ABoneCroneDrone
ABoneCroneDrone, released on September 23, 1996, by Real World Records, is the final installment of Chandra’s trilogy and her most experimental solo voice work. Described as a groundbreaking exploration of the drone, the album consists of six tracks (ABoneCroneDrone 1 through 6), each around 7–8 minutes, blending voice with drones created by instruments like bagpipes, didgeridoos, and guitars, alongside Chandra and producer Steve Coe’s vocal and instrumental drones. The album aims to "put drones under the microscope," encouraging listeners to hear subtle nuances and harmonics within them, as Chandra explained: “It was about the gateways between vocal techniques from different cultures and how it was possible to cross between them within a single word or phrase.”
Sheila Savithri Elizabeth Chandra, born March 14, 1965, in Waterloo, London, England, is a retired English pop singer of Indian descent, renowned for her pioneering work in blending Indian, Western, and global musical traditions. She first gained public attention as an actress, playing Sudhamani Patel in the BBC school drama Grange Hill from 1979 to 1981. As a teenager, she transitioned to music, forming the band Monsoon with producer Steve Coe and bassist Martin Smith. Monsoon fused Western pop with Indian musical elements, releasing their only album, Third Eye (1982), which included the hit single "Ever So Lonely," peaking at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart. Disillusioned with major label pressures, Monsoon disbanded in 1982, and Chandra pursued a solo career with Coe’s independent label, Indipop Records.
Her early solo albums, such as Out on My Own (1984) and Quiet (1984), continued the Asian fusion style but with greater creative control. In the 1990s, Chandra signed with Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records, releasing a trilogy of albums: Weaving My Ancestors’ Voices (1992), The Zen Kiss (1994), and ABoneCroneDrone (1996). These works focused on minimalist solo voice and drone techniques, drawing on Indian ragas, British and Irish folk melodies, and global vocal traditions, showcasing her innovative approach to cross-cultural music. She also performed live for the first time during this period, often using taped drones as accompaniment.
Chandra’s career extended beyond music. She collaborated with artists like Peter Gabriel, contributed to the The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack with "Breath of Life" (2002), and released experimental works like This Sentence Is True (The Previous Sentence Is False) (2001) with the Ganges Orchestra. In 2009, she was diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), which caused severe pain when singing, speaking, or laughing, effectively rendering her mute and forcing her retirement from music. She then turned to writing, publishing a self-help book, Banish Clutter Forever (2010), and mentoring artists like graffiti artist Stik.
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