Photo: Andrei C Radu

Bucharest-based pianist and composer Mischa Blanos has a knack for merging disparate musical worlds, like classical music, jazz, and electronic beats. He has been seamlessly moving between concert halls and underground clubs, drawing on his classical training while incorporating the freedom and energy of electronic and jazz music. Blanos is gearing up to release a new album, Take Control, that sees him blend acoustic piano, live jazz drums, and cutting-edge electronic textures in a fresh and exhilarating way. More than a collection of tracks, Take Control is a manifesto exploring the power of unity and self-determination through music.

Ahead of the album’s release on November 21st through Longcut Records, Blanos has shared new single ‘Basilica’, a sublime and exhilarating track that was written during his residency in Malmaison, a former Bucharest jail where Mischa had his studio. ‘Basilica’ reflects on the concept of the sacred and where it can be found in modern life. As Blanos puts it:

“They built temples to hold the divine. Marble, gold, ceilings so high you lose your voice. But what if the sacred lives elsewhere? I found something holier in a forest clearing. In the breath before a piano note. In the way a stranger smiled at me across the tracks in a godforsaken train station for no reason at all. This is my new basilica.”

Along with the single, Blanos has unveiled an accompanying live video directed by Stefan Schultz, and you can watch it below.