Hania & Dobrawa

Composer-pianist-singer Hania Rani and composer-cellist Dobrawa Czocher began making music together in their early teens, discovering an instinctive artistic connection with one another. Both are now successful musicians in their own right, but that special bond remains unchanged. That sense of mutual trust and understanding has inspired their debut album on Deutsche Grammophon, which they wrote together, and recorded in Poland. Their love of the natural world is reflected on Inner Symphonies, together with the themes of friendship and hope. Its contrasting tracks work together in light and shade to construct a unique, introspective sound-world. During lockdown the duo encouraged each other both as friends and as musical collaborators when they began composing this distinctive set of pieces. Inner Symphonies began life with video calls, then flowed spontaneously when Rani and Czocher were finally able to meet at Hania’s parents’ house in Gdansk and renew their long friendship in person. They explored ideas together, improvised material that formed the foundations of individual tracks and, when not writing, reflected on their values and artistic insights.