Outernational

Amirtha Kidambi
  • 5.0 (10)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED DAILY

Outernational is a podcast that explores the relationship between music and revolution, featuring discussions with musicians who are using their music and platforms to grapple with the intersecting global crises of our times. Hosted by Amirtha Kidambi, a vocalist, improviser, composer, organizer and educator, the conversations highlight the role of music in shaping social consciousness and sharing stories and strategies to inspire us in our collective struggle and build solidarity. Introduced by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, “Outernationalism” is a concept that defies creative, spiritual and political borders, exploring our relationships as listeners, artists and culture workers outside of global capitalism and nation-states. Credits: Amirtha Kidambi, edited by Z Park, Intro music by Amirtha Kidambi “Proper Burial”, Recorded at Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, Clips from Episode 1 with Angel Bat Dawid and Episode 2 with Greg Saunier amirthakidambi.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Special Live Edition of Outernational at Le Guess Who? Festival

    12H AGO

    Special Live Edition of Outernational at Le Guess Who? Festival

    Listen, Like, Follow, Subscribe and Review on Substack / Apple Podcasts /YouTube Credits: Recorded Live at Le Guess Who? festival on November 8th, 2025 in Utrecht, Netherlands, produced by Z Park with a musical performance by the panelists and guest, Mohammad Mehrabani It’s 2026, the Sun is in Aquarius, and the people of the world are demanding revolution. It’s been an a rocky year to say the least, but there are hopeful signs of collective solidarity and people connecting the dots around the world. From ICE terrorizing the people of Minneapolis, to the IOF in Gaza and the West Bank, or neo-Colonial Imperialist fantasies coming to life of seizing land and resources in Latin America, the Middle East and Greenland, we are starting to understand how global capital strangles working people on every corner of this planet. These interconnected threats require international solidarity between oppressed people around the world, and we plant seeds by sharing stories, songs, strategies and struggle, in any way possible (don’t forget to participate in the general strike on Friday Jan 30, if you reside on Turtle Island/occupied US). This was the premise of the Outernational podcast, and January’s special Live Edition is proof of concept. Featuring legendary poet/musician Saul Williams, Sonic Liberation Front founder, Dirar Kalash from Palestine and South African musicians Masello Motana and Asher Gamedze, we had a kaleidoscopic conversation across borders, histories and struggles, using Le Guess Who? festival as a community gathering. As Saul said during his set earlier that evening, every concert is a meeting. Music transcends borders and musicians know how to organize. Listening to this conversation again gave me much needed inspiration to persist among escalating terrors in the United States and around the world. Each of these artists is a deep thinker and organizer in their community, using their platforms in ingenious, creative and subversive trickster ways. The conversation is bursting with wisdom, from historical lessons to deeply embodied cultural memory. After our discussion, we flowed directly into and improvised performance, joined by my dear Iranian-Canadian friend Mohammad Mehrabani aka Saint Abdullah. After tuning ourselves in dialogue, we tuned vibrationally, digesting our thoughts and allowing them to take sonic form. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amirthakidambi.substack.com

    1h 21m
  2. Outernational Episode 4: Omar Ahmad

    11/24/2025

    Outernational Episode 4: Omar Ahmad

    In this installment, I chat with Palestinian American Composer, Sound Artist, Producer and Electronic Musician Omar Ahmad. We had a sprawling conversation that probably could have lasted several hours, discussing the complexities of being Palestinian in diaspora, being a skater kid in Bay Ridge, how it has been to make art during a genocide of your own people and some hopeful/helpful advice on what each of us might contribute in these maddening times. It’s a bit surreal to listen back to this one which we recorded over the summer, now in this “ceasefire” period when things feel unbelievably dark and in some ways, worse that there is a veneer of a new status quo. Listening to this convo again gave me hope, but more importantly some much needed perspective and I hope it can do the same for you! You can listen, subscribe, follow, like and share on Substack, Apple Podcasts and YouTube! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amirthakidambi.substack.com

    1h 33m
  3. Outernational Episode 3: Ian Lynch

    10/20/2025

    Outernational Episode 3: Ian Lynch

    In this episode, I had a great chat with Ian Lynch of the absolute class Irish bands Lankum and One Leg One Eye. We talked about the the anarcho-punk scene in Dublin where he came up, the politics of the Irish language and traditional music, anti-colonial solidarity and resonances across the histories of Ireland, India and Palestine, and the experience of touring over last two years while speaking out against the genocide, facing repression, cancellations and awkward vibes with audiences. This episode was edited by Z Park, engineered by me and recorded remotely from Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, featuring the music of Lankum and One Leg One Eye. You can listen here on Substack or on Apple Music and YouTube. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amirthakidambi.substack.com

    1h 25m
  4. Outernational Episode 2: Greg Saunier

    09/22/2025

    Outernational Episode 2: Greg Saunier

    In this episode, I sat down in-studio at Pioneer Works with Greg Saunier, drummer and founder of legendary indie band Deerhoof. We talk about Deerhoof’s early history in San Francisco before the Bay Area tech boom and the band's recent decision to leave Spotify, leading a mass exodus away from the platform, which is entangled with military AI tech. Importantly, we discuss late stage capitalism and imperialism, our role and complicity as musicians, and what we can do about it. Recorded on the same day that Deerhoof announced they were ditching Spotify! Outernational is a new podcast where I talk to musicians who are activists/organizers, using their platforms for change and making music that is socially engaged in these revolutionary times. Subscribe, like, follow, review and share on Substack @amirthakidambi / Apple Podcasts / YouTube Credits: Hosted by Amirtha Kidambi, Edited by Z Park, Music by Deerhoof “Immigrant Songs,” Recorded at Pioneer Works, Brooklyn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amirthakidambi.substack.com

    1h 34m
  5. Outernational Episode 1: Angel Bat Dawid

    08/18/2025

    Outernational Episode 1: Angel Bat Dawid

    Episode 1 of the Outernational podcast is live! I had an incredible conversation with Angel Bat Dawid about her work as an outspoken musician and educator, working to uplift Black youth on the South and West Side of Chicago. Angel is a composer, improviser, clarinetist, pianist/synthesist, vocalist, DJ and bandleader of Angel Dawid and Tha Brotherhood, Sistazz of the Nitty Gritty and has worked with Damon Lock’s Black Monument Ensemble among many other projects. We talked about how there is no growth without discomfort and sometimes Angel is gonna make you squirm! Outernational is a new podcast where I talk to musicians who are activists/organizers, using their platforms for change and making music that is socially engaged in these revolutionary times. Listen on Substack @amirthakidambi /Apple Podcasts/YouTube Credits: Hosted by Amirtha Kidambi, Recorded at Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, Edited by Z Park, Music by Angel Bat Dawid “The Black Family.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amirthakidambi.substack.com

    1h 21m
  6. Outernational Trailer

    08/04/2025

    Outernational Trailer

    Trailer Credits: Featuring Amirtha Kidambi, edited by Z Park, Music by Amirtha Kidambi “Proper Burial”, Recorded at Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, Clips from Episode 1, with Angel Bat Dawid and Episode 2, with Greg Saunier Hello friends, family and comrades, I’m excited to announce the launch of a new podcast hosted by yours truly. This is one of the many things I’ve been working on in my Working Artist Fellowship at Pioneer Works and I’m excited to finally share it with you! Outernational is a podcast that explores the relationship between music and revolution, featuring discussions with musicians who are using their art platforms to grapple with the intersecting global crises of our times. Hosted by Amirtha Kidambi, a vocalist, improviser, composer, organizer and educator, the conversations highlight the role of music in shaping social and political consciousness and sharing stories and strategies to inspire us in our collective struggle to build solidarity. Introduced by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, “Outernationalism” is a concept that defies creative, spiritual and political borders, exploring our relationships as listeners, artists and culture workers outside of global capitalism and nation-states. You can listen to a preview of the pod and my perspective on the whole endeavor. The first episode releasing soon, features Angel Bat Dawid, talking about her work as an artist and educator in Chicago. You can also look forward to an episode with Greg Saunier of the band Deerhoof discussing our entanglements with capitalist imperialism! The pod will be available on most platforms, other than Spotify (you’ll hear about on the episode with Greg!). I hope these conversations can inspire us through these challenging times and give us some strategies for navigating and resisting. Solidarity! Amirtha This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amirthakidambi.substack.com

    6 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Outernational is a podcast that explores the relationship between music and revolution, featuring discussions with musicians who are using their music and platforms to grapple with the intersecting global crises of our times. Hosted by Amirtha Kidambi, a vocalist, improviser, composer, organizer and educator, the conversations highlight the role of music in shaping social consciousness and sharing stories and strategies to inspire us in our collective struggle and build solidarity. Introduced by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, “Outernationalism” is a concept that defies creative, spiritual and political borders, exploring our relationships as listeners, artists and culture workers outside of global capitalism and nation-states. Credits: Amirtha Kidambi, edited by Z Park, Intro music by Amirtha Kidambi “Proper Burial”, Recorded at Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, Clips from Episode 1 with Angel Bat Dawid and Episode 2 with Greg Saunier amirthakidambi.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Amirtha Kidambi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Amirtha Kidambi
  • Show Website
    Outernational