At 70, a Global Icon Seeks Another Grammy — and ‘Soul Ecstasy’ for Everyone

This year, at 70, Chandrika Tandon celebrated her first Grammy — and she’s already positioning herself for another. After winning in February for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album with Triveni, the singer, philanthropist and former executive quietly submitted a new collection, Soul Ecstasy, for consideration in the Best Global Music Album category ahead of the Aug. 30 submission deadline for the 68th Grammy Awards.

Tandon describes Soul Ecstasy as an effort to demystify classical Indian music, making its beauty easier to sing and share. Her seventh album comprises 14 classical ragas—each a melodic framework—woven through intricate rhythmic cycles of 6, 7, 8, 10 and 16 beats. “My aim was to present Indian classical traditions in a more accessible, singable way,” she says, noting that while her earlier records developed a devoted small following, she now hopes to reach a broader audience.

The project blends ancient Vedic verses and classical modes with lively orchestration and choral textures, reflecting Tandon’s broader purpose of spreading joy alongside economic and emotional empowerment. The eight-track collection was recorded in both New York and India with longtime collaborator Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar.

“This album is about giving listeners access to their own joyous state in a blissful way,” Tandon explains. “The songs are more high-energy than my past work, and the choral elements invite people to experience that ecstasy together.”

Putting Soul Ecstasy together presented significant logistical and musical challenges. Tandon and her team enlisted 75 musicians from Calcutta who performed more than 25 traditional instruments, and they trained 16 classical vocalists to sing as a unified choir — an unconventional move in a tradition that often emphasizes solo virtuosity.

Born and raised in India and now based in New York, Tandon serves as artist-in-residence for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Before devotedly pursuing music and philanthropy, she became the first Indian-American woman partner at McKinsey & Company and later founded Tandon Capital Associates. She studied music whenever she could — taking lessons between meetings and practicing for hours whenever possible — and today releases her work through the nonprofit label Soul Chants Music.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Tandon has been a major philanthropic force: with her husband she made a landmark $100 million gift that led to the naming of NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, and she has been recognized with honors including the Ban Ki-moon Award for Women’s Empowerment and NYU’s Gallatin Medal.

To bring Soul Ecstasy to listeners, Tandon plans immersive live experiences in New York’s Town Hall and at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, where audiences will encounter guided meditations, communal sing-alongs and what she calls “sacred sound” gatherings.

Conversation highlights

You’ve cultivated a dedicated following since your first widely noticed release in 2009. Who listens to your music?

Surprisingly, a large slice of my audience falls between 18 and 40, and many are men — not the demographic I initially expected. There are also people drawn to India and its classical traditions, plus listeners who seek devotional or spiritual music, such as members of the yoga community. Expanding that audience remains a priority for me.

How does traditional Indian music differ from other practices you’ve encountered around the world?

Indian music trains you to still the mind. Much of it centers on pitch and resonance; teachers will push you to find the absolute purity of a note. Early lessons can feel repetitive, but after settling into the practice you enter a meditative space. That process led me inward and pushed me toward meditation — music helped me discover a lasting, joyful center.

What do you hope other Grammy contenders take away from Soul Ecstasy?

My teachers always emphasized that music is a path to the divine within. When the artist steps aside, something larger takes over. Soul Ecstasy reflects that aspiration: it’s not only about quiet and peace, but also about arriving at a place where joy naturally bubbles up.

Where do you keep your Grammy for Triveni?

In my prayer room.

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