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Ricky Kej speaks to News18 Showsha about Damrooh, his 75-musician arena tour built around the damru and the future of AI in music.
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News18•24-09-2026, 18:50
Ricky Kej on Damrooh, Grammys, AI Music, and His "Overtime Music Composer" Approach
  • •Three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej discusses his upcoming arena tour, Damrooh, centered around the ancient Indian instrument damru, blending Indian folk, orchestral, and electronic music with 75 musicians.
  • •Kej shares his views on AI in music, believing it will handle generic compositions, pushing human composers to create unique, unprecedented music.
  • •He emphasizes the importance of retaining individual musical identity within his large ensembles, seeing "oneness" as harmony among distinct elements, not uniformity.
  • •Kej, an "instrument archaeologist," is drawn to the history and cultural context of instruments, believing it enriches their sound and meaning.
  • •He advocates for the "Sir David Attenborough approach" to environmental advocacy, focusing on inspiring love for nature rather than fear or anger, and discusses his long-standing partnership with UNICEF.