California-based music group White Sun defeated the likes of Enya and Vangelis to win the Grammys 2017 in the New Age category for their second album White Sun II. The band has a strong Indian connection.
The band is co-founded by Adam Berry, who is known for his work as music director for four seasons of South Park. The other co-founder is lead vocalist Gurujas Kaur Khalsa, aka Gurujas, a former member of the Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus and Harijiwan, a gong virtuoso and veteran Kundalini yoga instructor.
New age music originated in California. It is a version of peaceful music which has mindful, sparse tones and textures helpful during meditation or yoga sessions, reports LA Times.
Apart from the original members, White Sun II features Grammy-winning kora player Mamadou Diabate, the Punch Brothers' violinist Gabe Witcher and tabla player Abhiman Kaushal. Kaushal is another Indian-American originally from Hyderabad, who is an adjunct associate professor at the department of ethnomusicology at the University of California.
When White Sun picked up the trophy, accepting the award, Gurujas said, "We just want our music to make something better for somebody somewhere. And it's our dream to see this world become a more beautiful place. For anyone who shares in that dream with us, thank you, we love you and let's do better."
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