Anastasia Minster is a Toronto-based singer, composer, and pianist known for her deeply evocative and soulful music that blends elements of classical, folk, and jazz into a unique style of piano-driven chamber pop. Her sound is characterized by its melancholic beauty, emotional depth, and cinematic quality, guiding listeners on a journey from darkness into light.

Anastasia’s musical journey began with the release of her debut album, Hour of the Wolf (2017), a noir chamber pop record that established her as a compelling new voice in the genre. She followed this with her second album, Father (2020), an ambitious project that expanded her sound with atmospheric synth and string arrangements by English musician Steve Jansen (Japan, Nine Horses), as well as multi-layered cello arrangements by Canadian virtuoso Raphael Weinroth-Browne and trumpet parts by JUNO-nominated Tara Kannangara. Father was recorded at Sonology studio in Toronto using vintage analogue sound equipment, and its lyrics draw inspiration from the works of Carl Jung, Hermann Hesse, and Andrei Tarkovsky.

In 2024, Anastasia Minster is set to release her third full-length studio album, Song of Songs. This conceptual record, inspired by the ancient biblical poem of the same name, delves into the multifaceted nature of love, exploring its complexities, joys, and sorrows. The album features a 30-piece orchestra, with orchestral arrangements by Colombian-Canadian composer Felipe Tellez, performed by the Canadian Studio Symphony. Recorded across multiple studios in Toronto, including Union Sound, Revolution Recording, and Genesis Sound, the album was funded by the Toronto Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and a large-scale Kickstarter campaign.

Song of Songs is an artistic fusion of jazz piano, classical influences, and Anastasia’s haunting vocals. Her music, both dark and ethereal, invites listeners to traverse the emotional spectrum, from the depths of despair to the heights of transcendent love. The album’s eight tracks range from grand orchestral pieces to more intimate jazz-inspired compositions, featuring contributions from Raphael Weinroth-Browne on cello and Tara Kannangara on trumpet and flugelhorn. The record’s poetic lyrics are infused with floral metaphors and themes drawn from ancient Greek myths and the works of Hermann Hesse, painting a vivid emotional landscape that guides the listener through the shadows into the light.

With her profound interest in psychology and personal development, Anastasia Minster’s music offers listeners not just a sound, but an experience—one that resonates with the depth of human emotion and the timeless exploration of the self.