How this nurse turned stories of trauma to songs of hope
Tad Worku drops second album sharing stories from the emergency department through music
It was January 6, 2012, when Tad Worku left his job as a performing artist, returning funding for an international tour and pop album to step away from music for what he thought was a permanent break. The 25-year-old, who had headlined numerous times at Yoshi’s jazz club in San Francisco and also fronted for the Oakland Symphony, felt he hadn’t discovered purpose with his music and unable to find peace with the direction he was going. “I knew I had talent, but hadn’t discovered the purpose for it,” he says.
Worku went back to school and stepped into a new life as an emergency trauma nurse, soon finding that working in a level one trauma center produced stories that led him back into the world of music. Now, his thoughtful art has moved from the emergency department to the studio once again.
After a year and a half of working in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Worku released his second album, titled Vol. 21. The record is the first of its kind he’s created, with each song paired with dialogue of Worku explaining his process and offering listeners a look behind the curtain.
Worku found that working with patients who were facing life-changing illness or injury put him in a privileged position to listen and connect with people in their most vulnerable state. “People would share their stories, experiences and feelings, and I realized what an honor it was to not only care for them, but to carry their stories.”
One theme became familiar: When someone is facing an unthinkable trial, the thing they cling to is hope. “The music I was writing was my way of processing and preserving that hope for myself as a provider and ultimately for the patients and families I cared for,” Worku says. “It felt like the emotions and stories were taking on a sound of their own.”
While a veteran recording artist, Worku has begun looking at the writing and recording process with a beginner’s mind, thinking not of just how to fit in, but how to create honest expressions of art. For his pursuit of authenticity, he credits his parents, who immigrated from Ethiopia before he was born, bringing with them a love of storytelling and a passion for helping people.
Vol. 21 takes listeners on a journey through 2021, first offering encouragement, then hope, then a look to the future.
Hear Tad’s new album on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Connect with Tad:
Website: https://tadworku.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tadworku/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TadWorku
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TadWorku
