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Life is a bittersweet symphony from the day we are born. The inevitability of death counters the wonder of life, while light and dark exist on the same spectrum, at odds with each other yet harmonious. On Men Seni Suyemin’s debut album BELIEVE, we find an artist whose music embodies the multiplicity of life, offering optimism and hope while also acknowledging the shadow aspect of our existence. The alias of Kazakh artist Minona Volandova, Men Seni Suyemin, means “I love you” in her native tongue. It’s a moniker that honours the memory of a late relative, while also asserting a strong statement of intent: to be driven by love, not fear, is a powerful catalyst for meaningful creativity and connection. In her formative years Minona adored indie acts, especially Damon Albarn and Blur. Damon’s ability to connect with a diverse range of artists and channel his exceptional talent into an eclectic catalogue of projects, has been especially inspiring. This notion of music as a universal means of expression and relating to one another is central to Minona’s creative output. With BELIEVE she pours her thoughts and feelings into a collection of music that straddles the line between post-rock and electronica, utilising vocals, poetry and lyrics more than she has on previous releases. As the name suggests, the intent with BELIEVE is to instil positivity into the listener - “Life-affirming songs that would make the listener’s day more cheerful and brighter,” she says. On the other hand, there’s also the therapeutic aspect of music, when it reflects your emotional state and offers companionship when you’re feeling lonely, or down. “Each track wants to be there at certain moments in your life,” she adds. Across eleven songs, Minona combines her classical training on guitar with pedal effects, a ZOIA modular synth and melodica elements to compose a varied yet cohesive body of work. Themes around love, kindness and positive mental attitude inspired a portion of the album; other topics include displacement, troubling world events, destructive relationships and the joyful expectations associated with the coming of the new year. There’s also a cameo from Minona’s pet cat, Akshulan (or Juisya as he’s also known), in the album’s opening track. Songs like ‘Dark Waves’ (featuring Kristina Li) offer a glimpse into Minona’s Kazakh roots, tapping into the nation’s folklore to explore the dark side of human nature, while ‘V Paradnyh Tvoih’ was inspired by a bitter poem, written in the fallout of Minona’s forced departure from St. Petersburg due to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Elsewhere, there’s ‘Dance Is Life’, a vibrant sonic manifesto of joy, movement and life, which declares emphatically “The world is better when you dance”. Then there’s ‘Demal’, Minona’s ode to relaxation, an often neglected channel for reconnection with oneself and opening ourselves up to inspiration. Throughout the album the listener is taken on a voyage, weaving through the chicanes of life’s rich spectrum of experience with heartfelt enthusiasm and a stirring level of emotional depth. This, combined with captivating rhythmic structure, warm vocals and delightful melodies, makes BELIEVE an ideal sonic companion, just as Minona intended it to be. Whether you’re sitting and eating ice-cream while watching the clouds drift overhead, or staring out of a train window spellbound by the world flashing by, this album can be the soundtrack. Underpinned by Minona’s own philosophies around hope and kindness, and emboldened by the impact of her life experiences, BELIEVE is a comforting and inspiring body of work that represents an artist whose intention is as pure as the love of her doting cat.