Sahej Bakshi aka Dualist Inquiry is back after nearly three years with an instrumental and atmospheric EP that looks as much inward as out. “I released Life Forms after a break from writing music. I’ve taken a slightly different approach to writing and recording songs here,” says Bakshi, of the four tracks on show.

Fans of the producer/ DJ/ guitarist will recognise this shift towards live instrumentation, a strong emphasis on mood and atmosphere that marks a gradual progression of Bakshi’s trademark guitar-meets-minimal electronica sound. Life Forms tells the story of an artist – albeit a successful one – rebuilding and reflecting, deliberately moving away from noisy, hectic cityscapes to a slower existence.

“The EP, as the name would suggest, is inspired by and a homage to the complexity of nature and all the life forms that exist on our planet. Last year, I moved away from a busy city life to a much quieter place surrounded by forests, wildlife and nature. On some level, I had bigger questions – what will my next EP sound like? These came from me feeling lost and weary and questioning everything,” says Bakshi.

Dualist Inquiry has become a key name in the burgeoning independent music scene in India, tapping into smaller groups and large audiences alike. A big-ticket headline artist with a spatter of full-length releases and EPs under his belt, Bakshi was largely responsible for making minimalist electronic pop and dance music de rigueur to listeners in a space where mainstream electronic music was relegated to EDM. There’s always a flip side to all that recognition though.

“My journey of being a professional musician had once been really beautiful and gratifying, but it was also full of high highs and low lows, which took their toll on my sense of well-being and left me feeling a bit drained. It was only because I stepped away and removed the pressure to continuously perform that I was able to be creative again. If there’s anything I’ve learned during this hiatus, it is that certain things aren’t worth compromising, for anything – your own health, your connections with your loved ones and doing what’s truly meaningful for you,” confesses Bakshi.

Chock-full of self-discovery and a growing need to “get back to basics”, Life Forms’ titular track soundtracks excerpts from an educational lecture on cells, mixed in with breezy, surf rock style guitar.

‘Delta Wave’ follows in cinematic fashion, with just a little bit of added tension. ‘Echo Park’ is all about quiet reflection – hopeful, soaring guitar riffs interspersed with ambient nature sounds. The EP closes with a club-ready edit of the title track, tailored for the 2019-2020 festival circuit, an instant crowd-puller.

With storytelling, evolution, live instruments and original artwork by long-time collaborator, Nikhil Kaul aka Frame/Frame – Life Forms is an immersive EP that’s ready for the stage.

You can stream the Life Forms EP here.

Red Bull Presents Dualist Inquiry at the Hornbill Festival will take place in Dimapur on December 5th. Get tickets to the festival here.