MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande, together launched Ricky Kej’s new music album. Titled ‘Shanti Samsara’ and described as world music for environmental consciousness, the launch happened at the climate change conference in Paris.
‘Shanti Samsara’ features Sanskrit verses with spoken word by Amitabh Bachchan, Frances Fisher and Rosanna Arquette. The Grammy award winner informed that his new album was inspired by Modi, whom he met earlier this year.
“A heartfelt thanks to him for helping me channelise my creativity and art towards making a difference and for giving me perspective on what the world needs — environmental consciousness,” Kej said to Mid-Day after the release.
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He added, “It feels like I have been a musician just so that I could see this day… to see my music hopefully make a small difference in this world.”
The music video was screened for a large gathering of world leaders that were present at the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launch event, said Kej on his Facebook page.
Speaking more on the album, Kej’s wife and manager, Varsha Kej said, “This album celebrates nature through different cultures around the world.”
The album features over 300 musicians from across the globe, including artists like Gary Nicholson, Jennifer Gasoi and Wouter Kellerman, with whom he won a Grammy for their collaborative album ‘Winds of Samsara’. The new album is also said to have Zulu verses by Grammy award winner Soweto Gospel Choir, Rumi verses and Turkish verses.
‘Shanti Samsara’ includes folk music from different countries like Algeria, Senegal and India, chants by monks of the Sherab Ling Monastery, and melodies by the famous ‘singing nun’ Ani Choying Drolma.
It also features celebrated Asian musicians from China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, and the feted voices of India’s own Shankar Mahadevan and Hariharan, all blending into a harmony for environmental consciousness.
