Samora Pinderhughes Venus Smiles Not In The House Of Tears

Forgive Yourself. Learn to live with yourself. Don't hurt yourself.This is the mantra of the new album Venus Smiles Not in theHouse of Tears from Samora Pinderhughes. Made over 8 yearswith loving detail by Pinderhughes and his longtime producerJack DeBoe, it is a deeply personal exploration & reflection ofmental health in the modern age. It tells a non-linear story abouta relationship that didn't last, and the lessons learned through it.How can love exist when grief is in the way? Musically it'sintentionally tough to pin down. Although Pinderhughes isJuilliard-trained, Venus is an open-genre exploration of musicmakingwith wide-ranging production and a cinematic landscapeof feeling and spirit. From quiet, contemplative piano pieces tohard-hitting and soulful full band jams, to expansive and fullthroatedchoir celebrations, Venus is a fitting accompaniment toa multitude of daily human experiences. It also features artistsfrom Pinderhughes's tight-knit NYC community, representing awave of new artists who thread the ethics of honesty &vulnerability into their work.Says Pinderhughes of the album, "Mental health isn't solitary; it'sabout how our feelings, fears, traumas, and conceptions of selfmeet the world around us. Like so many, I've struggled withdepression, anxiety, and isolation within a complicated matrix ofidentities. I wanted to make a project that would be brutally andlovingly honest about what it feels like to try to sift through thedebris of time. A project that really engages with what it means tolove, in the midst of a society that teaches us all the wronglessons. Our modern world wants us to get over things quicklyand easily. That's where shame enters the picture, because whenyou struggle with deep cyclical feelings, the process of engagingwith these elements in your life is never linear. It is always twosteps forward, one step back. Kindness and honesty are requiredin equal measure in this life. Hopefully through the prism of thesesongs,...