Grammys 2025: Indian-American Chandrika Tandon beats Ricky Kej, Anoushka Shankar to win Best New Age Album award for Triveni

Chandrika Tandon, an accomplished Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur, has made headlines by winning a Grammy Award for her album Triveni in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category. The 67th Grammy Awards, organized by the Recording Academy, took place on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Indian- American singer Chandrika Tandon wins Grammy Award

At 71 years old, Tandon’s Grammy-winning album Triveni beautifully blends ancient chants with world music, creating a meditative journey she describes as “inner healing.” Collaborating with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto, the album presents age-old Vedic chants while showcasing their distinct musical styles. Tandon expressed her thoughts on music during her acceptance speech, stating, “Music is love, music ignites the light within all of us, and, even in our darkest days, music spreads joy and laughter.”

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A Rich Musical Heritage

Raised in a traditional and orthodox middle-class family in Chennai, Tandon grew up surrounded by music, influenced by her family’s deep roots in the teachings of the Samaveda. Along with her younger sister, Indra Nooyi, who led PepsiCo as CEO for 12 years, Tandon’s upbringing included exposure to Vedic chants and Carnatic music. Tandon’s impressive career also includes being the first Indian-American woman partner at McKinsey and founding Tandon Capital Associates in New York, which focuses on measurable institutional restructuring.

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Philanthropic Efforts

An IIM Ahmedabad graduate, Tandon has also made a significant impact as a philanthropist. Alongside her husband, Ranjan, she donated $100 million to the New York School of Engineering in 2015, which now bears her name.

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A Grammy Journey

Tandon previously received a Grammy nomination in 2010 for her album Om Namo Narayana: Soul Call. This year, she was nominated alongside notable artists including Ricky Kej, Anoushka Shankar, and Radhika Vekaria. In a backstage interview after her win, Tandon expressed her gratitude and excitement, stating, “It feels amazing.” She also acknowledged the incredible talent of her fellow nominees, emphasizing that winning in such a competitive category was a truly special moment.

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Other Nominees in the Category

The other nominees for the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album included:

Break of Dawn by Ricky Kej

Opus by Ryuichi Sakamoto

Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn by Anoushka Shankar

Warriors Of Light by Radhika Vekaria

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