| Gingger | |
|---|---|
Shankar performing with The Smashing Pumpkins in 2008 |
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Gingger Shankar |
| Origin | Los Angeles, United States |
| Genres | World, Pop, Electronica, Carnatic |
| Occupations | Singer-Songwriter, Violinist, Composer |
| Instruments | Vocals, Double Violin, Violin, Viola |
| Website | ginggershankar.com |
Gingger Shankar (born in Los Angeles, CA) is a singer, composer and violinist.
Contents |
Gingger was raised in Los Angeles as well as India. Growing up within one of India's most acclaimed musical families, she learned singing, violin, dance, and piano. She studied opera vocals from Rose Marie Cardinale, famed opera star. She also modeled and acted in stage productions. She attended the prestigious dance and music school, Kalakshetra, in India as a child.
She started performing at the age of 14. She toured with L. Shankar, Zakir Hussain, and Vikku Vinayakram. She has performed in numerous festivals and venues over the years. She is the only musician aside from L. Shankar to play the double violin (a unique instrument which covers the entire orchestra range). She has worked with Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Sussan Deyhim,[1]James Newton Howard, Talvin Singh, Rabbit in the Moon.
In 2004, she collaborated with composers John Debney and Shankar on the Oscar nominated score, Passion of the Christ. The film is one of the top 10 grossing films of all time. Her voice and double violin can be heard all over the movie. She is also credited with co-composing several musical cues.
For the past few years, Gingger has been associated with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.[2] She has performed for them several times, as well as receiving their scoring achievement award for her contribution to the film Passion of the Christ.
She is also credited with co-writing and performing on a cue for the 2007 film Charlie Wilson's War with composer James Newton Howard.[3]
Gingger's voice can be heard on the 2008 film The Forbidden Kingdom.
She guests on a track for the Saul Williams album Niggy Tardust [4] produced by Trent Reznor.
March 2007, Gingger was one of the headliners of San Diego Indie Music Festival,[5] featuring artists such as Fishbone, Michelle Shocked
In 2007, she was chosen as one of six film composers chosen to attend the prestigious Sundance Institute Composer's Lab.[6]
In July 2007, Gingger appeared in two Sgt. Pepper's 40th Year Anniversary Concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured Cheap Trick, Joan Osborne, Aimee Mann, and others.[7] The show was repeated in June 2008 at the Bowl with Cheap Trick and special guests Simone, Billy Corgan, and Ian Ball.
In 2008, she made her debut as a soprano with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Osvaldo Golijov's "Ainadamar". She performed with former Dirty Vegas frontman Steve Smith at the Sundance Film Festival.
Gingger is working on her upcoming album with Adam Aaronson formerly of High Speed Scene, Chris Haynes, Scott Seiver, and others. She has previously worked with Rabbit in the Moon, collaborating with them for the Ultra Music Festival in 2007.
In 2008/2009, she joined the Smashing Pumpkins for their 20th anniversary tour, singing and playing the rare 10-string violin. She can also be seen in their music video for the song G.L.O.W..
She also debuted at Carnegie Hall as a soprano with the opera "Ainadamar".
Gingger was one of 5 composer/musicians to perform at The Sundance Film Festival's Artist at the Table on opening night in 2010.
Gingger composed music for Al Massad's Sundance award winning documentary "Recycle" as well as his documentary "This is My Picture When I Was Dead", which won first prize for best documentary at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Gingger composed music for 2011 Sundance U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Choice Award Winning film, Circumstance.[8]