supposed to just be a vocal demo ended up becoming our first composition. Our journey began there and the rest, as we say, is history.

Tell us about how you started making music as Shadow and Light.

Anindo: It started as a collaborative project to explore our musicality with the pure intent of writing music together. We didn’t even have a band name. It just so happened that the opening lines of our song Shadow and Light was saved in a folder by that name, and that’s where we started saving all our future jam sessions. In a year we’d written 10 songs and then released them as a compilation for our self titled debut album. Over time the name perfectly reflected the duality and contrast in our influences and songwriting.

Were you both in other bands, left and decided to form Shadow and Light?

Pavithra: Anindo was and still is part of fusion outfit Advaita. Shadow and light became another creative expression. For me, Shadow and Light was the first foray into the independent scene. I had just started college and was doing some solo recordings.

Can you each tell us a little bit more about yourselves?

Anindo: We are both full time musicians, with varied projects and musical outfits beyond Shadow and Light. I own and operate Plug N Play studios in Delhi and have worked on several independent acts across the country. I also compose and arrange music for different independent/commercial work and brand campaigns. Pavithra: I am a Shubha Mudgal ji’s disciple for Khayal and I work in the Tamil/Telugu film industry as a playback singer. I recently worked on the Tamil film 'Udanpirappe' (2021) and 'Valimai' (2022). I have done multiple indie and film releases and I also freelance as an expressive arts therapist.

What is your typical songwriting process?

Anindo: A song can start out in multiple ways. It could be a simple voice note or hummed melodic lines or just some words with a very basic phrase or pattern. These inspire musical arrangements. Sometimes it may be a loop of chords, piano lines or just an abstract sounds cape or even a groovy drum n bass pattern which again inspires words and melodies. Interestingly, ‘Words suspended in melody’ is how we describe ourselves.

What do most of your songs really speak about?

Anindo: Lyrically and musically our songs depict perspectives of how we observe, feel and think about the world. We write about the everyday things, the things we question and explore just like we explore music.

So what does each of you do in the band from vocals and lyrics to setting the musical arrangement and mixing the final cut?

Anindo: Pavithra is the lyricist and composes the vocal melody. She composes certain instrumental parts and string lines as well. I mainly stick to the arranger/producer/mixing-mastering engineer part of it, essentially everything other than vocals. I also work on vocal harmonies. We also inspire each other and often ideate together on melodic lines and tunes sometimes.

Which music has really inspired you to make the music you do?

Pavithra: We each have varied musical influences. To name a few: hindustani, fusion, world, electronic, pop, jazz, RnB, gospel, choral, and film music.

You guys make music in Tamil too.

Anindo: Pavithra is originally from Chennai and Tamil is her mother tongue. So as we developed comfort and experience as songwriters, it only made sense that we wrote in Tamil too. Infact when we tour the south, we present translations of many of our Hindi songs in Tamil.

Do you have a regular band that you travel with on a regular basis?

Anindo: Since we are essentially a duo and our setup accords a lot of flexibility. So over the years we have played with multiple session musicians, drummers, bassists. Our US tour in 2018 had us collaborating with the 30+ members of the Berklee Indian ensemble.

You recently released a new track Tu Kaun Hai collaborating with Salim Merchant. Tell us how this collaboration came about?

Anindo: We’ve admired Salim’s musicality for years now. He’s also shared his respect and love for our music. When we began writing Tu Kaun Hai, we felt it was the right song to collaborate with him and share it with him. We got an immediate response from him and the process began right away. He’s been a true collaborator and generous friend through the entire journey of the song and we know that he’s in it for the genuine love of music.

You have been making music together for years now. Is there a personal relationship between you both or do you both lead separate married lives?

Anindo: We’ve been friends for over a decade now and got married in 2019, Our focus was to never let the music or friendship be affected. Thanks to the universe it all worked out!

What are your future projects lined up?

Anindo: We have our debut release for a web series on OTT coming up and multiple singles as well, which will comprise of our fourth studio album. We want to venture more into films and visual media as well as tour festivals abroad.

Interviewed By Verus Ferreira