Can a musical chorus teach us how to build a better, more collective society?
In short: Composer Samora Pinderhughes uses the power of the chorus to explore the things society hides. Through his project, he transforms personal research and deep community relationships into raw, honest music that invites listeners to feel and think deeply about the structures that shape our daily lives and our collective future.
Samora Pinderhughes is a composer, pianist, and interdisciplinary artist whose work is defined by its ethical compass and commitment to social justice. His creative process often begins with research or archival study, but it is primarily rooted in deep, caring personal relationships that evolve into substantive collaborations. Rather than simply making a statement, Pinderhughes engages people where they are, using music to facilitate a shared struggle to transform the world.
Central to his practice is the concept of the chorus, which he views as a musical model for collective action. In his doctoral research at Harvard, he defined the chorus as a multiplicity of voices moving in sync or communication, while maintaining their own distinct identities and experiences. This approach emphasizes unity and care, creating a near-ritualistic, embodied experience that communicates with elemental power. His work, including songs like “Tongues,” “Gatsby,” “Masculinity,” and “Process/Forgive Yourself,” is designed to be of use to everyday life.
Pinderhughes’s trajectory has been marked by a decade of growth, including five years in Harvard’s doctoral program in Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry. His collaborators, including vocalists like Dani Murcia, Nia Drummond, and Jehbreal Jackson, form a special artistic family that embodies the spirit of his project. By yoking his art to a historically grounded agenda of black liberation and community service, Pinderhughes has become a provocative cultural instigator whose music is recognized by its robust sensibility and the deep attachment communities feel toward it.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 4 Beautifully Raw Tunes from “The Healing Project” | Samora Pinderhughes | TED
- Also: Ep 2: Samora Pinderhughes: artist-in-residence, composer and pianist/vocalist
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