YANA, Daydreamer Review

by Amity Hereweard

YANA’s latest release, Daydreamer, invites the listener on a delicate odyssey through layered textures and contemplative soundscapes. The album plays out like a dream within a dream, with its ethereal tones and softly shifting harmonies inviting both introspection and emotional release. It’s a record that embodies a sense of longing and reflection, weaving together elements of new age, neo-classical music, and ambient music. From the very first track, “Now It Begins,” YANA establishes a hypnotic and universally calming expansive aural environment. The piece opens with a mesmerizing ostinato figure that grounds the composition, with shimmering piano chords melting into airy strings, creating a sense of awakening that is both serene and poignant—like watching the first light of dawn unfold across a still lake.

YANA (Joanna Bieńkowska) is a composer and instrumentalist based in Gdańsk, Poland, known for her ability to fuse classical instruments with electronic textures. Her background in classical music, combined with her exploration of ambient and electronic elements, shapes the cinematic journey that Daydreamer offers. The album delves deep into the human psyche, charting a path from inner darkness to emotional renewal, and is marked by an introspective evolution that mirrors YANA’s personal journey as an artist.

Throughout Daydreamer, YANA employs a masterful blend of acoustic and electronic instrumentation to create almost painterly soundscapes. The textures here feel tactile; they wrap around the listener in a way that allows the music to be as much felt as heard. Tracks like “From The Darkness” illustrate this beautifully, as layers of strings, delicate synths, and steady bassline cascade and overlap, echoing the ebb and flow of time. “Daydreaming” builds upon a simple repetitive chordal figure, with the strings adding a beautiful, lyrical quality to the track, while the development of the prepared piano morphs into a percussive figure, adding a sense of drama while maintaining a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.

“Spring” takes the lead with piano, introducing a lyrical and straightforward theme over a repetitive chordal figure. The layers of strings build throughout, adding flowing arco parts and pizzicato elements for added rhythmic definition. The composition is a meditative exploration of renewal, with YANA’s attention to sonic detail making the album’s atmospheres lush and intricate, inviting listeners to sink into a calming sound world.

An especially compelling element of Daydreamer is the musical dialogue that takes place within its compositions. YANA often creates a sense of “call and response,” not only between instruments but also between contrasting moods and tones. This idea of contrast is also present in “Tender,” where a gentle waltz is formed by pizzicato strings and a prepared piano, later joined by a romantic cello figure and a lyrical violin melody. The musical conversations here create an intimate dialogue that breathes and perpetually shifts.

“From The Darkness” features an upbeat ostinato figure from the prepared piano, ornamented with delay and reverb effects. As the track progresses, soft strings enter, and a steady bassline grounds the composition. The interplay between the lyrical violin and the underlying pulse of the bass creates a sense of gradual emergence from darkness, suggesting transformation and emotional resilience. These interactions make for an experience that feels alive, breathing, and perpetually in flux.

Daydreamer is an album that succeeds in creating an intimate sonic journey that rewards calm, attentive listening. YANA’s artistry lies in the ability to evoke emotions with a simplicity that belies the depth of the compositions. There’s an almost cinematic quality to the record—each track feels like a vignette, a snapshot of an inner landscape that is vivid yet left open to interpretation. The piece “Ikigai,” inspired by the Japanese concept of finding purpose in life, uses dynamic piano motifs and bright harmonies to symbolize a sense of personal awakening, while “Old Paths, New Paths” brings us out of the meditative state with an invigorating use of drums, urging listeners to seize the moment.

YANA’s comments on the creative process reflect her deep emotional connection to music. She describes moments of composition that felt almost spiritual when everything seemed to align perfectly.

In particular, the romantic cello figure in ‘Tender’ captures the essence of these moments, adding an emotional weight that beautifully exemplifies the depth of her musical conversations and the almost sacred nature of her creative journey. This sense of purpose and transformation is woven throughout Daydreamer, offering listeners a transformative musical experience.

Whether it’s the gentle unfolding of “Now It Begins” or the tender interplay found in “Tender,” Daydreamer provides a space for contemplation and tranquility. It’s an album that invites repeated visits, each listen revealing new layers and nuances, making it a noteworthy addition to the evolving landscape of new age and neo-classical music.