Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande launched Grammy-winning Indian artist Ricky Kej's new music album "Shanti Samsara - World Music For Environmental Consciousness” at the Conference of Parties (CoP) climate summit here.
The music album was released during the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launch event and a music video from the album was screened to the gathering of world leaders present on the occasion.
“Shanti Samsara” features over 300 musicians from across the globe, including seven Grammy Award winners -- all coming together to create environmental consciousness. The album celebrates nature through different cultures around the world.
"The album was conceptualised through the inspiring words of our prime minister during my meeting with him in September,” Kej said in a statement.
“A heartfelt thanks to him for helping me channelise my creativity and art towards making a difference and for giving me perspective on what the world needs - ‘Environmental Consciousness’,” he added.
Modi had met the internationally acclaimed musician Kej to personally congratulate him on his win at the 57th Grammy Awards earlier this year. Kej had won the prestigious award for his 2014 album "Winds of Samsara", which bagged the Best New Age Album trophy.
“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," the musician added.
The album features Sanskrit verses read out by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Hollywood actress Frances Fisher and BAFTA award-winner Rosanna Arquette.
It also features folk music from Algeria, Senegal and India, chants by the monks of the Sherabling Monastery in India's Himachal Pradesh and melodies by the famous 'singing nun’ Ani Choying Drolma.
The album also features celebrated Asian musicians from China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and the feted voices of Shankar Mahadevan and Hariharan -- all blending into the harmony for environmental consciousness.
“Shanti Samsara - World Music for Environmental Consciousness” was made in association with the Vivekananda International Foundation. It has 14 songs and four music videos.
