When Chandrika Tandon named her album Triveni, the Sangam of Prayagraj’s Three Rivers did not surpass her heart.
Rather, “Tribeni” is a three-cultural and three different musical traditions: Uter Kellerman, an Indian-born American, Matsumoto, and Japanese-American cellist and Kellerman represented by South African flute players. It was related.
But when the trio won a Grammy Award for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant album, Mahakam’s Tribeni Sangam was trending worldwide, “That’s what the synchronicity of the universe is happening.” I want to believe that,” exclaimed Tandon. The chairman of Tandon Capital Associates advises several major banks and businesses.
A young-looking 70-year-old who grew up in Chennai on Subbulakshmi stock Suprabhatham Breathing every day, she says she has been taking chanting seriously for over 24-25 years. “I have done a lot of research over the years at Vishnu Sahasranamam, Shiva Rudram, Shanti Mantras and Mahamrityunjaya Mantras…” she says.
Her final album – Ammu’s Treasures – Soothing Babysitters and for kids also have plenty of chants. In Triveni, she reconstructed those chants with various ragas and added new facets. The flute and cello created a new rhythm. “The idea is to popularize these chants and make them accessible to everyone,” says Tandon, who believes there is a higher purpose behind her music. “I’m simply an instrument that makes music. I’m very focused on its impact. And this is the philosophy of my work, whether it’s business, academia or music. “That’s what I mean,” says the philanthropist who gave $2 million to his alma mater, Madras Christian College, to help set up the B. School.
Creative Process
How did Triveni happen? Tandon says Wouter and she knew each other from a global music circle. “He called me and asked me if I could work with him. And that’s the Genesis of Tribeni. We were somewhere else – Wouter of South Africa, Los Angeles Elle, and I was in New York. But we met for a few days in Manhattan and brainstormed. That’s when I came up with the concept of adding a mantra. Then, around the mantra. We created some songs. It wasn’t just one person’s idea. All three of us were working together to celebrate chants with melodion.”
The influence of music
For Tandon, once McKinsey’s most frightening deal maker, music was a constant companion, offering comfort in challenging moments and having many impacts. “It started at home with radio and my mother. I was trained in physical music when I was younger. Then I traveled the world and picked up Western music and jazz. After that I was I learned classical music from Hindustani. I had so many amazing masters – T Viswanathan, Pandit Jasraj, Veena Sahasrabuddhe ..”
Can I see the trio at a concert in India? “I hope someday this year. I want to share this sacred experience with some invitations,” cried Tandon.
Music ai
How does Tandon watch artificial intelligence sneak into music? “I work dramatically with AI in my business life, but it’s not that much music,” she says. “In the music industry, we see it started,” she admits.
Is that good or bad? “I don’t know yet. There are multiple legal issues, there are AI ethics issues. Does that sound good, does it sound exciting? It’s unopened territory,” says Tandon.
