Life obstacles have proven to be a propelling force behind the acoustic rock/soul trio, The Zoo Human Project. Jen Cordero, a Biology graduate from USC, ditched dental school after her father and grandfather died suddenly. Derek Martinez, a Recording Arts graduate from USC, lost his mother to Leiomyosarcoma - the rare cancer giant that affects only 4 in 1,000,000 people. Kevin Sakamoto, a college student halfway finished with his Computer Science degree, is plagued with epileptic seizures and has several tumors in his brain.
Yet what first appears as blocks turn out to be mere stepping stones - objects that lift them higher to strive for more. These three individuals are blessed with the single unifying thread of music, the universal language that tells stories of love over fear, success after failure, and triumph beyond adversity. Their Zoo is woven from three minds and one heart, pulsing with life and ambition;
From one side, Jen Cordero has the vocal prowess of Christina Aguilera and the rhythmic strums of Ani DiFranco. She delivers an alluring stream of soulful richness, searching and poignant, without an ounce of restraint.
On the other side, Derek Martinez weaves reflections of our world into his poetry and a simplistic intensity into his instrumental foundation. Teetering somewhere between Vedder and Matthews, his melodies are the vessels with which he strives to unsurface hope and truth.
And completing the trio with an arsenal of rhythmic equipment, Kevin Sakamoto brings the Project an array of percussive textures and nuances - all of which complement, yet steer, and ultimately drive their tunes into new and creative directions.
The combination of these three fibers woven thickly becomes the rope that is The Zoo Human Project. They encompass music of tensile acoustic strength, yet flexible enough to infuse many different sonic flavors. But what is their goal?
The Zoo Human Project invites YOU to step outside of your boundaries and move beyond your obstacles. If you did, what would YOUR Zoo be like?
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