IANADI is a Boston-based singer-songwriter. She was born in Moldova, where, despite the country’s short civil war during the 1990s and prolonged political and economic crises in the region, Iana recalls a highly creative childhood. Living in relative isolation from the rest of Europe, she began devoting much of her time to academic and artistic domains at an early age, thus giving herself a channel through which she could embrace all the unknown worlds around her.
At the age of 8, Iana was recruited by a contemporary dance choreographer to join a newly established dance group. This choreographer was a ballet academy graduate and a philosopher at heart. She quickly became an intellectual and inspirational mentor for Iana and remained a creative influence throughout her school years. The performing dance group worked on creating stories through dance in the footsteps of Isadora Duncan, who had danced barefoot and embodied courage, poetry, and passion.
“I think my inspiration for creating music was born from my prior dance and choreography experience. Dancing was an exciting state of illusion where ballet, poetry, theatre, and cinematic clips could all blend into one new form of musical and lyrical expression.”
Iana co-choreographed many pieces and was a soloist in the group, which quickly gained popularity and was featured on Moldovan National Television and in regional events and contests.
“We were exposed to the best of classical and cinema music, with Ennio Morricone opening the shortlist and viewed that as an artistic challenge tackling it through versatile physical training daily.”
In her teenage years, Iana moved to Warsaw, Poland, to study and work in business before coming to the US in 2012. While in college, she occasionally met up with jamming classmates and sang, but discovered her inspiration for songwriting when she became a mom years later.
In 2019 she started her writing and recording collaboration with Jon Evans, a Grammy-nominated producer and musician who has toured and recorded with Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Linda Perry, among others.
IANADI released her debut singles “Spirit”, “Big and Small Worlds”, and “Checkerberry” in 2021.
“Spirit” is a stimulating new track from Boston-based singer/songwriter IANADI. Ghostly vocals and a psychedelic sitar lead craft an intriguing introduction, inspired by Ennio Morricone’s western scores. The track is propelled shortly thereafter by buzzing synths and guitar fragments — aesthetically reminiscent of Kate Bush. I’m enjoying the quick rise from ghostly beginnings into a melodic, more accessible sound. The vocals exude a free-flowing quality, working excellently, especially at points like the two-minute mark, seamlessly alternating between suave and expressive tones (the latter “desert of dreams,” in particular playing nicely). Sitar-y re-emergence and wordless vocal passion, approaching the three-minute mark, helps drive into a satisfying conclusion. “Spirit” consumes with a creative, melodic sound.”
