Forgive Yourself. Learn to live with yourself. Don't hurt yourself.That's the mantra of Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tears, a deeply relatable exploration of mental health through the paces of a failing relationship. The tale is spun through inner and outer worlds, reminding us how love can't exist if we don't first confront ourselves.This is the 3rd studio album released by Samora who has gained an unmatched reputation amongst artists and those in the know as a truth seeker and truth speaker. While much of Samora's work is centered in speaking truth to power, Venus seeks a different truth, an internal one, that we all can see in ourselves if we look close enough. Samora has gained accolades and notoriety in Jazz and R&B spaces and though they are both present in this album, he and longtime producer Jack DeBoe set a goal of making music outside of genre. Instead the focus is set on beauty, detail, emotionality, movement, tenderness, rhythm, and connection. The album is a masterclass on the craft of writing lyrics, each word carefully chosen and woven together. Every song has a life of it's own, as the album has evolved over 8 years of writing, rewriting, recording, re-recording, reflecting, and reckoning. The difficult, but necessary process to make an album that transmits the artist's internal experience, through the prism of song. As with all of Samora's music, Venus deserves an intentional and openhearted listen, and if you allow it, you may find your own self through the journey of Venus.