Demian Dorelli

Five Leaves Left – Echoes on Solo Piano is pianist and composer Demian Dorelli’s new project, a tribute to Nick Drake’s debut album. The album is Dorelli’s second journey into Drake’s repertoire, following his acclaimed reinterpretation of Pink Moon on solo piano.

Demian Dorelli has always felt a deep connection with Nick Drake. He lives in Cambridge, where Nick Drake studied English at university and composed much of his first album, just as Dorelli would later create music in his own garden studio in the same city. He explains, “This time, I wanted to go back to where it all began and take Drake’s first album and transpose it onto the canvas of my piano. Everything about Five Leaves Left feels fresh and positive, in contrast to the austerity of his last album Pink Moon and thoughts of his impending death. It was on this album that Nick first introduced us to his music following the signing of his first recording contract with Island Records. The overall mood of Five Leaves Left is one of hope, so I wanted to focus on celebrating Nick’s music and the magical effect it has on so many of us.”

The album was recorded in the famous “Wood Room” at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios near Bath, UK, with producer Alberto Fabris and sound engineer Tim Oliver. Together they created a new sound that remains true to Drake’s original compositions while offering a contemporary, piano-centric reinterpretation. Five Leaves Left – Echoes on Solo Piano showcases the beauty and complexity of Drake’s melodies and harmonies, offering a fresh but faithful interpretation of his work, while preserving the emotional essence of the original.