Indian tabla player Sandeep Das was part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble Sing Me Home that won the Grammy in the World Music category that also included sitarist Anoushka Shankar’s land of Gold.
It was sixth time unlucky for Shankar as she is yet to register a win despite multiple nominations in the category over the years. Yo-Yo Ma’s Sing Me Home features tunes composed or arranged by global artists as it examines the ever-changing idea of home. Apart from Ma and Das, musicians on the album include the New York-based Syrian clarinet player Kinan Azmeh, who was recently stranded overseas when US President Donald Trump imposed a ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Azmeh could return to country after a court rejected Trump’s travel ban order. Das, who was dressed in red kurta, said the ensemble sent a powerful message of unity and respect for each other’s cultures. “When things like this happen, it impacts us directly because a lot of us come from a lot of those countries,” Das told reporters after accepting the award. “In the current situation, I think we’ll keep playing more music and sharing more love.”
“It is third time lucky for us. I am very proud of who I am and where I come from be it culturally or musically. I wish there were more acknowledgment from my own country for the music that is deep-rooted and in our blood over glitz and glamour,” Sandeep added.
Sing Me Home won in a category that included Shankar’s land of Gold, which is about the global refugee crisis. The 35-year-old Indian musician was accompanied by her husband, British director Joe Wright at the music ceremony.
“Very excited that this man is my date to the #grammys today! It's the first time he’s been free to join me. #husband #JoeWright #love,” she had tweeeted ahead of the ceremony.