Iamthemorning

Iamthemorning is a Russian chamber progressive group, formed in St. Petersburg in 2010 and active since then. The core line-up consists of Gleb Kolyadin on piano and Marjana Semkina on vocals, and the band also performs as an acoustic duo. In live settings and on some recordings, it uses additional musicians in different combinations, including guitar, bass guitar, drums, string quartet and harp.

Music and style

The group’s music combines chamber pop, crossover prog, post-rock and progressive rock, with a sound that moves between acoustic chamber arrangements and more dynamic rock-oriented performances. Its writing uses layered imagery and references to Shakespeare, modern culture and the visual aesthetics of the Pre-Raphaelites. The music is also associated with a range of progressive rock influences, including Porcupine Tree, Philip Glass and Kate Bush.

Background and approach

Kolyadin, as the band’s co-founder, has a classical music education, and the group places emphasis on musicians with conservatory backgrounds. This attention to musical training is part of its identity from the beginning. The band’s sound is shaped by the character of St. Petersburg, with its contrast between cultural prominence and a sombre atmosphere, giving the music a mood that can be melancholy, but also bright, clear and strong.

Songwriting and themes

Marjana Semkina’s lyrics are described as focusing on deep emotional states and on responses to the pressures of the world. The band’s lyrical field is not limited to sadness, loneliness and pain; it also includes beauty, happiness and hope. Across its songs, Iamthemorning combines sophisticated structures and modulations with piano-led arrangements and harmony vocals that provide a distinctive vocal identity.