Born on the 14th March 1965, as a teenager she formed the band Monsoon, and created a fusion of Western and Indian pop styles. She married Steve Coe, who became the band's producer, and along with Martin Smith, the band became a trio. They made a single album, Third Eye, in 1982, from which they had a surprise hit single "Ever So Lonely". However, resenting pressure from their record company over musical direction, Monsoon as a band dissolved and Coe and Smith set about promoting Chandra as a solo artist on an independent label.
Chandra went on to release a number of albums in the 1980s, experimenting with her voice as an instrument. In the 1990s she released three albums on Peter Gabriel's Real World label, although Martin Smith ceased to be actively involved.
In 1996 she provided vocals for a cover of Prodigy's hit "Smack My Bitch Up". In 2002 she performed the song "Breath of Life" with Howard Shore for the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack.
She is no longer able to record, having developed "burned mouth syndrome" in 2010, which makes speech and singing so painful that she is effectively mute.
Breath Of Life
Sheila Chandra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An uich gwennen na ringyrn ambar hen
Boe naid bain gwannathar
Boe cuil ban firitha
Boe naer gwannathach
The lyrics to Sheila Chandra's song "Breath of Life" are in the fictional Elvish language created by J.R.R. Tolkien for his books. The words translate to "The shadow lies on my life, In the land that is always night, I can't resist the call of the bright face of the truth, Calm, fair, and strong." The language imbues the song with a mysterious and otherworldly feeling, and the lyrics evoke a sense of yearning for the light and truth in a world of darkness.
Chandra's haunting, ethereal vocals add to the mystical quality of the song. Her voice is layered and loops back on itself, creating a sense of depth and echoing the idea of the "breath of life" referenced in the title. The song is also driven by a pulsing rhythm and electronic instrumentation that give it a modern, almost industrial edge. The combination of ancient language and futuristic sound creates a unique listening experience that is both timeless and timely.
Overall, "Breath of Life" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the human desire for truth and light in a world that can often be dark and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Uich gwennen na 'wanath ah na dhรญn
I do not fear death or darkness
An uich gwennen na ringyrn ambar hen
I do not fear the ancient realm of the kings
Boe naid bain gwannathar
I will not die in shame or dishonor
Boe cuil ban firitha
I will die free and true
Boe naer gwannathach
I will die a warrior's death
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD SHORE, FRANCES ROSEMARY WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@plumeria66
Sheila Chandra, they should have had you sing ALL of the Lord of the Rings female solos! Your voice is forever ethereal and majestic at once.
@oguzjames7384
plumeria66 also there are some songs with renee fleeming. She is good too.
@danielnatzke6733
They intentionally didn't do that. It's more realistic for her specific ethereal Eastern tone to be saved for one particular song, hence Enya, Fraser, and Bayrakdarian were used for other pieces because of their own nuances.
@neoaliphant
Lovely lady, met her several times in real life, so sad about her illness meaning she cant sing any more, or talk for that matter.
@plumeria66
@Oguz James Not to me. Renee Fleming sounds like she has a cold and a stuffy nose. Nothing unique about her voice.
@elwood1029
The Elvish lyrics are a reference to Aragorn's last words to Arwen before he dies (in the appendices to LOTR). But these words themselves are an echo of the defiant speech of Hurin to Morgoth in the elder days. That, although the burdens of humankind were great, toiling ever under weariness, sickness and death, so that their time would ever seem brief and they themselves of small account next to the elves,, nonetheless, the doom of true death was a gift, beyond the comprehension of even the Valar; to be bound not to the circles of this world, nor indeed of any world.
@stephenjohnson2412
๐ฅน๐ค beautiful
@SigynRegn
The Grace of the Valar...
@spiritosilvestre
This is so holy and deep....
@SonIQBukucuIlberOrtayli
Arwen is my love โค๏ธ