Seated beside her mother as the latter drove across the city streets, Gingger Shankar recalls being exposed to the sounds of Madonna and The Beatles. Back home, under the guidance of father L Subramaniam and grandmother Lakshmi Shankar, it was all about studying Indian classical music. She recalls singing Indian numbers with mother Viji Subramaniam with as much precision as she does falling asleep at the innumerable concerts the various artistes in her family performed at. "That was the lifestyle we lived, going from concert to concert. I was exposed to a variety [of genres]," says Gingger over a Skype call from LA, where she grew up, following her schooling in Chennai.

Being mentored by influential Indian classical veterans like the Shankars and the Subramaniams, and yet growing up in a western nation, she found herself playing ping-pong with her music sensibilities. "I'd go to Indian concerts and say I want to be more American; then listen to American music and say Indian classical music is great. I did Indian classical concerts for several years and then completely rebelled, touring with the alternative rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins. I experimented with western [music] for a while before realising I am a hybrid."