Renowned double-violin virtuoso and vocalist L. Shankar today announces the release of his latest studio album, Full Moon, originally issued in September 2024. A landmark fusion of southern Carnatic, northern Hindustani and global music traditions, Full Moon finds Shankar at the height of his creative powers, weaving intricate, celestial compositions through his signature 10-string stereophonic double violin and transcendent vocal improvisations.
On Full Moon, Shankar likens the album’s arc to the lunar cycle itself. The centerpiece, “Aberi Fantasy,” unfolds in three movements that trace the waxing and waning of the moon across fifteen days. Each section— from introspective tabla solos to soaring instrumental passages—maps a phase of light and shadow, inviting listeners on a journey through fullness and absence. Accompanying “Aberi Fantasy” are the evocative opener “Darlene’s Wish,” the lyrical “Dancing Beauty,” the two-part suite “Around the Corner,” and a radio edit of “Darlene’s Wish,” all arranged, composed and produced by Shankar across studios in Los Angeles, Malaysia and India.
“We only have one life to live, and in times like these, peace, love and unity are more important than ever,” says Shankar. “Inner peace allows us to share love and knowledge with others. Music transcends language—you don’t need to understand the words to feel its impact. Feeling is universal, no matter where you come from.” He continues, “My music focuses on emotions—much like the phases of the moon. We can’t truly appreciate the light without experiencing the dark.”
Critics have already hailed Full Moon as a sublime achievement. Bazaar Magazine praised Shankar’s “phenomenal capacity for improvisation,” while The Washington Post noted that his solo recordings pursue “a plangent serenity that… suggests a transcendence unheard in jazz.” Angel Romero of World Music Central observes, “Each track reveals his mastery of both form and feeling, underscoring his lifelong commitment to expanding the expressive capacity of Indian classical music.”
An acclaimed pioneer of East-West fusion, Shankar has sold over ten million albums and collaborated with legends from Frank Zappa and Peter Gabriel to Madonna and Phil Collins. Since 1980, he has performed on his self-designed LSD (L. Shankar Double violin), which covers the full range of the orchestral string family. His prolific career spans 28 solo albums—ranging from classical to rock, pop and EDM—and scores for award-winning films and television, including The Last Temptation of Christ and the hit series Heroes.
Following Full Moon, Shankar’s next project, ANSWERS—a star-studded progressive rock album—arrives this fall on Big Dream Records via The Orchard/Sony. He will then release Ocean of Truth, a cinematic, raga-inspired soundtrack-style album. In the meantime, Shankar embarks on a global tour, beginning in India this November and continuing through North America, Europe and Australia. Wherever he performs, audiences can expect the same transcendent interplay of voice and double violin that has defined his storied career.
