One of the most beautiful things music possesses is the power it has to form a community around it. In non-discriminatory fashion, it has a way of attracting folks of all walks of life while having them simply enjoy listening to the songs, or getting more involved by writing a tune or two. This is the essence of The Same Thing Project, which has been led by Rhode Island Music Hall of Famer and Cranston resident Mark Cutler since 2016. Taking place in various schools, adult care facilities and community centers over the years, the project gets all sorts of people together to enjoy the craft of songwriting. As a representation of this endeavor, they recently released the album “Seasons of Hope” back on May 13.

Much like the sessions that the project conducts at The Outsider Collective located within The Hope Artiste Village on 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket, the entire album was done with a collaborative vision in mind. Cutler initially recorded the basic tracks at his RevMok Studio and then he brought them to a session for other people to lend their vocal talents.

“This second record by The Same Thing Project is a true community songwriting collaboration,” Cutler says about the album. “People from diverse parts of the community have been getting together every Tuesday morning at The Outsider Collective for the past several years to participate in this ‘free and open to everyone’ songwriting workshop. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, it’s overwhelming. Friendships and connections have been made because of The Same Thing Project. Songs that never existed now exist because of everyone’s participation.”

“We’ve reduced isolation and I know because I’m living proof,” he adds. “This album is a testament to every participant’s creative energy. I encourage everyone to come by and write a song, it’s a beautiful thing to experience.”

The full-length record consists of 12 tracks with a harmonious vibe being consistently present from beginning to end. This is evident in songs like “Summer Thing”, “This Fall Day”, “Pass It On” and “Hanging In There”. In a stylistic sense, there’s a nice balance of acoustic folk and electric blues while creating an upbeat rock vibe. It’s really cool to hear the variety of singing ranges and octaves, with some being deep and soulful and others coming in at a higher pitch with a distinct energy being resonated. It’s a very unique array of tracks, and like I mentioned earlier, it’s a stellar example of how music can bring a wide range of people together to make something genuinely great.

To give “Seasons of Hope” a listen, you can look it up on either Spotify or YouTube to give it a stream. There are plans to release it on other streaming platforms in the near future, so be on the lookout for that by joining The Same Thing Project’s page on Facebook. For more information on what the project is all about, log onto thesamethingproject.com. Even better, you can drive up on good ol’ I-95 and stop by The Outsider Collective on Tuesday mornings at 10am for the full and direct experience.