Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej discusses his latest album, “Gandhi: Mantras of Compassion,” a musical tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej shared insights about his latest album, “Gandhi: Mantras of Compassion.” This project serves as a musical homage to Mahatma Gandhi and features a collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.
Kej, a US Billboard Number One artist, UN Goodwill Ambassador, and Padma Shri awardee, expressed his long-standing admiration for Gandhi. He noted that Gandhi has always been a hero for him, and all three of his previous Grammy-winning projects included songs dedicated to the iconic leader. “I have always had this desire to create an entire album about him,” Kej said. He emphasized that many people outside India may not fully grasp the extent of Gandhi’s influence on global leaders and movements.
“For example, in America, Martin Luther King Jr. was heavily inspired by Gandhi. Nelson Mandela, too, drew from Gandhi’s principles in his fight against apartheid,” Kej explained. He highlighted that numerous world leaders have utilized Gandhi’s teachings of non-violence to initiate movements in their own countries.
In 2024, Kej had the opportunity to collaborate with Kailash Satyarthi during a concert tour across four Indian cities. The tour featured Kej performing for 90 minutes while Satyarthi spoke for 30 minutes. “It was hugely successful,” Kej recalled, adding that their time spent together at Satyarthi’s ashram in Jaipur led to many discussions about Gandhi. “Mr. Satyarthi has often said that his entire life of activism is based on Gandhian principles. Together, we decided that the world needed a refresher on Gandhi—and what better way to do that than through music?”
When asked about his choice to collaborate with Satyarthi, Kej shared that he had admired Satyarthi’s work for a long time. “It has been ten years since he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. I had never had the chance to meet him properly until this collaboration,” he said. Their time at the ashram, which serves as a rehabilitation and education center for rescued children, was particularly inspiring for Kej. “To me, Satyarthi is carrying forward Gandhi’s ideals in the modern era, keeping that legacy alive,” he added.
One of the standout music videos from the album, titled “Compassion Karuna,” features Satyarthi speaking while the music plays in the background. Kej explained that the video was designed to showcase Satyarthi as a living embodiment of Gandhi, reflecting his activism and humanitarian efforts. The video was directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, known for his work on “An Inconvenient Truth” and the documentary “The Price of Free,” which focuses on Satyarthi’s life.
Another music video, “We Are One: Raghupati Raghava,” draws inspiration from a bhajan that Gandhi modified to make it more inclusive. Kej described the collaborative nature of the project, which features musicians from around the world, including renowned cellist Tina Guo and Grammy Award-winning shamisen player Masa Takumi. “We spent nearly two years filming at sacred sites around the world, capturing the diversity of faiths and traditions,” he said.
The album consists of 11 tracks, with five hymns that Gandhi cherished and often sang, alongside six original compositions inspired by his life. Kej described the album as a “New Age experience,” emphasizing that it aims to promote mindfulness and provide relief from stress and anxiety. “Even if someone knows nothing about Gandhi, if they listen to the album, they will come away in a better frame of mind than when they started,” he noted.
When asked about the target audience for the album, Kej stated, “Everyone, everywhere.” He highlighted the diversity of musicians involved, with over 200 artists from 40 countries contributing to the project. “To me, Gandhi is not just an Indian figure—he is a global phenomenon,” Kej asserted, noting that analytics from streaming platforms indicate listeners from around the world.
Kej acknowledged that while the album bears his musical signature, it is also his most ambitious and significant work to date. “It is 100% independent—self-funded, with no record label or corporate involvement,” he explained. The album’s songs will be placed in Creative Commons, allowing anyone to use the music freely without permission or copyright, with the goal of spreading Gandhi’s message as widely as possible.
Reflecting on his association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kej shared that their first meeting occurred in 2015 after his first Grammy win. What was intended to be a brief photo opportunity turned into an hour-long conversation about environmental issues. “That conversation inspired me to create the album ‘Shanti Samsara,’” he recalled.
Kej has met Modi on several occasions since then, including at state events and award ceremonies. He expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s support, which significantly boosted his career in India. “Before his recognition, my audience was mostly international. But after he tweeted about me, my career in India took off,” Kej said.
When discussing his journey from studying dental surgery to pursuing music, Kej explained that he always intended to be a musician. “My parents wanted me to have a secure profession, so we reached a compromise: I would finish my dental degree, and after that, my life would be my own,” he said. Despite completing his degree, he never practiced dentistry, as music was always his true passion.
Regarding the spiritual nature of his music, Kej clarified that he does not identify as spiritual or religious. However, he acknowledged that many listeners describe his music as spiritual due to the emotions it evokes. “If my music overwhelms someone in that way, then I’ve succeeded in connecting with them deeply,” he stated.
As for future projects, Kej plans to focus on promoting “Gandhi: Mantras of Compassion” for at least a year before considering another album. “This isn’t a pop album that depends on first-week sales. It’s about sustaining the message and reaching as many people as possible,” he explained.
While he is open to the possibility of receiving another Grammy, Kej emphasized that his primary hope is for the music to resonate with listeners and spread Gandhi’s message. “If recognition comes, it will be a blessing,” he concluded.
Source: Original article