Love Force

Love Force is a music theater piece inspired by the concept of satyagraha. Coined by Mohandas Gandhi in the early 1900’s, truth (satya) and firmness (graha) is an act of nonviolent resistance. Also referred to as truth force, love force, soul force (as used by Martin Luther King, Jr.), this theory envelopes the oppressor with compassion.

Love Force is an immersive musical journey that draws from Emile Durkheim’s sociological concept of collective effervescence - when a community participates in the same activity which serves to excite and unify. Jain shares stories from his past and in doing so, questions cultural traditions, religious values and brings into focus our shared humanity. As a child of immigrants who were torn from their homeland as a result of colonialism, he draws parallels between the Indian caste system and hierarchies of America. Jain asks us all to question where we came from and how can we live in the now. The music reflects Jain’s multiple identities. Exposed to baraat music (South Asian wedding processionals) at an early age, while also growing up with progressive rock, Bollywood music, and ultimately falling in love with Black American music, jazz, Jain relies on musical improvisation to develop the music with the ensemble, and make salient points of  prioritizing our shared humanity over dogma. Each song is carefully crafted for frequencies, rhythm and vibrations, thereby unleashing the power of the present moment, the ritual of music and a gathering. 

Love Force is currently in developement at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT (2023-24). Prevous support includes Joe’s Pub’s New York Voices program (2022), New York State Council on the Arts (2022) and MAP Fund (2021).

Creative Team

Created and conceived by Sunny Jain

Director Katie Pearl

Lighting/Projection Design Courtney Gaston

Love Force Musical Ensemble: Sunny Jain (dhol, drumset), Alison Shearer (saxophones/flute), David Adewumi (trumpet), Armando Vergara (trombone), Julia Chen (keyboards), Almog Sharvit (bass).

See the Show

The Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT will present the piece on Friday, September 27, 2024.

Touring

The project will be available to tour starting late fall 2024.

Work samples from Joe’s Pub (NYC) performance in Jan 2023

Available upon request