Singer-songwriter Tanya Shanker set to release debut album Face the Music

Tanya Shanker | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Bengaluru-based singer-songwriter Tanya Shanker is set to release her debut album Face the Music on November 14. She has been performing across venues in the city since the age of 11. This new album is a collection of 10 songs revolving around deeply personal and humane aspects of life and her experiences growing up and evolving as a musician.“The first time I realised I wanted to pursue music was when I was seven years old and performed a song in front of my schoolmates.” She says the experience of being on stage and the rush of a live performance was a life-changing experience. “I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life,” she adds.Her mentor and manager, Richard Andrew Dudley, played a significant role in shaping her musical journey; they have been collaborating for nearly 10 years now. She released ‘Battlefield’ when she was 14, and another extended play (EP) ‘What Lies Beneath’ at 17. She also released singles ‘PHOENIX’ and ‘CyberFantasy’ by the time she was 19.Talking about Face the Music, Tanya says, “The title has two meanings, one is the meaning of the idiom itself — accept the consequences for your actions, which is also an overarching theme on the entire album. The second meaning is entirely different; it refers to me facing the music, and my evolving relationship with music over time.”The 10 songs featured in the album tackle various themes. The first, ‘Spotlight’ is about the joys of an on-stage performance. “It talks about the rush and high that comes during performances, but also deals with the scrutiny that comes with being in the public eye.” Tanya Shanker | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement ‘21st Century Celebrity’ is on the fickle nature of the audience and Tanya says it reflects instances where female artistes are judged harshly, “liked by many and then, also hated all of a sudden for no particular reason.”While ‘The Box’ deals with compartmentalising human emotions, ‘Second Place’ is about being the second choice in a relationship and its psychological impact. The tracks ‘Square 1’ and ‘Paper Doll’ are about heartbreak and reshaping yourself to meet other people’s expectations. At the centre of the record is ‘Face the Music’ reflecting consequences and Tanya’s changing relationship with it as she enters a new decade in her life.The one aspect that directly influences her music and songs are human emotions and experiences. “I am quite a sensitive person, so everything I feel is magnified. That can be a double-edged sword; you feel joy immensely but the same goes for sadness, jealousy or anger.”Richard and Tanya have been working together since she was 11 years. “He is also a huge part of the production and the composition of Face the Music. He intuitively understands what I want from a song since we have been working together for so long.”Ryan Joseph also worked in shaping ‘Face the Music’, while Jaime Dudley programmed drums for the album and Yogesh Pradhan played the guitar. Tanya says, “I’ve worked with incredible musicians for this album.”Face the Music will be released on November 14 on all streaming platforms Published - November 11, 2026 07:14 pm IST