Ricky Kej

About

Indian music composer, producer, and environmentalist known for his New Age and world music albums Winds of Samsara, Divine Tides, Break of Dawn, and Shanti Samsara - World Music for Environmental Consciousness. He is also known for his 2022 special orchestral rendition of India's national anthem and for his global advocacy work with the United Nations.

Before Fame

He studied at Bishop Cotton Boys' School in Bengaluru and earned a degree in dentistry from Oxford Dental College. He was drawn to music while studying at dental school. He played in rock bands, composed jingles, and wrote music for advertising and Kannada films. He released his first full studio album, Communicative Art -The Early Years, in 2003. He released his breakthrough album Winds of Samsara in 2014. 

Trivia

His album Winds of Samsara debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard New Age Albums chart in 2014 and won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2015. He earned his second and third Grammy Awards for his album Divine Tides, which won Best New Age Album at the 64th Grammys in 2022 and Best Immersive Audio Album at the 65th Grammys in 2023. He received the Padma Shri award for his contributions to the arts in 2025.

Family Life

His full name is Ram Gyan Kej. He was born in North Carolina to an Indian family of Punjabi and Marwari heritage. He and his family moved when he was 8 years old to Bengaluru, India.

Associated With

He collaborated with Stewart Copeland on the album Divine Tides. His album Winds of Samsara was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.