Ananda Shankar was the son of dancers and choreographers Uday and Amala Shankar, and the nephew of legendary sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. 

In the late 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he found himself immersed in the psychedelic rock scene and even played with Jimi Hendrix. His debut album Ananda Shankar followed in 1970. His goal was clear: to bring Indian and Western music together, combining traditional sitar and tabla with rock, electric guitars, and Moog synthesizers.

Alongside his own material, Shankar took on two Western rock classics: the Rolling Stones’ «Jumpin’ Jack Flash» and The Doors’ «Light My Fire».

There’s no Jim Morrison on «Light My Fire». Instead, Shankar’s sitar effectively takes over the role of his voice, winding its way through the familiar melody alongside Moog, rock instrumentation, and Indian sounds. A psychedelic Doors trip from India, instantly familiar yet completely otherworldly.