In an evening teeming with exuberant performances and high-octane glamour, the distinguished 66th Annual Grammy Awards 2024, which convened at the heart of Los Angeles, witnessed a notable victory in the realm of world music. The eclectic Indian fusion band Shakti, comprised of maestros Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, along with their virtuosic ensemble, seized the prestigious award for Best Global Music Album for their newest offering, ‘This Moment’.
‘This Moment’ emerged triumphant in a highly competitive Grammy category, holding its ground against international acts like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido. This triumph was announced over the worldwide broadcast, accompanying an outpouring of praise on social media platforms. “Congrats Best Global Music Album winner – ‘This Moment’ Shakti. #GRAMMYs 🎶 WATCH NOW pic.twitter.com/N7vXftfaDy,” read a tweet from the official Grammy channel, celebrating the group’s historic win.
The album boasts a collection of eight masterful tracks that resonate with the creative voices and skillful instrumentation of its ensemble. Alongside Shankar Mahadevan’s soulful vocals and Zakir Hussain’s rhythmic tabla innovations are the contributions of John McLaughlin’s dynamic guitar and guitar synth inflections, V. Selvaganesh’s intricate percussion rhythms, and Ganesh Rajagopalan’s penetrating violin melodies. Together, these artists create a synergy of sounds that traverse the boundaries of genre and geography.
Shakti’s artistry is not born in a vacuum but rather is an alchemy of diverse musical traditions—Indian classical, jazz, folk, and more—which converge to create a unique and captivating sound. This album, ‘This Moment’, is a testament to the ensemble’s ability to reimagine the confluence of musical styles in a manner that retains the depth and integrity of each tradition, while weaving them into a contemporary tapestry of global music.
The fusion project Shakti has a storied past, first formed in the early 1970s as a powerhouse collaboration between John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain, along with other esteemed musicians. Over the decades, Shakti has evolved, continually exploring and expanding the boundaries of music through its innovative albums and mesmerizing live performances, gaining worldwide acclaim. The current iteration of Shakti, which includes V. Selvaganesh and Ganesh Rajagopalan, as well as original members McLaughlin and Hussain, carries forward the legacy with the same fervor and commitment to musical exploration.
This victory at the Grammys is not merely an accolade for the album ‘This Moment’ but is a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures and the spirit of collaboration, a hallmark of Shakti’s philosophy. It is also a recognition of the significant contributions of Indian artists to the global music industry, heralding their talent and virtuosity on one of the world’s most prestigious platforms.
True to their name—which in Sanskrit implies power, energy, and creativity—Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, and their Shakti bandmates have indeed demonstrated a compelling force within the international music scene. This Grammy win shines a spotlight not only on their collective talents but also the transcendent quality of their music which continues to break barriers and unite audiences across the globe.
As the night gives way to celebration, and the soundwaves of Shakti’s ‘This Moment’ reverberate from the hallowed halls of the Grammy theater to the far reaches of various continents, it becomes clear that this isn’t merely a moment for these artists—it is a profound juncture in the annals of world music, marking the undeniable impact of innovative, cross-cultural artistry.
