Baul Music of Bengal, a Talk With Arzeen Kamal & Nazia Islam

Baul Music of Bengal, a talk with vocalist Arzeen Kamal and anthropolgist Nazia Islam

In the PRS Library!

Join Arzeen Kamal and Nazia Islam for a presentation on Baul Culture and Music. The evening will consist of an introduction to Baul music, philosophy, and some live songs. The presentation will touch on themes of the definition of Baul identity, core philosophical teachings found across various lineages, common Baul instruments, and songs composed by Lalon Shah.

This talk is being held at PRS in support of The Resonance Collective's Golden Thread Series concert Bondhu Bajao Sur (play the melody my friend) - an evening of Bengali music with world renowned vocalist Arzeen Kamal. The concert takes place on Sunday, April 6th at 5pm at the First Congregational Church LA.

Nazia Islam (she/her) is an academic librarian and artist with a background in anthropology and religious studies. She has earned her degrees from Syracuse University and Claremont School of Theology. Her research interests include folk religion, religious syncretism, and gender and sexuality. Nazia writes poetry and likes to experiment with various art forms.

Arzeen Kamal is a Los Angeles-based Bengali singer-songwriter, born and raised in Bangladesh. Deeply influenced by Bengali folk legends like Lalon Shah, he performs traditional folk music while also collaborating with electronic music producers in the EDM genre. His performances are immersive and thrive on audience participation. With a background in cultural anthropology, his college research explored contemporary Bangladeshi music and its perception among urban, educated youth, sparking a deeper interest in the cultural aspects of music. His research interests include ethnomusicology, folk music, the relationship between music and sexuality, musical expression in conservative societies as a means of conveying suppressed emotions, and the embodiment of music.

Tickets: $10 Suggested Donation (In-Person Event Only)

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

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