Chandrika: Feels Great And Grateful Winning Grammy This Year
Chandrika Tandon, the talented Indian-American musician and entrepreneur, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning a Grammy.
Celebrated for its artistic brilliance, the album ‘Triveni’ has garnered prestigious recognition in the ‘Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album’ category.
Chandrika Tandon: A name that resonates with creativity and inspiration.
Chandrika Tandon, the talented Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur, has made waves in the music industry by clinching a Grammy for her album Triveni. This remarkable achievement came in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category at the prestigious 67th Grammy Awards, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.
CG @binaysrikant76 welcomed Ms. Chandrika Tandon @chandrikatandon at the @IndiainNewYork ; felicitated her on winning the Grammy Award @RecordingAcad for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album for "Triveni."@MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/z3inWTUwK6
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) February 25, 2025
On a glamorous Sunday evening, the spotlight shone brightly on the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where the esteemed Recording Academy hosted a remarkable event that captivated audiences and celebrated the best in music. Tandon, a prominent figure in the global business landscape and the elder sister of the renowned former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, celebrated a remarkable achievement alongside her talented collaborators—South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto.
Congrats Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album winners – 'Triveni' Wouter Kellerman, Eru Matsumoto & Chandrika Tandon. #GRAMMYs
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) February 6, 2025
ICYMI, rewatch the #GRAMMYPremiere Ceremony: https://t.co/lRVnSuiJNu pic.twitter.com/lWdEaQZCzf
In a moving acceptance speech, Tandon embraced the transformative essence of music, declaring, “Music is love, music is light, and music is laughter.” Imagine a world enveloped in love, illuminated by light, and filled with the joyous sound of laughter. This is the essence of a life well-lived, where positivity reigns and connections flourish. Gratitude fills the air as we celebrate the power of music and extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who contribute to its magic.
Chandrika Tandon has achieved a significant milestone with her recent Grammy win, celebrating her first victory after receiving her second nomination. This follows her earlier recognition in 2009 for the album Soul Call. In an exclusive backstage interview with the Recording Academy, the Chennai-born musician shared her elation over her recent achievement, exclaiming, “It feels amazing.”
Tandon’s Triveni emerged victorious in the fiercely competitive Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category, standing out among notable nominees such as Ricky Kej’s Break of Dawn, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Opus, Anoushka Shankar’s Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn, and Radhika Vekaria’s Warriors of Light. Our nominees in this category truly shone with brilliance. This victory marks a truly extraordinary moment for us, one that we will cherish for years to come. She remarked, “We were in the company of some truly fabulous musicians who received nominations alongside us.”
In a celebration of unity and diversity, Triveni—drawing inspiration from the sacred meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers—presents a captivating collaboration among three artists hailing from unique cultural landscapes. The ensemble features the enchanting vocals of Chandrika Tandon, the soulful melodies of South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, and the evocative strains of Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto, creating a rich tapestry of sound that transcends borders. Debuting on August 30, 2024, this album features seven captivating tracks, each weaving its own distinct narrative while harmoniously contributing to the central theme of healing and spiritual balance.
The tracks—Pathway to Light, Chant in A, Journey Within, Aether’s Serenade, Ancient Moon, Open Sky, and Seeking Shakti—create an enchanting auditory journey that captivates and transports listeners into a realm of profound immersion. On Tandon’s official website, Triveni is described as a harmonious blend of ancient Vedic chants, the soothing melodies of the flute, and the rich tones of the cello. This unique combination creates a meditative soundscape that invites listeners to embrace mindfulness, embark on a journey of self-discovery, and experience a deep sense of connection.
Tandon, an accomplished artist with three additional albums to her name, has graced prestigious venues including the Kennedy Centre and Lincoln Centre and has showcased her talent at the World Culture Festivals throughout Europe and India.
Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, born in 1954, is an Indian-American businesswoman, philanthropist, and Grammy-winning musical artist. She is known for her business ventures, including being the first Indian-American woman to be elected partner at McKinsey and Company. In 2015, Tandon and her husband, Ranjan Tandon, donated $100 million to the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, now named the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Tandon has served as a trustee to New York University, NYU Langone Health, and the American India Foundation, and was a member of the President’s Council on International Activities at Yale University and the President’s Advisory Council at the Berklee College of Music. She is also on the Board of Governors for the New York Academy of Sciences.
Tandon is also a composer and vocalist trained by masters in Hindustani, Carnatic, and Western traditions. She released her first studio album, Soul Call, in 2009, which received a Grammy nomination for contemporary world music in 2011. In 2024, she released her latest album, Triveni, for which she won her first Grammy for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album at the age of 70. She has conducted numerous benefit concerts on world stages, including the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Centre, Olympiastadion, Lobkowicz Palace, and in the National Mall for the World Culture Festival.
Tandon was born into a conservative Tamil Brahmin family in Chennai, where her mother was a musician and her father was a state banker. After pursuing higher education at Madras Christian College, Tandon initially desired to pursue law school but was advised by one of her professors to pursue a career in business instead. After graduating from IIM Ahmedabad in 1975, Tandon worked as an executive for Citibank in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War. At age twenty-four, she was offered a position at McKinsey and Company in New York City and became the first Indian-American to become a partner in the company. In 1992, she formed Tandon Capital Associates and advised clients including Chase Manhattan Corporation, Comerica, Unibanco (Brazil), Suncorp-Metway Ltd. (Australia), Fleet Financial Group, Bank of America, Rabobank, and ABN Amro.
Tandon’s music career began with her father-in-law’s 90th birthday gift, which inspired her first full-length studio album, Soul Call, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2011. Her second studio album, Soul March, followed in 2013, featuring over 75 musicians and was recorded in the United States and India. In 2023, Tandon released her fifth studio album, Ammu’s Treasures, a three-volume collection of songs inspired by her grandchildren in different genres and languages.
