Bowerbird is pleased to present Liminal States, an ongoing series of in-person performances designed for deep listening and relaxation. Intended to guide audiences to that magic space between wakefulness and sleep, these performances invite listeners to lie down, close their eyes, and immerse themselves in sound. Sink in, bliss out.

This edition features Neel Murgai in a solo set at the Maas Building performing Harmonic Infinity Loops, a solo performance with sitar, overtone singing, frame drums, live looping and effects. Enter the raga dreamscape as psychedelic drones, subtle melodies, primal rhythms and cascading harmonics collide in a meditative sound experience. Time in the music is measured by breaths not bars, as Neel moves slowly between overtone melodies, Indian classical ragas, chords, textures and drumming. Neel will usher the audience into direct participation while teaching overtone singing fundamentals towards the end of the set.

Please bring a blanket, yoga mat, or other similarly comfortable option. Chairs will be limited.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Neel Murgai is a sitarist, overtone singer, daf player, composer and teacher from Brooklyn, NY. He is a co-founder and artistic director of the South Asian music collective, Brooklyn Raga Massive. Neel has studied sitar for 30 years from Pundit Krishna Bhatt. He is a graduate of Goddard College’s MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts program. His work with the band Quadrature showcases his compositions and signature sound with effects in a psychedelic raga rock context. Neel has performed around the world with numerous artists from varying disciplines including, Bill T. Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Wyclef Jean, Andre DeShields, Karsh Kale, Vijay Iyer, Adam Rudolph, Daniel Bernard Romain, Dana Leong, Ellen Stewart, Laraaji, Yuerba Buena, Baba Israel, Raz Mesinai, Mission on Mars, Akim Funk Buddha, Loren Conners, Suzanne Langille, Louis Bellogenis and Cosmo Vinyl. He has performed at venues ranging from the Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center to Late Night with David Letterman to jazz clubs such as the Blue Note and at festivals around the U.S including Art Wallah, Arts Plosure, Masala! Mehndi! Masti! and many others. Neel was the music director for Brooklyn Raga Massive’s recording of Terry Riley’s classic “In C” and co-composed their homage to the maestro, “In D”. Neel played in the orchestra for Disney’s musical theater adaptation of “The Jungle Book” directed by Mary Zimmerman. Neel has composed music for many film, TV, video, theater and dance projects including the features, “The Yes Men Fix the World”, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and “A Decent Arrangement” starring Shabana Azmi.

Organized in collaboration with World Askew