In this episode of You Can’t Eat Art Clara Kamunde is in conversation with interdisciplinary performer-composer-improviser Damian Norfleet. A critical review describes him as “a gifted improvisational singer, performance artist, actor, and social justice activist who has occupied a rare multi-dimensional space in the performing arts” (I Care If You Listen).
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About Damian Norfleet:
Damian Norfleet a bass-baritone contemporary vocalist and a Barrymore Award-winning actor has performed at Lincoln Center, New York Society for Ethical Culture, Kaufman Music Center, The Times Center, Das Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) Berlin, Reid Hall in Paris, and Off-Broadway. His most recent work is a collaboration with friend and frequent collaborator composer/pianist Courtney Bryan (2023 MacArthur Fellow) on Cudjo, a performance piece inspired by the historical figure Cudjo Banquante- he penned the libretto and Bryan composed the scored. Norfleet has been a vocal soloist and improviser with the International Contemporary Ensemble and Ensemble Pi, and principal vocalist with national and international opera houses and orchestras. He is a Music & Composition Fellow at the Montalvo Art Center’s Lucas Artists Residency Program and is working on Man in the Moon, his first conceptual album - an experimental opera. For more about Damian Norfleet, visit our webpage here and Damian’s website. Follow @damian._.naimad@https://www.instagram.com/damian._.naimad/
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About Clara Kamunde:
Clara Kamunde is an Oakland-based, Kenyan-born cultural worker practicing at the intersection of arts education and social justice. Her career began with the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles where, as a grantee for the Artist-In-The-Community program, she collaborated with community organizations to produce and present site-integrated programming in traditionally under-served communities throughout Greater Los Angeles. She is a Marcus Curatorial Fellow at Montalvo Arts Center.
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About the Lucas Artists Residency Program:
Established in 1939, Montalvo Arts Center is home to the third oldest residency program in the United States. In 2004, Montalvo re-committed to its support of artists by opening a new, state-of-the-art facility, relaunching as the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Residency Program. The residency is dedicated to providing artists with a flexible and expansive space in which to create, encouraging the creative process, risk taking, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary investigation of contemporary issues. The LAP is a hybrid model that supports uninterrupted time to develop new work, while offering opportunities to share ideas and projects through public programming and partnerships. For more info about the residency, visit our website. Follow the LAP @lucasartres
Credits: "Free Improvisation” (electronics, voice), Cudjo (piano, tenor voice, baritone voice) and Arachnomancy (piano) used with permission of LAP 2025 Fellow Damian Norfleet.
Credits:
“Syndrome” from the album Tide’s Arising Instrumentals (Mashibeats, 2024) used with permission of LAP 2023 CA Fellow Mark de Clive-Lowe; © Mark de Clive-Lowe/Mashibeats
Podcast cover art created by Olivia Esparza© Montalvo Arts Center, 2025
