Chandrika Tandon to release fifth album, ‘Ammu’s Treasures’, in September

Indian American businesswoman and philanthropist Chandrika Tandon, a Grammy-nominated musician, is all set to release her fifth album, titled Ammu’s Treasures, in September, just in time for the Hindu festival of Janmashtami.

Described by the singer as “a hug for the world,” the album was inspired by her grandchildren.

READ: Chandrika Tandon: I sang before I could speak (December 1, 2019)

Ammu’s Treasures, a celebration of joy, love, and the power of music to transcend boundaries, will be presented as a grand 3-volume omnibus, featuring a rich collection of 35 familiar songs and 20 soul-soothing chants. Each track promises to weave a tapestry of emotions, taking listeners on a melodic journey that touches the heart and soul.

Ammu’s Treasures boasts a stellar ensemble of distinguished musicians, including renowned names such as Béla Fleck, Kenny Werner, Eugene Friesen, Jamey Haddad, Romero Lubambo, Cyro Baptista, Michael Ward-Bergeman, Howard Levy, Maeve Gilchrist, Rakesh Chaurasia, Martin Bejerano, Purbayan Chatterjee, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and many more.

The combination of Tandon’s exceptional musical prowess, her heartfelt inspiration from her beloved grandchildren, and her collaboration with an array of esteemed musicians is sure to make Ammu’s Treasures an unforgettable listening experience.

Tandon, a distinguished businesswoman and philanthropist, achieved recognition in the musical world with her Grammy-nominated album “Soul Call.” This remarkable musical creation showcases the chant Om Namo Narayanaya presented in eight melodious ragas.

Her last album, “Shivoham – The Quest,” an oratorio that premiered in a sold-out concert at the Kennedy Center, was released in 2018.

Watch Chandrika Tandon’s Trailblazers interview

Tandon has also released two other albums. “Soul Mantra” beautifully presents the chant “Om namah shivaya” in nine soul-stirring ragas. “Soul March” serves as a heartfelt tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s historic Salt March, commemorated through the power of Tandon’s soulful melodies.

The New York-based singer has performed at a number of iconic venues and festivals around the globe, including the Lincoln Center and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, the Smithsonian in Washington, Berlin’s Olympiastadion, and the esteemed World Culture Festival in New Delhi.

READ: Chandrika Tandon: Ellis Island is ‘symbolic beginning of the American Dream’ (May 30, 2020)

“I really sang before I could speak,” Tandon told journalist Aziz Haniffa in a 2019 interview prior to her Kennedy Center debut. “Growing up, we came from a very simple family. I [did] thousands of chores growing up. I don’t remember what chores I did. But I remember what songs I used to sing when I did those chores. So music was always a part of my life.”

Tandon said she got back into music two decades ago when she found herself grappling with a crisis of spirit, prompting her to rekindle her passion for music. “I had to really get into [the question of] what was success, why was I on this planet — all these important questions we don’t often get to ask,” she said. “I was lucky enough to be able to ask these questions. That got me back to thinking that I really should do things that made me so happy. And music was always something that really completed me. So I went back to learn music, and I did it on the sidelines.”

READ: NYU investing $1 billion in Tandon School of Engineering (December 1, 2022)

Tandon came to the United States at the age of 24, after earning her bachelor’s degree from Madras Christian College and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad. Soon she became the first Indian American woman to be a partner at McKinsey & Company.

In 1992, along with her husband Ranjan, she founded Tandon Capital Associates.

READ: Indian American couple gifts $100 million to NYU School of Engineering (October 6, 2015)

The Tandons are well-known philanthropists who have supported various causes and institutions, particularly in the realms of education and arts and culture. In 2015, they made history with a groundbreaking donation of $100 million to New York University’s School of Engineering.