By Joel Ontong.
@GettyImages.
South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, along with Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto and Indian vocalist Chandrika Tandon, won a Grammy for their album Triveni in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
The musicians were honoured in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category and accepted the award during the Grammys premiere ceremony at the Peacock Theatre.
Kellerman said during their acceptance speech: “Thank you so much; this is amazing. This is testament to the fact that music has the power to unite and to heal. Thank you, Chandrika, thank you, Eru, and all the musicians on the album. Big thank you to Tholsi [Pillay, Kellerman’s manager], best friend, and business partner. Most importantly, to all of you music connects, [I] am very grateful to share this moment with you.”
Eru Matsumoto said in her speech after Kellerman: “Thank you so much, recording academy… Oh my gosh, I’m so happy right now; thank you so much everyone who believed in this in this album and project.”
Tandon added, while the “walk-off” music started playing: “Music is love, music is light, and music is laughter, and let’s all be surrounded by love, light and laughter and thank you for the music and thank you for every one of you who makes the music.”
This is Kellerman’s third Grammy award.
In 2015, he won Best New Age Album with Ricky Kej, and in 2023, he won Best Global Music Performance with Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode. He has had five other nominations.
“This album is incredibly close to my heart because it explores the healing power of music – a message that resonates so deeply with the world today,” Kellerman told News24 in 2024.
“When creating music, you never know if people will understand and feel the intent behind the music, so to be recognised means the world to me, and it encourages me to do more.”
Kellerman said he has known Eru Matsumoto and Chandrika Tandon for many years and has always admired them.
Matsumoto suggested “making an album with very specific healing intent”, and Kellerman loved the idea.
“Eru’s mastery of the cello and her emotional depth bring such richness to the music, while Chandrika’s soulful voice and profound spiritual connection anchor the compositions,” Kellerman said.
The Grammys premiere ceremony precedes the main event, hosted by Trevor Noah, where the biggest awards are handed out.