(UN)LEARN

How do we find true freedom when we are simply too tired to carry the weight of our own thoughts? Ahead of their Total Response performance in New York, critically acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid and artist Nirbhai nep Sidhu join Deep for an unfiltered exploration of music, memory, and endurance. Angel shares nostalgic reflections on her childhood parlour room and how watching Amadeus sparked a hidden, lifelong obsession with classical music. We discuss art and music as essential portals that allow us to explore beyond.

Shifting to the "Battlefield of the Mind," Angel opens up with raw honesty about the physical and emotional exhaustion of carrying heavy burdens, opening the door for Deep to share a transformative perspective on how to access genuine inner freedom. Finally, we dive into the transformative power of repetition and discipline, proving that rigorous practice is not a constraint, but the ultimate tool for personal growth and self-mastery.

Angel Bat Dawid is a phenomenal Chicago-based composer, clarinetist, singer, and educator whose radical, genre-defying work interacts deeply with memory, spirituality, and the rich lineage of Black jazz avant-garde. nep Sidhu is an interdisciplinary practitioner whose work explores the metaphysics of form and spatial rhythm within community. Together, they embody a courageous commitment to the constant evolution of the self and the spirit.

What keeps you on the path when the world tries to pull you away? Ahead of their TOTAL RESPONSE performance in New York, artist Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu and legendary musician Ishmael Butler join Deep K Kailey to explore the "compulsion" that drives the seeker. They discuss the bravery required to evolve your art in a world that demands consistency, and the fascinating challenge of naming the "unnamed"—the realisation that by the time an artwork is defined, the creator has already moved on to the next.
 
Ishmael Butler is a Grammy-winning musician and pioneer (Digable Planets, Shabazz Palaces), celebrated for his experimental approach to sonic architecture. nep Sidhu is an interdisciplinary practitioner whose work explores the metaphysics of form and spatial rhythm within community. Together, they embody a courageous commitment to the constant evolution of the self and the spirit.

Is true play an act of discipline? Ahead of their TOTAL RESPONSE performance in New York, artists Carlos Niño and Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu join Deep K Kailey to explore the rigorous yet joyful practice of creative expression. They discuss the concept of Simran and the profound responsibility of sharing it with care and integrity. Exploring their deep artistic connection, they reflect on the freedom found in the 'just doing'—where creation becomes a boundaryless act. The conversation moves into the nature of a "weak mind" and how easily it is influenced.
Carlos Niño is an internationally renowned percussionist, producer, and composer known for his collaborative approach to spiritual jazz and ambient music (and the concerts Music Director). nep Sidhu is an interdisciplinary practitioner whose work explores the metaphysics of form and spatial rhythm. In collaboration with without SHAPE without FORM and other artists, they create immersive experiences that challenge the boundaries of sound and spirit.

What do you do when a "creative" industry fails to fulfill your purpose? Artist Sejal Parekh shares her non-linear journey, from earning a BA in fine art to years in marketing, and the essential pull that brought her back to the studio. She discusses her experiential sculptural work, including a piece inspired by a vivid memory of a stone handmill (chaki) that was contested by others. We explore the deep freedom in unlearning the need for context, allowing art to be experienced directly, and the joy of finding your true path home.

Sejal Parekh is a British-Indian cross-disciplinary artist whose sculptural practice serves as a cartographic intervention into the geographies of displacement. Her work transforms objects and motifs into complex instruments of critical refusal. https://sejalparekh.art/

Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

How do we stay grounded in our purpose when the world offers us the trap of ego? BAFTA-longlisted animator Gagandeep Kaur Chahal joins us to discuss the profound shift in perspective that motherhood has brought to her life and work. We explore the deep research behind her acclaimed animation 'Cha', inspired by the incredible resilience, love and detachment of Bibi Jagdish Kaur, and what it means to practice detachment in a high-stakes creative industry. Gagandeep shares her commitment to making art for its original purpose rather than views or accolades, while offering a critical look at AI and why it can never replace the contextual, lived human experience that gives art its soul.

Gagandeep Kaur Chahal is a BAFTA-nominated animator and artist celebrated for her ability to weave complex narratives with emotional depth. Her work often explores themes of history, memory, and resilience, combining technical mastery with a commitment to storytelling that prioritises human connection over digital convenience.