We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

May We Know Our Own Strength

by Sugar Vendil

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes with a fragment of one of my sketches with a personal note written in archival ink.

    Includes unlimited streaming of May We Know Our Own Strength via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    edition of 50 

      $13 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Sugar Vendil releases available on Bandcamp.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Live Love Work Play, May We Know Our Own Strength, bpm/beautiful piano music (JC Edition), and Test Site 3: Blood. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 USD or more

     

1.
2.
3.

about

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

released November 11, 2022

SUGAR VENDIL vocals, piano, keyboards, electronics · HAJNAL PIVNICK, violin · THE NOUVEAU CLASSICAL PROJECT: LAURA COCKS, flute/bfl; MARA MAYER, clarinet/ bcl; MARINA KIFFERSTEIN, violin; THEA MESIROW, cello; and Sugar. Track 2 mixed by JOSEPH BRANCIFORTE. Recorded at FOUND OBJECTS MUSIC PRODUCTIONS, BUNKER STUDIO, and HOME. ℗ + ©2022 Sugar Vendil [ASCAP]

Mastered by JOSEPH BRANCIFORTE at GREYFADE STUDIO

Love & Thanks: TREVOR GURECKIS, my lobster. ECHO, our lil’ crab for taking good naps. COCO, I love you forever. FOUND OBJECTS MUSIC PRODUCTIONS, for providing space to record MWKOOS. ALICIA WALLER for encouragement and hot singing tips. LAURA COCKS, for generous listening & great advice. JIH-E PENG and AMANDA PHINGBODHIPAKKIYA, for beautiful collaborations that conjure strength and healing. CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA for commissioning ooh wo aa oo wa o. DAVE RUDER for his labor of love that is Gold Bolus Recordings.

Image credit: still from JIH-E PENG’S film “May We Know Our Own Strength,” picturing AMANDA PHINGBODHIPAKKIYA’S installation of the same name

Gold Bolus Recordings // GBR064
www.goldbolus.com

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Sugar Vendil Brooklyn, New York

MAY WE KNOW OUR OWN STRENGTH - debut album release 11/11/22

I make music for my piano and voice with electronics. I love experimenting with extended techniques, and especially creating my own.

photo credit: Julia Comita
... more

contact / help

Contact Sugar Vendil

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Sugar Vendil, you may also like: