As someone who’s been closely following her career since her debut with Imaginary Land, I can confidently say that Donata continues to astonish with her evolution both as a songwriter and a producer. Her latest album “Alchemy” dropped today on all digital platforms, and you bet we couldn’t overlook that!

Opting to release Alchemy on her own label, Donata Music, speaks directly to her fierce independence and dedication to her craft. This bold move underscores a genuine commitment to artistic freedom, allowing her to produce music that’s not just heard but felt.

photo by @robin.thomson

I personally value this level of authenticity in today’s music scene, where so much can feel pre-packaged and impersonal. Donata’s approach ensures that every song on Alchemy serves as a genuine expression of her emotional and spiritual journey. Managing her own label likely adds layers of complexity to her role, but it also enriches her music, giving it a texture and a context that I find deeply compelling.
By self-releasing, she bypasses the often restrictive influences of external producers and label executives, allowing her to explore her artistry without compromise. This autonomy is palpable throughout the album, with each track bearing her unmistakable signature—unfiltered and true to her vision.

The title of the album “Alchemy” itself evokes deep associations. Alchemy, as an ancient science of transformation seeking to turn the ordinary into the valuable, directly reflects Donata’s creative process. Therefore, such a title seems not only an ideal metaphor but also a symbol of personal growth and change through which the artist has gone while creating the new album.

It’s interesting that Donata claims the album became a real documentation of her experiences. This speaks to the deep connection between the creator and her creation, where each song is a fragment of her strong memories. In ‘Alchemy,’ Donata showcases exceptional mastery in creating acoustic ballads that sound remarkably cohesive throughout the entire release. Each song carries a clear emotional message, making it a unique and coherent work.

Particularly captivating is the track “A Song About Being In Love,” where Donata’s sound unfolds. The singer’s voice floats above the arrangement, offering an atmosphere of complete immersion into acoustic bliss. This track sets the mood for the whole album, presenting the listener with the key theme of the album—perception of the temporality and mutability of the world. In the track “Long Time,” recorded live, the tone is more melancholic, emphasizing the fluctuation of feelings and thoughts. Memorable phrase endings give the song an almost lullaby-like fairy-tale quality, making it quite memorable.

photo by Triana Hernandez

The culmination of emotional diversity lies in the tracks “Easy To Leave” and “Lemonade,” distinguished by vibrant rhythms and accelerated tempo, adding dynamism and freshness to the album. These tracks demonstrate Donata’s ability to work with different musical styles while maintaining her unique creative signature. The album concludes with the track “Goodnight My Love (cu in hell),” which brings the listener back to the main tone of the release.

In addition to all of this, it is worth separately noting the album cover – it is captivatingly multi-layered and insightful. The use of black and white color scheme gives it a classical yet contemporary feeling, which may symbolize the eternal themes associated with music, such as human emotions and experiences. The mirrored reflection of the image speaks of contemplation, duality, perhaps of searching or acknowledging one’s true self, which aligns well with the idea of alchemy — transformation and change.

But perhaps the central element of the entire cover is Donata’s eyes. They appear piercing, emphasizing the importance of gaze and the profoundness of mutual understanding. This visual emphasis on the eyes, combined with the mirrored reflection, may hint at the search for deep truth both in music and within Donata herself. The line running through the middle of the face divides the image into two symmetrical parts, which could be a metaphor for the balance between the artist’s internal and external worlds or between her musical expression and personal experiences. The minimalism of the design underscores a focus on the essential, a departure from excess.

It seems like this is my favorite release of the month, and undoubtedly, Alchemy perfectly complements Donata’s discography. Perhaps it’s because every song sounds so intimate and personal. I feel like all of these songs were written just for my ears. A must-listen!

Connect with Donata via Instagram, Facebook

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub