Ricky has always identified as a musician and an environmentalist

It’s a struggle to make music you are passionate about and find an audience that would agree with you. RICKY KEJ, Composer

Three-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej, who has been chosen as the Face of Earth Hour India 2023, says he has always identified as both a musician and an environmentalist. “Eight years ago, I decided that every single piece of music that I would make would be about the environment or areas concerning it,” says the Himalayas and Ganga composer, admitting that committing his music to a cause and creating melodies that centre largely around one specific subject has been a challenge. “You have to find your audience, because not everyone is going to like your music. It’s a struggle to stick to making music that you are passionate about and finding an audience that would agree with you. That’s the case with all non-mainstream music, be it jazz, techno, classical, folk or heavy metal,” he explains.

Earth Hour 2023, to be held on March 25 at 8.30pm, aims to mobilise people around the world to give an hour for the planet and switch off nonessential electric lights for one hour. Kej, who has been working with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) for almost five years now, shares the reason behind his passion for the environment and his role as torchbearer of the campaign. “The biggest problem on our planet is over-consumption, and every other issue [stems] from there. So, campaigns like Earth Hour will not just be a step to save energy, but also an opportunity for humans to introspect and think about creating a cyclable economy,” he signs off.