Album Review: Samora Pinderhughes - Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tear

Listening to Samora Pinderhughes speak feels like a soothing and enchanting experience. It weirdly reminded me of the hours I spent listening to Malcolm Gladwel's Revisionist History podcast. The Bay Area-born jazz pianist, Emmy Award-winning composer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist has a deeper approach to things and excels in creating music that allows one to open up and be vulnerable. Guided by one question, "Am I being honest?", Samora creates unique harmonies and is not afraid to let listeners in his world.

The Juilliard graduate has collaborated with artists like Common, Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock, and Karriem Riggins, and if you need proof of his authenticity, look no further than his new record - Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tear. A complex, gentle, and intimate experimental record that vibrates on a higher level.

Find Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tear on Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / TIDAL / Deezer

Truth be told, I recently discovered the art of Samora, but quickly got engulfed in as much information as I could find. I highly recommend his Bandcamp live on YouTube from 2023. The more I and there's so much to him than the music alone. He's also a social-political activist, and scholar, currently working on a PhD at Harvard University. That whole thing adds a whole new level of respect in me for his persona, which inevitably reflects on the way I perceive his music, Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tear included.

I think it would be impossible to label and pigeonhole the record in one direction. While Samora inevitably uses elements inherent in jazz music, there are a lot of folk and psychedelic elements. And then there are tracks like "Inertia" and "Slow Time" that could easily exist in some niche electronic music sub-genre. Despite the diverse range of styles and influences throughout the record, it maintains a remarkable sense of cohesion. This unity is largely due to the prominent presence of his signature piano sound, which threads its way through every track, and the unmistakable timbre of his voice, which anchors the entire album with its familiar warmth and emotion.

When it comes to the artwork, Samora shares on Instagram, "This cover is so special because it features a painting by one of my greatest ever inspirations, Glenn Ligon. The piece is “Figure #23” (2009, Acrylic, silkscreen, & coal dust on canvas.) While making this album, I looked at Glenn’s work so often to inspire me and inspire these stories."

I admire how deeply engaged and inspired he is by the visionary world. He adds, "So much of this album is about complexity and the layered reality of being a human being - all the things we usually obscure in public, but that affect us so much. Striving for the deepest commitment to honesty in the music. That’s reflected in the visuals and this piece means the world to me in its detail, emotion, and brilliance."

Whether you want to spend the weekend locked in your room or are open to venturing into the world outside while observing little details in everyday life, Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tear could be your guiding vessel.