Jonny Greenwood Releases New Album Ranjha With Shye Ben Tzur and The Rajasthan Express

Jonny Greenwood, best known as the guitarist of Radiohead, has announced the release of a new collaborative album, Ranjha, with Israeli musician Shye Ben Tzur and the Indian ensemble The Rajasthan Express. The 11‑track record is scheduled for release on 8 May 2026 through World Circuit/BMG.

Ranjha follows the 2015 project Junun, which brought together the same trio of musicians. That album was recorded in a fort in Rajasthan and was accompanied by a documentary directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The new album marks the second time the group has worked together and expands on the devotional Sufi‑qawwali style that defined Junun.

Greenwood’s involvement in Ranjha comes at a time when he is in the public eye for other reasons. He was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another (2025). In addition, he has been touring with Radiohead, which re‑united for a world tour in 2026 after a seven‑year hiatus. The guitarist has also faced criticism for his continued collaboration with Israeli artists amid a cultural boycott movement.

In a video interview with El País conducted from his Oxford home, Greenwood described the album’s spiritual focus. He said the music is “sincerely religious, devotional” and that the Indian musicians “sing about their sincere belief and faith in the Sufi saints and the divine, and singing about it with real passion and aggression.” He added that Shye Ben Tzur, who was born in New York and raised in Israel, has devoted his life to Indian music, a dedication that impressed Greenwood.

Greenwood also reflected on the 2017–2018 Radiohead tour, during which the group performed as the opening act for the Junun ensemble. He noted that the audience responded positively to the group’s “fascinating rhythms” and “passionate singing.” He compared the experience to a funk band, citing the repetition and front‑man energy.

The interview touched on Greenwood’s long‑standing relationship with Anderson. The guitarist said Anderson is a “very good friend” who “likes to joke around” and is a “big music fan.” He explained that each film score he writes is a collaborative process with the director, and that the decision to accept a project depends on the story and the musical possibilities.

Greenwood also discussed his daily routine, stating that he wakes up thinking about new guitar ideas and is eager to start working. He is experimenting with a computer program that could help him compose new music.

When asked about touring with Shye Ben Tzur and The Rajasthan Express, Greenwood said the logistics are challenging. He noted that bringing eight or nine Indian musicians to Europe is expensive and that a tour would depend on record‑label interest.

The release of Ranjha follows a period of controversy for Greenwood. In 2025, a planned series of concerts in the United Kingdom with Israeli singer‑songwriter Dudu Tassa was cancelled after a boycott campaign. Greenwood expressed that cancelling music is equivalent to removing books from shelves, emphasizing that artistic collaboration should not be dictated by politics.

Ranjha is available for pre‑order on major streaming platforms and will be distributed in physical formats by World Circuit. The album’s release is expected to generate interest from listeners of world‑music, devotional music, and fans of Greenwood’s film‑score work.

The project highlights Greenwood’s continued exploration beyond rock, blending Western and Eastern musical traditions. It also underscores the enduring partnership between Greenwood, Ben Tzur, and the Rajasthan Express, who have previously produced a critically acclaimed album and a documentary.

As the release date approaches, the music community will watch how Ranjha performs commercially and critically, and whether it will influence future cross‑cultural collaborations in the industry.