Exclusive Premiere: Shilpa Ananth and Aleksandra Denda’s Exquisite ‘I Dwell’ Video

Echoing the very current and timely belief that “the future is female,” Indian singer-composer Shilpa Ananth and Belgrade, Serbia-origin artist Aleksandra Denda have released a glimmering new music video for their collaboration “i Dwell,” which salutes female companionship and empowerment.

Featuring subtle and sweeping turns alike from producer Giosuè Greco in Los Angeles, the song is a shapeshifting collaboration that stays true to both Ananth and Denda’s existing discography. The pair originally became friends while studying at Berklee College of Music and even as their paths (and the pandemic) took them to different parts of the world, they regrouped to write “i Dwell” in early 2020, just as the world began shutting down to the Covid-19 pandemic. Surprisingly, Ananth says the songwriting process was probably the easiest part of bringing “i Dwell” to life.

Between Dubai and Boston, Ananth and Denda had set up weekly songwriting sessions. “So the lyrics and melodies poured out and cemented, in our safe space,” Ananth adds. It went along to Greco in L.A. and also got mastered in Serbia by sound engineer Vladan Popović. “I really don’t know a more well-traveled song. Sure we were stuck inside, grieving all our canceled gigs, feeling scared for our families’ lives, uncertain about our future, but with this song we felt more connected and free to dream, to travel the world with her,” Ananth says.

Watch the video for “i Dwell” below.

Speaking of well-traveled, Denda and Ananth finally did meet up in Dubai to shoot the music video with photographer Marta Lamovsek. Below, the duo recount their experiences working together, shooting the music video and what’s coming up through 2022. Excerpts:

What was it like recording and readying this song and music video and then waiting for the right time to release it?

Ananth: The video shot and directed by Marta Lamovsek was filled with adventures and challenges, filming outdoors during peak summer season in the Middle East is not ideal to say the least. I’m glad none of us passed out from heatstroke as we tried not to be barbecued during takes! But all things considered, with a small but fierce, all-female video team spread out in different parts of the world, we truly captured something beautiful and empowering, and along with Tanja Drobnjak’s magical editing skills really put together a tapestry of rich traditions, cultures, stories, musical styles, and voices, all aligning to celebrate the power of female friendship, and the importance of women supporting and standing by one another.

The waiting part of it was of course not easy, but I think we both agree and know that the best things take time and happen as and when they are meant to. Though the timeline from creation to release has spanned close to two years, we were clear that we would only release “i Dwell” when we were sure she was ready. If that meant waiting for another five more years, then that’s what we would’ve done.

Can you tell me a bit about the music video? The jewelry and wardrobe choices were really intriguing.

Denda: I got to visit Shilpa in Dubai in June last year and we thought that would be a perfect opportunity to make the music video happen.

Shilpa already collaborated with Marta, who has an impressive collection of folky jewelry and accessories that she’s been bringing from her home country as well as sourcing from Dubai’s flea markets, and we thought her specific aesthetic would be perfect for the type of energy and visuals we wanted for the video.

The rest of the wardrobe we sourced from Shilpa and her mom’s sari collection, our own wardrobe, and the beautiful kaftans that we’re wearing on the beach is by a Serbian designer Nina, [who is] behind the brand BULKA.

We had two shooting days, one in Marta’s studio and another one in Jumeirah beach where it was between 40 and 43 degrees Celsius. In hindsight, I really don’t know how we survived that. I remember makeup melting and leaving our faces in less than an hour and it was impossible to put it back on!

What else is coming up for both of you individually through 2022 and might we see another collaboration in the future?

Denda: In March-May in collaboration with [Delhi NCR-based music school] Global Music Institute, I will be conducting an online songwriting program, releasing some new music and hopefully live performances will come back in full swing later in the year.

As members of the traditional Serbian music, all-female vocal group ROSA, this year we will both be recording the group’s debut album.

Ananth: I have my next single and video release “The Search” coming out in May, and my second EP Reproduction coming out in the summer. If all goes well with this year, there will be live shows, festival performances, workshops, and a potential album release tour in the works.

And absolutely, I would love to collaborate more with Sandra and write a full album together someday! That would be a dream come true, and when the time’s right is definitely in our future. “i Dwell” is just the beginning.

Listen to “i Dwell” below and stream on more platforms here.