What is Grammy award winner Ricky Kej up to next?
The Hindu
Ricky Kej to launch a performing arts school in Bengaluru
On a roll since winning his third Grammy (a rare honour for an Indian musician) in February this year for his album ‘Divine Tides’, Ricky Kej on May 22 tweeted “one of the biggest announcements of my life — a state-of-the-art performing arts school with an interdisciplinary approach to music, stage arts, filmmaking, and more.”
I am grateful to the Chancellor and the fantastic team at the university for trusting me to steer and head this school from the ground up.”
The warm and affable Ricky has come a long way from writing commercially successful jingles, and is today universally known, being ambassador for Earth Day Network, UNCCD Land Ambassador, Global Ambassador for Kindness for UNESCO-MGIEP, and celebrity supporter of UNICEF. Lauded as a composer and environmentalist, he has been doing what he believes in and is passionate about. On Earth Day (April 22) this year, he performed at the Gateway of India in Mumbai to raise awareness about saving the planet.
Excerpts from an interview
How different will be this school of performing arts?
It has always been my dream to that India should have a world-class performing arts university. What better place than our country, which is a treasure trove of art and heritage. I am excited that it is finally coming true. It will be in the under-construction campus of Chanakya University in Bengaluru. We hope to nurture young aspirants into versatile artistes through an interdisciplinary and a holistic method.
You have collaborated with several international and Indian artistes, including drummer Stewart Copeland, flautist Wouter Kellerman, Bollywood composers Salim-Sulaiman, tabla exponent Bickram Ghosh and ace violinist L. Subramaniam. Is collaboration the way forward for musicians?
