Quantum Split at Gramercy Theater – Live Kigali Performance

Johanna Laurent here, representing a rock and soul band called Quantum Split. Just wanted to share with you the band’s story.

Quantum Split was started in the Bronx and Long Island by Berklee College of Music student Soleil Laurent, a young woman with a strong passion for music and an eye for social change. Soleil set out to find a group of musicians who shared her vision for unconditional love and acceptance. She recruited the rest of the band, including Adrian Read and Ivan Hardy, two inner city kids who have come a long way since their days of growing up in the projects, and Richard Chen, a Berklee College of Music graduate. With the lineup assembled, Quantum Split was ready to start playing shows and promoting positivity around New York.

Before long they had built a large following. The band’s live presence is powerful enough to keep fans coming back for more, despite the fact that they have not released any recordings. They did, however, release one music video, for their song “America”. The video is an excellent
representation of the sound and message of Quantum Split.

Quantum Split eventually received an invitation from the U.S. Embassy in Kigali to travel to Rwanda for the 2017 KigaliUp Festival, where they played two headlining sets. This was a huge opportunity for them, and was a sign that their hard work and dedication to spreading positivity through their art was starting to take root. In Rwanda they not only played music, but also visited a music school where they helped to foster creativity with the students. The students were extremely inspired by Quantum Split, who in their eyes came from a different world, yet they were able to form strong bonds through the universal language of music.

Their music works to help people through difficult times and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future. The band’s experience traveling in Africa, how their music was received there, and how the inspiration flowed back and forth between Quantum Split and the people of Kigali is an interesting topic.

Quantum Split has a show scheduled for December 8th at The Gramercy Theater.