Meet Chandrika Tandon: Indra Nooyi's sister who just won Grammy
What's the story
Indian-American business leader and musician Chandrika Tandon has won a Grammy at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Her album Triveni won in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category.
The seven-track album is a unique blend of ancient chants and world music. This is Tandon's first win after her first nomination in 2010 for Om Namo Narayana: Soul Call.
Here's more about Tandon.
Career transition
Tandon's journey from business to music
Elder sister of former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi, Tandon comes from a Chennai home seeped in Vedic chants and Carnatic music and has had an illustrious career in business and music.
She was the first Indian-American woman partner at McKinsey before starting her own firm, Tandon Capital Associates.
Even with her success in the corporate world, she followed her passion for music under the tutelage of Shubhra Guha and Girish Wazalwar.
She released her debut album—Soul Call—in 2009.
Award competition
Tandon's Grammy win among strong contenders
Tandon was nominated along with three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, Anoushka Shankar, and Radhika Vekaria in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category.
Although Shankar had 11 previous nominations, she didn't win this year.
Meanwhile, Tandon said about the win: "It feels amazing." "We had such wonderful nominees in the category. The fact that we won this is really an extra special moment for us."
Musical fusion
Tandon's 'Triveni' is a global collaboration
Tandon collaborated with South African flutist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto on her album Triveni.
The album represents the confluence of their three distinct styles, just like India's holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati merge.
Receiving the award in Los Angeles on Monday (IST), Tandon reiterated her belief in music as a universal language saying, "Music is love, music ignites the light within all of us."
Album impact
'Triveni's global appeal and healing resonance
Released on August 30, 2024, Triveni comprises seven tracks, each telling its own story while adding to the overall theme of healing resonance.
The songs are: Pathway to Light, Chant in A, Journey Within, Aether's Serenade, Ancient Moon, Open Sky, and Seeking Shakti.
The album "weaves ancient Vedic chants with melodic flute and resonant cello," according to Tandon's official website, creating a reflective soundscape that fosters mindfulness and connection.