An artist of Indian descent based in the UK, who once struggled to even say her own name, has now become a Grammy-nominated sensation. Say hello to Radhika Vekaria!

This multi-talented musician and sensory artist creates music that crosses cultural boundaries, blending Eastern and Western influences. According to her website, her work is a heartfelt reflection of her childhood wish to help others. Her captivating album, “Warriors of Light,” dives deep into her journey of self-discovery and enlightenment, and it's up for the best new age, ambient, or chant album at this Sunday’s Grammys.

Radhika Vekaria will perform alongside stars like Taylor Swift at the 2025 Grammys

Vekaria, who has been living in the US since 2013, grew up dealing with a chronic speech impediment. On the evening of February 2 (US time), she’ll be walking the red carpet at the Grammy Awards held at the Crypto.com venue in Los Angeles, rubbing shoulders with pop culture heavyweights like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan. The musician of Indian descent, now in her 30s, is nominated alongside seasoned Grammy contender Anoushka Shankar for “Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn,” the late Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Opus,” Chris Reddings’ “Visions of Sounds,” three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej’s “Break of Dawn,” and the collaborative piece “Triveni” by Wouter Kellerman, Éru Matsumoto, and Chandrika Tandon.

Reflecting on her childhood, Vekaria opened up in a recent chat with PEOPLE, saying, “I struggled with a really bad speech impediment, and it led to a lot of bullying. We all face bullying for different reasons in life. For me, it was about not being able to express myself. That experience pushed me into a silence that I carried in my own mind.”

Music played a key role in helping the Grammy-nominated artist of Indian descent find her voice and express herself freely

Radhika always felt a special connection to singing, even though she struggled with speech. “You’d be surprised, but many people with speech issues can actually sing really well,” she mentioned.

She shared how music played a huge role in her journey to find her voice, saying, “The core of the music I create has truly helped me express myself and speak out.” Looking back, she never imagined she’d be ticking off items on her artistic bucket list, but her breakout album “Sapta: The Seven Way” in 2020 made it all possible.

Thanks to her debut collection, Radhika became the first mantra artist to perform at SXSW in Austin, Texas, in 2022. Reflecting on how her speech challenges “healed themselves,” she recalled, "When I was 3, I would just sing and chant mantras naturally… as an adult, revisiting that through meditation showed me how much it improved my speech and articulation.”

Radhika Vekaria's latest album has been nominated for a Grammy in the new age category

Looking back at the creative journey behind “Warriors of Light,” her latest album that’s up for a Grammy this year, Vekaria shared, “It took me four years to bring this to life, along with a lifetime of realizing how crucial it is to find my own voice.”

Her album truly embodies the idea that ‘Music knows no boundaries,’ especially since Radhika performs in four different languages: Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, and English. “It’s amazing to create something that connects ancient traditions and cultures with modern vibes while still respecting the past. You can be present and still honor what came before.”

A first-time Grammy nominee's journey into the world of art

Vekaria balanced her Western classical piano lessons while growing up in London, according to the Indian Express. But her deep-rooted connection to Indian music was unmistakable. “Our heritage music is incredibly rich. I think two things really embody our culture – food and music. Both are such tangible experiences. Every time I listened to Indian music, it resonated in my body. And the body never lies,” she shared.

Now gearing up to strut down the Grammy red carpet, she initially aimed to become an oncologist, with dreams of excelling at Oxbridge. Before she took the leap into music, she had the guts to envision it as a career. Luckily, her dad, a true music lover, fully backed her decision. “He was really different from the typical Indian parent; he encouraged me to go for it,” she recalled about her father, who she sadly lost to cancer.

Radhika Vekaria's journey in music

In 2009, a pivotal moment arrived for the young artist who had no ties to the music scene when she got picked through auditions to perform a few shows with AR Rahman. “I was experimenting with the sounds since I wasn’t familiar with the language. Having him there and trying to express that music was a transformative experience,” shared the Grammy-nominated artist. Before her training at Ustad Ali Akbar College of Music in California, she received some guidance from Patiala gharana classical vocalist Ajoy Chakrabarty, helping her on her journey to becoming the artist she is today.

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