Over three weeks ago, when Bengaluru-based music composer and producer Ricky Kej learnt that he has been nominated for the Best New Age Album Category at the 57th Grammy Awards 2014, for his album Winds of Samsara, he couldn’t believe that his childhood dream had finally come true. After all this time has passed, the artiste confesses that it’s still a surreal feeling but admits that he is elated to be nominated in the same category as his hero, the Japanese composer, Kitaro. “It’ll be embarrassing when I meet him because I’ll ask him for an autograph and I’m sure he doesn’t know who I am,” laughs Kej. In an interview with sunday mid-day, the 33-year-old musician reveals how his album spins together harmony, progressive composition and technical prowess and why he collaborated with South African flutist Wouter Kellerman for the same.

Ricky Kej