Composer Sam Wu finds inspiration in urban landscapes

As a child, when boredom struck amid Shanghai traffic, Sam Wu would gaze out the car window and marvel at what he saw above.

“I think a lot of people have this idea of China as an ancient country with pagodas, mountains and temples,” says the 28-year-old composer. “But it’s really quite a futuristic-looking city, with lots of skyscrapers and highways — much like Houston.”

Observing the intricate designs of different buildings sparked his love for urban planning and architecture — passions he now nurtures and conveys in innovative ways.

Wu, a Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts Scholar in Residence, is an internationally acclaimed composer with degrees from Harvard University and The Juilliard School. His compositions have been performed in Philadelphia, Minnesota, Tasmania, and Melbourne. These creations evoke “the beauty in blurred boundaries,” connections between buildings and the earth or music and time itself. His subjects range from cityscapes to planets to the wind.

Originally composed in 2018, “Wind Map” was inspired by Wu's realization that a visualization of a global wind map closely resembled brushstrokes by Vincent van Gogh. Other entries in his catalog include “Mass Transit” — a piano quintet that takes listeners on a musical voyage akin to a train journey through a city — and “Sheng Sheng Man,” a haunting rendition of a rainstorm.

Wu comes to UH with degrees from Harvard and Juilliard, as well as numerous prestigious awards for his compositions. All three pieces won international accolades, each exemplifying mellifluous music conjured by someone uniquely attuned to both their surroundings and their creative process.

Wu’s ideas begin when something inspires him. Then, he lets the idea take control.

“Once I start writing, I’m not even thinking about the concept,” he says. “I’m feeling where the music wants to go from there, and sometimes I’m listening more than I’m driving it. That’s where music feels the most interesting, like a discovery process.”

Wu aims to help other aspiring composers make connections that inspire their best work. He understands this is easier said than done but wants to assist students in creating their own connections. Much like he nurtured his nascent love of Shanghai's skyline into a passion for design intricacies, Wu encourages any musician or artist to focus on what interests them outside their craft — then see where that interest leads their work.

“I think people tend to feel inspired when they think of how to visually capture what really excites them,” he says. “But sometimes you find your inspiration as you go or from creating with others. The only solution is to dive in and begin.”