Tag Archive for ‘Dileep Kaur’ at MrSikhNet

Tag Archive for 'Dileep Kaur'

New Generation of Sikh Women Musicians and Gurbani

Published

on February 27, 2007

in 2007 Picks and Audio

. 23 Comments

In the little circle of friends and people that I interact with I have noticed quite a few young Sikh women who have really touched my heart through their music, voice and the Gurbani that they sing. It’s the type of thing that when I hear them sing I just feel bliss and at peace. I know that it might be different for you, and that someone you love listening to might not have the same effect on me, so I am just sharing my own experience.

It does not seem to be very common to have Sikh Women play Gurbani Kirtan in most Gurdwaras (especially in India). We are so used to seeing the typical male ragi jatha. We have never even seen/heard a female jatha do kirtan in Harimandir Sahib. I think times are changing though and it is only a matter of time before we are "out with the old ways" and in with the new. Maybe in the past women were not encouraged or allowed to "take the stage" in Gurdwaras, but I think as Sikh women feel more empowered this will change. The previous obedient submissive woman will change to something more in line with the times. This change I think is happening more rapidly in the west (USA, Canada, UK) where Sikh women are growing up under different circumstances and are able to explore music in a way that traditionally in India was not as common.

In my sangat here things are quite different from the norm. Probably over 95% of the musicians that play at Gurdwara are women. Women around here love to be musically involved! I guess the guys are not as interested in music. Maybe too busy playing warcraft or some other video game. Seriously though, One can only guess what the difference is for men and women. When I was younger I used to love playing piano, however in school I never had the opportunity to learn more or study other instruments. Now all I have is my voice…so I love to at least sit with others and sing as backup. My mother always tries to encourage me, but I have too much going on in my life right now so will have to wait till a later stage in my life to seriously study music.

I am always inspired when I hear young Sikh women express Gurbani music in their own way. I feel like more and more young Sikh women are feeling empowered and able to use their voice and musical talents to share Guru’s Bani in a way that comes from the heart.

There is something about the musical energy and sound of a woman that is different from that of a man. I feel like women have a motherly nurturing energy and naturally sing more from the heart.

Every culture expresses musically in a different way based on upbringing and musical influences of that region/culture and I see this musical influence through all the new young Sikh musicians. So someone who grows up in America, Chile, Mexico, UK, India, etc., will will be the influenced by the type of music they grow up with. Having grown up a lot in India and America I love music with a mix of western and Indian influence. I hope that the Sikh youth of today feel free to explore music and sing from the heart. Music has a way of bringing people together in a way that words and dialog cannot.

Who are Some of Your Favorite Female Sikh Musicians?

I was thinking about doing a poll, but then I realized that there are probably (or at least hopefully) lots of Sikh women who are musicians out there who I don’t know about. I would love to know some of your favorites! Post a comment on this blog listing your favorites. If you have any mp3 files, send them my way so I can share them with everyone. You can use the service yousendit.com to send the file to my email gmustuk at sikhnet com (make the obvious correction in the email).

I am sure there are many more young Sikh musicians out there but here are some of my favorites, and ones that I listen to. If you click on the links you can hear some of their music and download mp3 files.

(I’m sure I missed someone but this is what I can think of right now)

When I first started this blog post I was just going to post a few new audio tracks that I found on the internet of Dileep Kaur…and now look what I got myself into!!?? Hahaha… a much longer blog post and a whole other topic, that is for sure. Anways… here are some audio tracks for your enjoyment…

Dileep Kaur - Simran
Download

Dileep Kaur - Simran (Guitar)
Download

Dileep Kaur - Sun Sajjan Preet
Download

Dileep Kaur - Vaho Vaho Gobind Singh
Download

Bibi Rena Kaur - Simran
Download

Ik Ardaas Bhaat Keerat Kee

Published

Gurumustuk Singh

on September 9, 2006

in 2006 Picks and Audio

. 11 Comments

It’s late Saturday night and I am going through some of the raw audio files from one of the Summer Solstice Camp Gurdwaras (June 2006), editing out some of the Shabads that I like. Then I come across this one: "Ik ardaas bhaat keerat kee gur raamdaas raakho sarnaa-ee" (shabad text), sung by two of my favorite young musicians (Dileep Kaur and Nirinjan Kaur, both from Canada). Quite a few of my friends have been gifted with such beautiful voices that really come from the heart and take me to another place (Hari Bhajan Kaur and Snatam Kaur included as my favorites!).

Press the play button below (if you are not already hearing the shabad) & read on

Download

As I listen to this Shabad my stress from the day just seems to melt away. I feel myself start to breath deeper; inhaling in, and out, as my muscles relax and my eyes close. I feel myself travel to another place in my mind; sitting before Guru Ram Das Ji; tears of joy flowing down my face as his gentle glance seems to take all my pain and troubles away. I feel the warmth of the Guru surround me, re-assuring me that everything is taken care of, and all is in his hands. The love of the Guru has awakened my heart and roused my soul. Wahe Guru! It is such a blessing we all have as Sikhs to have such a Guru! Yet, we only need to "wake up" and surrender to our Guru. Leaving all your sorrow, worries, pain and troubles for him to take care of. God can revolve the earth, so he surely can take care of your affairs!

As you listen to the shabad; close your eyes; slow your breath down; consciously breathing in slowly, and very deeply (through your nose), filling your whole lungs. Then slowly exhale and let your breath out. Continue this long and deep breathing (in and out) as you listen to the shabad, feeling the Gurus Bani fuse/join with every cell in your body (Ang Sang Wahe Guru!).

Shabad Translation in English: "I am overflowing with sins and demerits; I have no merits or virtues at all. I abandoned the Ambrosial Nectar, and I drank poison instead. I am attached to Maya, and deluded by doubt; I have fallen in love with my children and spouse. I have heard that the most exalted Path of all is the Sangat, the Guru’s Congregation. Joining it, the fear of death is taken away. Keerat the poet offers this one prayer: O Guru Raam Daas, save me! Take me into Your Sanctuary!" - SGGS Page 1406 - Swaiyas In Praise Of The Fourth Mehl, Bal

Musicians: Dileep Kaur and Nirinjan Kaur (Vancover - Canada)

Shabad: Ik Ardaas Bhaat Keerat Kee Gur Raamdaas Raakho Sarnaa-ee

Listen to previously featured MP3 audio by Dileep Kaur

Spirit Voyage Idol Competition @ Yogi Tea Cafe

Published

Gurumustuk Singh

on June 24, 2006

in 2006 Picks, Audio, Espanola Life, Gurbani, Musicians and Videos

. 9 Comments

I am back from a beautiful week up in the mountains above Espanola, New Mexico at the Summer Solstice Camp. I had a great experience (as I normally do). Just me and Narayan camping out with 1,300+ other people from all over the world. It was quite dry and hot this year so was more of a challenge dealing with the elements, but in the end it is the outcome of the full experience that really counts. As normally happens after the week of the camp I am processing (mentally) all kinds of stuff. The camp always has a way of re-connecting me in many ways. It’s hard to explain the feeling.

Anyways… I took some pictures (not a whole lot) and recorded some videos which I will start to share in the coming days, so that you can see some parts of the camp. I thought I would do a lot more (pictures/video) but it was too much with the dry heat, doing the camp activities, long days, and taking care of Narayan.

For the past few years at the Summer/Winter Solstice camps we have had evening/night music "jam sessions" titled "Yogi Tea Cafe" where any musician can perform to the camp attendees as we drink our Yogi Tea. At the summer Solstice camp the evenings are a nice time to relax, get relief from the day of dry heat, and just hang out and talk with friends (or make new ones).

This year we had a fun new event at the Yogi Tea Cafe which was an event organized by Spirit Voyage Music. This is the music company that produces Snatam Kaur’s CDs and sells lots of great spiritual music and related products. The event was called "Spirit Voyage Idol", which is a twist on the TV show "American Idol" (though it was very different than the TV show in all respects). Over the course of the week different musicians who signed up for the event performed outside under a huge tent and the audience was given ballots to vote for a certain number of their favorite musicians. First two days we voted for 3 out of something like 7 people. The winners from the first rounds went to the semi-finals which we had to then vote for 2 out of 6 people. The last day we had to chose between the two musicians who made it to the finals. It was great fun hearing all the different styles of music and how many of the participants supported each other by providing backup musical roles for each other.

The final night we had heard music from Sat Purkh Kaur (from Espanola, NM) and Dileep Kaur (AKA: Deep Kaur from Surrey, Canada). After their performances and everyone voted, it was such a close vote that they had to re-count the votes 4-5 times just to make sure of the count. Dileep Kaur got the most votes and won the Spirit Voyage Idol competition, which means she gets some prize cash and a $5,000 recording contract (meaning she’ll be producing a CD in the near future).

Here is the audio/video from the three nights that Dileep Kaur performed. I’ll post some of the other performances in the coming days.

Download Video (108MB)

Gobinday Mukhanday
Download

Ong Namo Gurudev Namo
Download

Sun Sajan Preetam Mayraya
Download

Featured MP3 Gurbani File

Published

Gurumustuk Singh

on February 24, 2006

in 2006 Picks and Audio

. 14 Comments

There are so many Gurbani MP3 files out there and it can be quite overwhelming. So, I take it upon myself to share some "Gurbani mp3 picks" which I think stand out. Everyone has different tastes so I am just sharing the things that I like.

The last time I posted some Kirtan by Dalip Kaur was last june from the Summer solstice camp here in Espanola. If you haven’t heard those already…check them out.

Some people had asked me to post some more of her Kirtan so here is another one that I just came across while going through my MP3 files. It is a slow and meditative shabad and makes me feel relaxed.

Music by: Dalip Kaur
Shabad: Sae Sanjog Karo Maerae Pyaarae (8.3MB)

Gurumustuk’s Gurbani MP3 Pick

Published

Gurumustuk Singh

on August 18, 2005

in Audio

. 17 Comments

Here are some more Shabads from the all night Rensubhai Kirtan from the 2003 Summer Solstice camp in Espanola, NM. The first and second two are by different Sikh women.

The first two tracks I remember very well (even though it was from 2 years ago). At the Summer Solstice camp I always seem to go through all kinds of personal and spiritual changes. It is a time which brings up the different issues in my life at the time. The environment really makes me think about my life and make changes. I always seem to have some emotional moments/releases during the camp where tears flow. It is normally during the early morning Sadhana meditations or during Shabads at Gurdwara. The love and beauty of some people playing Shabads just spark those feelings.

In any case…each MP3 track has it’s own unique style and quality. I hope you enjoy them.

Music by: Dalip Kaur (Sada Sat Simran Singh and others as backup male vocals).
Shabads: