OneBeat 2014 alumnus Sanaya Ardeshir, who makes music under the moniker Sandunes, recently released a new album, ‘The Ground Beneath Her Feet’. This record marks the end of the longest gap between her releases – a period of over two years. Celebrated for her expertise as an electronic music composer and multi-instrumentalist, Sandunes has created what is arguably her most ambitious and expansive work to date.
The album, released in November 2023, is a testament to her evolving artistic vision. It features collaborations with fellow OneBeat alumni, including Miguel Velazquez Matija (Colombia, Virtual 1), Carla Derepic (Bolivia, Virtual 2), and Victor Angeleas (Brazil, Virtual 1). Reflecting on the album’s inspiration, Sandunes mentioned in an interview with RedBull that the genesis of the album was during the pandemic, a time that also saw her immersed in Salman Rushdie’s novel ‘The Ground Beneath Her Feet’, from which the album draws its name and thematic resonance. The album delves into themes of collective spirit, authentic expression, and the subversion of norms, challenging the glorification of individualism and emphasizing the importance of connections with the natural world and each other.
In her social media announcement about the album, Sandunes shared, “It came to life as an embodiment of the idea that we are a product of the very things that hold us up – a result of the collective. Receiving our literal support to stand tall from shared knowledge, from trust imparted onto us, from kindness. And from unfathomable generosity.”
Listen below!
