December 12, 2025 | Theatre,

Symphonic Storytelling in The Things Around Us

When The Things Around Us arrives at ArtsEmerson in February, you’ll meet a storyteller, composer, comedian, and one-person orchestra all at once. Created and performed by Ahamefule J. Oluo, the show reveals how a single performer armed with humor and honesty can tell stories through song.

A veteran musician and creative, Oluo has spent years pushing the music beyond its expected limits. The Things Around Us treats the stage like a laboratory for sound and memory. Olou constructs a rich symphony live in front of the audience, completely on their own! They are a master of live-looping technology mixed with trumpet, vocals, and a litany of “everyday instruments,” such as cardboard shipping boxes transformed into drums.

Oluo uses a looping pedal, which allows them to record a section of music created by Oluo playing an instrument live on stage. The pedal then plays that recording while Oluo records themselves playing another instrument on top of the first recording. Oluo repeats this process again and again, until a one-person symphony is created on stage.

Between these layers of sound, Oluo offers hilarious and vulnerable storytelling, sharp observations about the world, and moments of reflection. This isn’t just a musical performance; it’s an intimate conversation. On more levels, it’s a unique chance to witness elements of a song come forward in ways you wouldn’t typically be able to see.

We’re so excited to welcome Olou to the Paramount stage from FEB 20—22. Get your tickets HERE, and we’ll see you then!