Larnell Lewis: From Shell, to Sea, to Memory

About

“My composition entitled From Shell, to Sea, to Memory is a reflection on the piece called Pinhole 11 by artist Christina Leslie. I chose Christina’s piece for it’s connection to my Caribbean roots (St. Kitts), but also as a way to honour and send love and prayers to those who were and continue to be affected by the damage of Hurricane Melissa in 2025.

In this composition, my aim was to create a sense of longing through sounds and melody reminiscent of “Mento” music. Mento is Jamaica’s folkloric music which predates Ska and Reggae. The underlying rhythm of the composition is call “Nyabinghi”. This rhythm has deep roots in Jamaican culture and is used in sacred gatherings of those from the Rastafarian religion. The additional sounds that are heard are field recordings from Lake Ontario and the Caribbean Sea. I chose to use these recordings as a real-time conversation between the two bodies of water. This was inspired by the positioning of Pinhole 11 as it faces Lake Ontario for the waters to “speak to each other”. The intentional blending of these styles and sounds reflect the nostalgic yet lucid depiction of the scenery in Pinhole 11. I was moved and inspired by the idea that found objects on the beach could be used to create an image that reflects the past.” — Larnell Lewis on From Shell, to Sea, to Memory

Get tickets to watch Larnell Lewis’ live performance of From Shell, to Sea, to Memory, featured in KUUMBA 365: Sounds of Blackness on February 6 at The Fleck at Harbourfront Centre Theatre.