No matter the language or the content, ganavya's voice is a thick ephemera, like smoke as dark as ink, just coming off the fire.The New York Times
ganavya, born in New York and raised in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, effortlessly navigates between various musical styles, transcending the boundaries of genre. She thus forges new connections and builds musical communities. In her singing, she ushers the traditional Hindu storytelling art of harikathā into the 21st century, while also incorporating contemporary poetry inspired by her extensive travels and diverse education. Her most recent album, Daughter of a Temple, centres on creating a village feeling based on connection. It draws upon the rich heritage of Alice Coltrane and features contributions from figures including Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, Shabaka Hutchings, and Peter Sellars. The result is an innovative and poignant blend of spiritual jazz and South Asian devotional music, as well as an extraordinary combination of people, beliefs, and musical styles, evoking a mysterious, elusive sense of homecoming. ganavya puts it as follows: ‘Know that this village feeling is always within reach for you too. The worlds we dream of can become reality if we only show enough discipline and dedication.’