Kiran Gandhi

Kiran Gandhi, also known by her stage name Madame Gandhi, is an American electronic music producer, drummer, artist and activist.[1]

Gandhi's music career includes being a touring drummer for artists M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, and Kehlani. Her music and activism focuses on female empowerment and fourth-wave feminism. In 2015, she excreted period blood on 42.195 kilometers of London streets as a symbolic act to combat global menstrual stigma. She has performed in music festivals such as Pitchfork, Lightning in a Bottle, Roskilde and SXSW.

Life and career

Early life and education

Gandhi, born February 21, 1989, is the daughter of philanthropist Meera Gandhi and social entrepreneur Vikram Gandhi.[2] Growing up, Gandhi spent time in both New York City and Bombay, India.[3]

In 2011, Gandhi received her undergraduate degree in mathematics, political science and women's studies from Georgetown University. After graduating she began an internship as the first digital analyst at Interscope Records based in Santa Monica, California. This position later became full-time. Gandhi used her mathematics skill to analyze patterns in Spotify streaming data and other digital media.[3][4][5]

In 2015 Gandhi received her MBA from Harvard University.[3]

Early career

In 2012, Gandhi recorded live drums accompanying the M.I.A. track "Bad Girls." In February 2013, M.I.A. wrote to Gandhi praising the recording and asked her to play drums for the tour supporting the album Matangi.[4] At the same time Gandhi accepted an offer to study at Harvard Business School.[6] Gandhi left Interscope Records in 2013.[7]

2016-2017: Voices

In 2016, her debut musical release Voices (EP) was published.[6]

In 2017, Gandhi collaborated with female-identifying producers to release Voices Remixed. That year, she also ran the Vancouver Marathon and was the opening act for Ani DiFranco's Rise Up Tour. Gandhi toured Europe and India and also spoke at Airbnb, Pandora Radio, Spotify, the United Nations, and on college campuses.

Public Image

In 2015, Gandhi ran the London Marathon free-bleeding on her period as a symbolic act to combat menstrual stigma around the world, sparking a viral conversation about how menstrual health and hygiene is treated in various cultures.[8]

Awards

Gandhi was on the list of the BBC's 100 Women announced on 23 November 2020.[9]

References
  1. "Madame Gandhi: About". Madame Gandhi.
  2. Khurana, Suanshu (2014-06-02). "Indian-origin percussionist Kiran Gandhi drums up a storm in the US". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  3. "ABOUT – Madame Gandhi Blog". web.archive.org. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  4. "How Drummer Kiran Gandhi Began Touring With M.I.A. -". 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  5. "Madame Gandhi On The Intersectionality Of Feminism And Why "The Future Is Female"". Vibe. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  6. http://www.laweekly.com/music/for-mia-drummer-madame-gandhi-the-future-is-female-is-more-than-just-a-song-title-7976743
  7. https://madamegandhi.blog/hi/
  8. "Kiran Gandhi discusses free bleeding while running the London Marathon". New York Times. NYT. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  9. "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
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