Love, Death and Birth — and a 7-Year Wait — Went Into New Album ‘Traveling Shoes’

Time is a tricky variable when creating art. Some ideas take years to fully mature. Others happen with a random stroke of genius.

For composer Damani Rhodes , vocalist Vadia and poet Tongo Eisen-Martin , it took a combination of brief stints and long breaks — seven years total — to complete their just-released album, Traveling Shoes .

A 33-minute soundscape of poetic phrases, harmonic piano keys and soulful vocals, Traveling Shoes features guest appearances from Aja Monet , Saul Williams and the East Bay’s own renowned flutist Elena Pinderhughes .

“This is a body of work that I’m proud of,” says Damani Rhodes during a recent phone call. “I know Tongo’s proud of it,” he adds, and his wife and partner in production, Vadia, says she’s very proud of it too.

So proud, in f