Take Control, the upcoming new release from Romanian pianist, composer and producer Mischa Blanos is out later this month and last week we were given another striking glimpse into the stunning album. Following the sublime and exhilarating ‘Basilica’, Blanos has shared ‘Busted’, a contemporary classical piece for prepared piano that shows yet again Blanos’ extraordinary talent, transcending the limits of his instrument.  Now part of a release for the first time, ‘Busted’, originally composed a decade ago, sees Blanos embracing his roots, drawing from Romanian folklore and musical tradition. Blanos recalls being caught without a bus ticket, as a catalyst for the piece:

“I was young, broke, stubborn. Wouldn’t play weddings, wouldn’t sell out for a quick gig. The ticket inspector stared: ‘Aren’t you that piano kid from TV?’ He let me go. No fine, no speech, just a shrug, like he’d seen enough of this city to recognize a broken young artist when he met one. I walked home and played what hurt. The notes had Romanian folk bones. Art doesn’t always pay the bills, but it still saves you.”

‘Busted’ is offered with an accompanying live video, filmed in Bucharest, and you can watch it below.

Take Control is out on November 21st through Longcut Records

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.