British-Greek composer and multi-instrumentalist Christos Anagnostou Daly has released his debut EP, “Solace and the Wave,” a six-track project that combines contemporary classical music with cinematic orchestration.
Raised in London, Daly studied music at Westminster School, where he was a music scholar. He achieved Grade 8 cello at age 12, composed a symphonic movement performed in Austria and Germany by age 15, and had a choral composition performed at Westminster Abbey at 17. He later studied mechanical engineering at Imperial College London, graduating in 2022 while continuing to develop his music.
The EP draws on piano, strings, woodwind and layered orchestral arrangements, with influences from composers Alexandre Desplat, Howard Shore, Thomas Newman and Ludwig Göransson. Across the six tracks, the music moves between intimate piano passages and larger orchestral compositions.
Opening track “Hyperborean Suite” takes its name from Hyperborea, a mythical northern land described in ancient Greek tradition as lying beyond the north wind. Daly wrote the piece while imagining an icy, expansive and slightly magical landscape. Its musical progression moves from uncertainty towards a brighter resolution, reflecting the theme of hope.
Other tracks explore different moods and subjects. “Shapes, Pt. 1” draws on darker, nostalgic tones, while “Hymn to Orion” references mythology and the night sky. “Mensura Silentii,” written for solo piano, takes a more restrained approach. The EP also features flautist Alexandros Arkadopoulos and violinist Dionisis Vervitsiotis.
Daly’s approach to composition centres on storytelling and experimentation with instruments, orchestration and studio production. He continues to perform on cello, piano and guitar, which he describes as important to his creative process. He is now working towards a career composing for film and television, with the aim of gaining experience in professional scoring through assistant-composer roles.
“Solace and the Wave” is available on streaming platforms.
