At the 2025 Grammy Awards, South Asian artists are making waves, with several nominations reflecting their diverse talents. British producer Peter Raeburn, working from his Soundtree Studios in Los Angeles, received high praise from Pitchfork, which described his album as transitioning from the warmth of late afternoon into the complex emotions of nighttime.
Anoushka Shankar, daughter of legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, received a nomination in the Best Global Music Performance category for her collaboration on Jacob Collier’s track “A Rock Somewhere” alongside Bengaluru-based musician Varijashree Venugopal. Joining her in the same category, Pakistani-American artist Arooj Aftab earned recognition for her song “Raat Ki Rani,” a track from her album Night Reign, which also gained a nomination for Best Alternative Jazz Album. In 2022, Aftab made history as the first Pakistani woman to win a Grammy, securing the inaugural Best Global Music Performance award for “Mohabbat.”
India’s Ricky Kej, nominated for his fourth Grammy, has also been recognized in this year’s awards with his album Break of Dawn. This three-time Grammy winner, born in North Carolina and based in Bangalore, collaborated with Venugopal, who received her debut Grammy nomination for her role in this project.
In the category of Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album, Indian-American artist Radhika Vekaria is nominated for Warriors of Light. Entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon, known for her previous Grammy nomination for Soul Call, received a nod in this category for her album Triveni, produced with flutist Wouter Kellerman and cellist Éru Matsumoto. Tandon, also a leader at NYU and founder of Tandon Capital Associates, remains active in both music and finance.
Mumbai-born guitarist Noshir Mody celebrates his first Grammy nomination for his contribution to Masa Takumi’s song “Kashira.” After moving to the U.S. at 22, Mody established himself in New York’s jazz scene with his latest album, Abstractions, described as a blend of inventive melodies and emotive improvisations.
The 2025 Grammy Awards will take place on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, bringing global recognition to a range of South Asian talent.
