Grammy winner Chandrika Tandon speaks of her childhood memories, her current practice sessions and beyond
Chandrika Tandon, once a largely unknown figure devoted to peace and spirituality, has gained widespread recognition with her recent Grammy win for the album Triveni. At 70, her remarkable achievement is sparking conversations about the growing need to celebrate this vibrant, young-at-heart woman.
What was your reaction when your album Triveni won the Grammy this year?
After Triveni was announced as the winner, the hall erupted with claps and shouts. It was a happy shock. Walking to the podium through a cheering crowd was an incredible experience. All of the musicians really supported each other with instant and clear abandon. I felt a shared sense of a loving community.
How did you feel, when an earlier nomination did not fetch you the Grammy?
Receiving my first Grammy nomination was such a surprise, to myself and to others, because I was almost unheard of at that time. I was nominated alongside world class icons like Béla Fleck and my hero Sergio Mendes – I lived off his Brasil ’66 for several months of my life! So, attending the Grammys was not about winning or losing. The excitement of just being nominated alongside and meeting such larger-than-life artists was the greatest joy of all.
How many hours of weekly practice do you manage to put in?
Whenever I can, I sing a couple of hours a day. Sometimes, I’m not able to start singing until late at night, and then I continue on through the wee hours. My musical practice is made up of three different modes: when I am singing, when I am listening critically to recordings or practice sessions, and when I am in contemplation. All three are equally important.
Earlier, did you have to work on a clear accent?
Being musical, I reproduce sounds very easily and I learned a lot of language through music. Wherever I am in the world, I naturally listen to the intonations and lilts of the languages being spoken. The same held true for when I was learning complex Sanskrit mantras and prayers. Those require very pristine pronunciations because the slightest change in a syllable can create a very different meaning. Thus, thinking about the accent is a very important part of my music, but in my everyday life, I don’t worry about my accent. I am simply a creature of my environment.
Which are your favourite chants, and corresponding artists?
The wonderful thing about the Vedic traditions is that there is such a vast treasure trove of chants for every aspect of life—for health, family, peace, harmony, the environment, and so on. This is a very rich legacy that can be explored for a lifetime, which has been my journey over the past twenty-five years. Yet, the more I learn, the less I know. The sheer power and beauty of the sages’ thought process is breathtaking.
A few of the simple chants I have used like Om Nama Shivaya and Om Namo Narayanaya have had huge ripple effects in terms of healing, as attested to in the hundreds of messages I’ve received from listeners.
At this stage in my life, I particularly hold to the Isha Upanishad mantra because I like to remind myself that I am fullness and I am abundance. I wish all of us can bear that in mind—that we are all connected to a great source of abundance and can never be depleted. This is such an important wellspring of feeling good about ourselves.
The chants and chanters that inspire me are multi-faceted and multi-genre. Of course there are my gurus like T Viswanathan, Pandit Jasraj, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, and Vijay Kichlu, but I am also entranced by pure Vedic chanting, particularly the Sāmaveda, and the Byzantine, Gregorian, and Native American chants. Many ancient traditions have profound offerings, all equally poignant and soul-stirring. Native American chants. Many ancient traditions have profound offerings, all equally poignant and soul-stirring.
For your album Triveni, how did you select the chants?
I don’t set out to do a particular chant for a particular reason. The chants select me. For example, I was not very familiar with Om Namo Narayanaya, which became the chant of my album Soul Call. Yet, one morning I was awoken at 3 am inspired to compose it. There must have been a reason why it came to me that way, but I don’t analyze inspiration when it strikes. I simply follow the path that I am shown.
In the ever evolving music scene, how do you feel about the role of YouTube and the like?
Over the years, the shift of how people access music has been dramatic. CDs are now archaic, replaced by streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. I don’t consider this a bad thing, though. With YouTube, musicians can more easily add dimension to their music by pairing it with visual narratives that amplify their messages. This can be especially helpful to those who connect with visuals in ways they don’t with audio alone. The combination of audio and video can open artists up to a whole new group of listeners. I don’t think YouTube has destroyed music. On the contrary, if used effectively, it significantly enhances it.
How and when did you begin your musical journey?
As a child, I sang before I could speak. I sang to all the sounds in the universe, the hum of an AC unit, the leaves on a tree branch ruffling in the breeze. I sang at every opportunity and even won many prizes for singing. As an adult, I had much less time for music due to a very demanding business career but I spent as much time as I could listening to CDs and enjoying live music wherever I might have been in the world. Two and a half decades ago, I reassessed my life, and that is when I decided to once again make music more central in my life and my being. I decided to take lessons from a great master, not for any reason other than to sing better. That shift began my journey of creating music. My first album was created almost by accident because it was made as a gift for my 90-year-old father-in-law. Yet, that led to a total of six studio albums, performing in front of thousands, and conducting community and major choirs.
As a singer, did you receive encouragement from home?
As someone from India said, “a billion hearts are with you,” and that is exactly what I feel. From the Prime Minister of India to people I have never met expressing so much support, it is so overwhelmingly gracious and sweet. I feel immeasurable gratitude, and this renews my sense of purpose, inspiring me to focus even more intensely on my future projects.
As a veteran, would you have any advice for budding artists, just starting out on their own journey?
Make music for the pure joy of it, for the sheer beauty of what it is you are trying to produce. Don’t worry about what it will get you. Don’t try to get anywhere with it. When you make music of value, it will find its place. The universe is conspiring for you to succeed, and it will guide your music to where it needs to be.
What guidance will you give newcomers after releasing their first album?
In this day and age, producing a full album is not as important as it once was. If you have one beautiful song or a single performance that you want to share, that is equally relevant in today라이브 바카라 streaming world. We don’t have to compromise quality for quantity. We artists can focus our best efforts and decide how we share our art.
Is it tough for a Person of Indian Origin to get noticed in the USA?
I’m so proud to be a person of Indian origin, which allows me to access this extraordinary history and heritage very easily. At the same time, having lived in New York City for 47 years, I feel deeply connected to the wonderful American culture and traditions, as well as to other places where I have lived throughout my life. Having this global perspective has enabled me to cross boundaries and build bridges more easily. Instead of by any specific label, I strive to present my best self in whatever role I play at that moment, as a professional, as an artist, as a friend, or as a family member.
Looking back, how would you say your journey has been?
If I look back, I would say that I worked very hard to balance the different dimensions of my life to live very intentionally, particularly these past 25 years as I’ve centered my life more on music, service, and meditation. Meditation has made light of many challenges. As my meditation has deepend, the challenges have become less burdensome. I’ve done my best to create my own sphere of joy and happiness in whatever I do. Life is very short, and we have a limited amount of time to make the most of it.
Fifteen years ago, I started to sign everything with my mantra “Love Light Laughter” as a reminder to myself that this is the space I want to be in. This has had a very profound effect on my communication and relationships.
Do you feel that thinking optimistically has an impact on success?
I have always lived unbounded. As a very young girl in the small town of Chennai, the books and poetry I read inspired me to dream of faraway lands and enormous possibilities. Because of this, I have never seen boundaries. I paired that vision, which some might label as foolhardy, with passion, determination, and hardwork in everything that I did, whether it was my education, work, or music.
Never tell yourself, “I can’t because . . .” Instead, tell yourself, “I will because . . .”
I’ll also add that we should use music as a bridge to harmony. When we are unbounded, opening our ears, minds, and hearts to different kinds of music, people, and cultures, we are able to enrich ourselves and each other. Music is a very powerful tool to celebrate our differences and foster harmony with others and within ourselves.