Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Keeg made the most of French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron’s visit to India. The musician accompanied his “friends” on their plane from France.
After Mumbai, he accompanied them to Delhi, where he visited Humayun’s majestic tomb with Brigitte Macron while the president attended the Artificial Intelligence Summit on Thursday.
On board the presidential plane
“I was invited to this three-day delegation, and when I was in France, I joined him on his presidential plane. I have known the President since 2022 when he hosted an event in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Paris. I had the opportunity to sit with President Macron and Prime Minister Modi during that dinner. Since then, we have stayed in touch as I have performed in France several times and also collaborated with artists,” he told HT City.
On the plane, Cage says, he approached each person and met them individually. “They are both very generous and kind people. I also had the opportunity to have dinner with him in the conference room of the plane. It was nice to spend some time with them.”
Musical collaboration!
Regarding the musical relationship with the president, Cage says: “He’s very good because he’s a musician himself, actually. He studied music, so he’s very interested in art and culture. He attaches great importance to art and culture and also to music. So it’s very interesting to talk to him. He understands all forms of music.”
Cage composed a piece that he shared with the president. “During this trip, I wrote a song in my hotel room studio — a laptop and a mobile device that I always carry with me — and sent it to him. He really liked it, and I’m going to release it soon. It’s a world-class piece of music.”
The musician has collaboration in mind. “I hope one day I can collaborate with him. Maybe after he retires…”
Delhi trip
In the capital, he accompanied them to an event held at the French Institute before heading to Humayun’s Tomb with the First Lady and other delegates.
“We were in Delhi where he was surrounded by about 150 to 200 people. He didn’t leave until he had actually spoken to everyone he wanted to talk to, not like ‘goodbye’ or taking a photo, you know, like a proper conversation with each person. So it’s very rare to see that nowadays. People are always in a rush, but he’s very interested in listening to everyone and learning from everyone, which is an absolutely amazing trait in a world leader,” she headed back to France.
