The Myth and the Music Interview: Ranjana Ghatak

Discovering gifts within yourself — Indian classical composer and singer Ranjana Ghatak presents her debut album, ‘The Butterfly Effect’

By Andrei Cherascu

When Ranjana Ghatak left her native London and moved to California, she envisioned the entire process as a “surrender experiment,” brought about by a period of uncertainty and confusion. Intent on “letting go of the old and welcoming the new,” the young singer and composer decided to just follow her instinct and see where life would take her.

This transitional period is captured in her debut album, The Butterfly Effect. Featuring songs in English, Hindi and Sanskrit, with texts taken from mystic poets and prayers, the album pairs Ranjana’s Indian classical singing with Liran Donin’s bass and Jack Ross’ electric guitar, creating an intense, varied soundscape shaped by the contrasting musical languages.

In this in-depth interview, I talk to Ranjana about her life, her creative process, the “surrender experiment” and her unique journey leading up to The Butterfly Effect.