ganavya to make her Vancouver debut on Chan Centre EXP series for its 2025-2026 season

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia presents ganavya as part of its Chan Centre EXP series on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30 PM, in collaboration with Vancouver New Music and Indian Summer Festival. Performing in Vancouver for the first time, ganavya will showcase music from her newest album, Nilam, which will be released on May 23.

Born in New York and raised in Tamil Nadu, ganavya is a multifaceted artist whose work seamlessly blends spiritual jazz, Hindu traditions, and ambient textures. Raised in the tradition of harikatha, a type of storytelling that blends music and poetry, ganavya grew up in a creative family singing devotional poems for days on end. As she relayed to The New York Times, music is simply a fact of her life: “It was just what we did, it wasn’t a thing, it wasn’t a statement. We learned how to cook, do the laundry, and music.”

With the release of Nilam, ganavya explores gratitude and describes its central theme as “doing what we need to do to keep carrying on.” She reflects on her grandmother’s final words; that despite the circumstances one may find themselves in, there is joy and love to be found. In their absence, there is contentment in simply finding acceptance.

ganavya’s previous album, Daughter of a Temple, is a testament to her innovative artistry. Recorded during a week-long retreat inspired by Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda, the album features collaborations with luminaries such as Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, and Shabaka Hutchings. The result is a devotional sonic tapestry that “soars from gentle ambience to stirring takes on spiritual staples,” (The Guardian) showcasing ganavya’s transcendent artistry and deeply expressive voice. ​

With every album, ganavya transports listeners to a space of profound emotional intimacy. Tickets for her Chan Centre concert are now available here.