Get to know...Ricky Kej

Composer and UN Goodwill Ambassador, Ricky Kej (@RickyKej) recalls the time he met Hans Zimmer and the point when his musical journey began

Get to know...Ricky Kej

Currently, I am

Creating music with Vedam Records, under Universal Music India. And I’m hoping that my album, Break of Dawn, wins a Grammy in a few days!

High point in life

At 17, I got my first professional keyboard. It was my first tangible step into the world of music.

Low point in life

I erase most lows from my memory. It’s my mind’s way of making room for the positive.

On my playlist

The Face of Love, by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Eddie Vedder; The Emptiness Machine, by Linkin Park.

One thing I would never buy

Anything tobacco-related.

Today, I am craving

A truly restful night’s sleep!

Last thing I ordered online

A set of three steps for my old Golden Retriever so he can hop onto my bed easily.

Advice for my 18-year-old self

Do not waste time doubting yourself. Had I known that music would become my career, I would have thrown myself in without hesitation.

Favourite subject in school

Music and Biology.

My secret skill is

I have an incredible memory of people, incidents, words, and moments.

A magic tool I wish I had

One that lets me listen to my music with fresh ears.

My favourite Sunday memory

Mornings in Bengaluru with my family at the Vidhan Soudha—picnicking on the lawns, eating peanuts, and playing football with the monkeys around us. It was pure, simple joy.

My most star-struck moment

Meeting Hans Zimmer after my first Grammy win in 2015. I asked him for a selfie and we chatted briefly.

My favourite bad habit

Pizzas, burgers, anything cheesy and fried.

If I could time-travel

I would jump ahead to see the world I will miss. I wonder if humanity will finally embrace environmental responsibility.

The best thing about fame

The love and pride people show for my achievements are deeply moving. It is incredibly humbling when someone tells me I have made India proud.

The worst thing about fame

The inability to go incognito, especially when I am at a concert enjoying another artist’s music. I wish I could blend in and keep the spotlight on the stage.