EPISODE · Apr 30, 2026 · 1H 4M
EP57: Sheila Chandra | Monsoon, Global Hits, and The Lord of the Rings
from The Raj Kaul Podcast · host Raj Kaul
Get the Book: Organizing Your Creative Career (2020 Revised Edition) In this episode of the Raj Kaul Podcast, I’m joined by the legendary Sheila Chandra, a true pioneer who bridged the gap between East and West long before "World Music" was even a category. We dive deep into her meteoric rise at just 16 years old with the band Monsoon and their global smash hit "Ever So Lonely". Sheila shares the fascinating story of how she was discovered via a demo tape left in a cardboard box , the grit it took to perform on Top of the Pops while recovering from an appendix operation , and her bold decision to walk away from major labels to protect her creative independence. 🎤 The "Self-Taught" Journey: Discover how she spent a five-year sabbatical "absorbing" the complexities of Indian Classical music by listening to records and tapes like a sponge. 🚫 Breaking Boundaries: The "upstart" reputation and pushback she faced from traditionalists for her revolutionary, non-mathematical vocal style. 🧝 Middle-earth Magic: The behind-the-scenes story of being hand-picked by Howard Shore to sing in Elvish for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. 📚 A New Voice: Her transition from world-class singer to author and mentor after health challenges forced her to retire from performing in 2010. 🌟 Musical Excellence: A profound look at what it truly means to find presence and transcendence in a single, unadorned note. Connect with Sheila:Website: www.sheilachandra.com
What this episode covers
Get the Book: Organizing Your Creative Career (2020 Revised Edition) In this episode of the Raj Kaul Podcast, I’m joined by the legendary Sheila Chandra, a true pioneer who bridged the gap between East and West long before "World Music" was even a category. We dive deep into her meteoric rise at just 16 years old with the band Monsoon and their global smash hit "Ever So Lonely". Sheila shares the fascinating story of how she was discovered via a demo tape left in a cardboard box , the grit it took to perform on Top of the Pops while recovering from an appendix operation , and her bold decision to walk away from major labels to protect her creative independence. 🎤 The "Self-Taught" Journey: Discover how she spent a five-year sabbatical "absorbing" the complexities of Indian Classical music by listening to records and tapes like a sponge. 🚫 Breaking Boundaries: The "upstart" reputation and pushback she faced from traditionalists for her revolutionary, non-mathematical vocal style. 🧝 Middle-earth Magic: The behind-the-scenes story of being hand-picked by Howard Shore to sing in Elvish for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. 📚 A New Voice: Her transition from world-class singer to author and mentor after health challenges forced her to retire from performing in 2010. 🌟 Musical Excellence: A profound look at what it truly means to find presence and transcendence in a single, unadorned note. Connect with Sheila:Website: www.sheilachandra.com
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EP57: Sheila Chandra | Monsoon, Global Hits, and The Lord of the Rings
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