Kirsten Agresta-Copely chatted about her second career Grammy nomination for “Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album” for “Kuruvinda.”
How did it feel to earn your second Grammy nomination in this category?
It felt both surreal and deeply grounding. You never expect lightning to strike twice, and when it did, it invited a moment of stillness — a moment to take in what this music has meant to people.
Kuruvinda was written during a time when I was learning how to honor the imperfect parts of myself, and to have that journey recognized by the Recording Academy is profoundly meaningful.
How did this Grammy nod differ from the first? (How was it more special/different/unique)?
Aquamarine was created in grief after the death of my Mother, and that first nomination felt like light breaking through the heaviness of immense loss.
Kuruvinda comes from the next chapter—growth, self-examination, and learning to embrace the flawed, evolving parts of myself.
This nomination is special because it acknowledges a different kind of bravery: choosing to step beyond healing into transformation, and letting the compositions reflect that depth and maturity.
What did you love most about this album?
What I love most about this album is the chance it gave me to strengthen my compositional language in ways I hadn’t explored on my previous albums.
Each piece became an opportunity to push my writing further, to refine the balance between complexity and clarity, and to let the harp’s full expressive range guide the architecture of the music.
It was the most intentional and compositionally focused work I’ve done to date, and that growth was incredibly rewarding.
How did you approach the song selection process for this Grammy-nominated album?
The pieces were created quite organically. I composed over the course of a year and really focused on what each piece revealed and what part of the human experience it reflected.
It felt complete when I could see how these tracks formed a cohesive arc about embracing imperfection, beauty, and truth.
What do your plans for the future include?
I plan to keep creating music that feels honest, human, and connected to something larger than myself.
How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age?
It’s both empowering and humbling. On one hand, our music can reach more listeners than ever before, yet it also requires vigilance as AI-generated music grows and streaming replaces the tangible connection of physical recordings.
This era demands a commitment to creating work that is unmistakably human.
I’m grateful that an instrument as ancient as the harp can thrive within modern technology, but I’m equally aware of how essential it is to protect our creative voices.
What is your advice for young and emerging artists?
Nurture the part of you that feels different — that’s usually where your magic lives. Don’t wait for a “perfect time.”
Begin with what you have, where you are, and with the creative voice you possess right now.
Surround yourself with people who lift you up, stay curious, and remember that longevity comes from authenticity, not trends.
Bbove all, give yourself grace. You are allowed to evolve, to stumble, and to shine in unexpected ways.
What does the word success mean to you?
Success to me comes when the music I create reflects my truth, and that truth reaches someone who needs to hear it.
Metrics like streaming numbers, Instagram followers, or Billboard charting aren’t barometers for my perceived success; the deeper value to me is knowing that my music makes people feel seen, soothed, or understood.
What would you like to say to your fans?
Thank you for listening with such open hearts. Your messages, stories, and the way you’ve embraced “Kuruvinda” have meant more to me than I can express.
You’ve turned this album into a shared space of self-reflection and acceptance, and I’m grateful for every single person who found a piece of themselves in this music.
We truly are all imperfect gems — and it’s your light that makes this journey worthwhile.
To learn more about Grammy-nominated harpist and composer Kirsten Agresta-Copely, check out her official website, and follow her on Instagram.
