Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande at the launch of International Solar Alliance, during the COP21 Summit, in Paris, France on Nov. 30, as PM Modi releases Ricky Kej’s new music album. (Press Information Bureau)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande at the launch of International Solar Alliance, during the COP21 Summit, in Paris, France on Nov. 30, as PM Modi releases Ricky Kej’s new music album. (Press Information Bureau)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande have launched Grammy award winner Ricky Kej’s new music album at the Paris climate change conference. (#Bollywood, #RickyKej, @narendramodi, #Siliconeer, @siliconeer, #CoP21Paris2015)

“Grammy winner Ricky Kej’s new music album “Shanti Samsara” – world music for environmental consciousness – was launched, Nov. 30, at the United Nations COP21 summit in Paris by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande,” Varsha Kej, wife and media manager of Kej, told PTI.

The album features Sanskrit verses with spoken word by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Hollywood actress Frances Fisher and BAFTA award Winner Rosanna Arquette.

On his epic musical project, Ricky said the album was conceptualized through the inspiring words of Modi during his meeting with him in September.

“A heartfelt thanks to him for helping me channelize my creativity and art towards making a difference and for giving me perspective on what the world needs – Environmental Consciousness,” Ricky said.

“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,” he added.

The album was released during International Solar Alliance (ISA) launch event and a video from the album was played for the gathering of world leaders, Varsha said.

“This album celebrates Nature through different cultures around the World,” she said, adding that the album features over 300 musicians from across the globe including seven Grammy award winners, all coming together to create environmental consciousness.

The album has country music legend Gary Nicholson, acclaimed Canadian singer Jennifer Gasoi and renowned South African flutist and Grammy winner Wouter Kellerman. The album also has Zulu verses by Grammy award winner Soweto Gospel Choir, Rumi verses and Turkish verses, Varsha said.

It has folk music from Algeria, Senegal and India, chants by the monks of the Sherab Ling Monastery and melodies by the famous ‘singing nun’ Ani Choying Drolma, she said.

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 the harmony for environmental consciousness, Varsha added.

The album has been made in association with Vivekananda International Foundation and has 14 songs and four music videos, Varsha said.

Talking about the album, Ricky said the environment is a natural extension of the self and one cannot exist without the other, and hence a drastic change in people’s ways is the need of the hour.

“We must rekindle our inherent connection with Mother Earth by accepting responsibility for our actions … Let us heed our mother’s call and consciously work together for a future that is bright and beautiful for everyone, especially children,” he said.

Ricky has acquired a host of accolades including a Billboard Number One position, two ZMR awards (Zone Music Awards, USA), two SAMA awards (South African Music Awards) as well as a 2015 GIMA award and Mirchi Music Award in India.