Sugar Vendil – May We Know Our Own Strength

released Nov 11th, 2022 in digital and CD formats

Composer, pianist, and interdisciplinary artist Sugar Vendil’s boldly vulnerable and kaleidoscopic May We Know Our Own Strength traverses a spectrum of grief, loss, and human resilience. The album demonstrates Vendil’s range as a vocalist, contemporary pianist, chamber musician, collaborator, and electronic artist.

“May We Know Our Own Strength” was composed for a short film project by filmmaker Jih-E Peng based on Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s installation of the same name. The abstract, hybrid narrative film centered around artist Phingbodhipakkiya’s piece exploring collective healing after sexual assault within AAPI communities, created tragically in the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings. Vendil’s soundtrack is a lament and a howl, containing a dirge-like, ritualistic chant. Featuring her own voice, electronics (synths, sarunay samples recorded by Vendil), piano, and violin played by Pivnick, it recalls feelings of horror and pain, as well as collective mourning, healing, and strength.

“ooh wo ah oo wa o” reflects on the painful but necessary act of surrender through fluttering textures, glitches, and vocalizations. It is scored for vocalizing chamber ensemble, featuring various extended techniques, and is performed by NCP, the chamber group she founded in 2008. It was composed as Vendil decided to wind down the ensemble, followed by having to make the heartbreaking decision to put her dear cat Coco to sleep. The work is dedicated to Coco.

“coursing forth” was commissioned by Phingbodhipakkiya for her Lincoln Center installation, Rivers of Renewal, a piece inspired by the Thai New Year ritual of Songkran, where celebrants take part in throwing water at one another as a symbol of cleansing. In addition to her non-lexical singing style, Vendil’s music is embedded with messages of reassurance she sings and whispers: “You belong here,” and “This too shall pass,” phrases that give a nod to both Phingbodhipakkiya’s and Vendil’s creative efforts during the pandemic, a time of collective turmoil and increased anti-Asian attacks, to conjure hope. 

credits

May We Know Our Own Strength features Hajnal Pivnick on violin

ooh wo aa oo wa o features The Nouveau Classical Project: Laura Cocks, flute/bfl; Mara Mayer, clarinet/bcl; Marina Kifferstein, violin (NCP alum); Thea Mesirow, cello

mastered by Joseph Branciforte at Greyfade Studios · Album photo from JiH-E Peng’s film May We Know Our Own Strength featuring Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s installation of the same name