I hope I can get to people’s hearts with my music, says Grammy winner Falu

This year, Falguni Shah aka Falu won the Grammy Award for in the category. The New York based singer stands out amidst the other Grammy winners because she is only Indian-origin woman Grammy winner, who was born, raised and musically trained in India and also the only woman to be nominated in the Best Children’s Album category at the Grammys, twice (for Falu’s Bazaar in 2019).
An Indian-American woman winning the Grammy is momentous and the classically trained singer from the Jaipur gharana agrees.“It’s extremely important for an Indian-American to have won a Grammy Award because this reinforces the message that women can also have their work recognized. It opens doors for other women to be encouraged and submit their work as well, and hopefully it inspires younger generations,” she says.
In her over two-decade long career, Falu has worked and collaborated with AR Rahman, Karsh Kale, Ricky Martin, Yo-Yo Ma, her guru Ustad Sultan Khan and many others, and has been a visiting lecturer of Indian music in Boston. Known for representing a new class of musical hybrid, her 'Indie Hindi' style is all about desi vocals mingled seamlessly with edgy, American rock. “Winning the award with this album was amazing because it means that my music peers appreciated the work that my team and I did. The album, , contains children’s themes, and it also incorporates messages of togetherness and inclusiveness. It is a children’s music album made for children and families,” she says.
The singer who was born in Mumbai is excited about her trip to her homeland this month. She will be performing in Mumbai, Pune and Goa, touted to be her first after two decades.
“Performing in Mumbai means so much to me. Coming back to my place of origin and giving back to my community with my art is a dream come true. I am very grateful for this opportunity and for everyone who is attending my shows and making this tour possible,” she says.
Falu has been known to bridge cultural gaps with music and her New York based band ‘Falu’ comprises musicians who create a mix of the music from East and West showcasing Indian classical, alternative rock, contemporary pop, and electronic styles. The singer left India 22 years ago and has been living in America ever since.
Talking about what inspired her to create this kind of music she reveals, “The one memory that inspired me was when my son asked me why he has different skin color and what that meant. He inspired me to make music that would have a positive message and meaning.”

When asked what she was looking forward to the most, she says, “I am looking forward to continuing performing and making meaningful music. I hope I can get to people’s hearts with my music and continue spreading messages of peace, love, and togetherness into the world.”