Mariah Solena’s “Yesterday and Tomorrow“ is an open window into the soul of a woman who has lived, listened, and loved deeply. Released on July 9, 2025, this fourth studio offering marks a turning point in Solena’s already distinguished career: it’s her first record composed entirely of original material (except the opening track). Known globally for her crystalline tone and effortless control, Solena trades the role of interpreter for that of storyteller, allowing us to hear her voice and heart, and it’s extraordinary.
The album opens with “Just The Two Of Us,” a familiar tune reimagined through a modern jazz-pop lens. It’s a warm entry point, a respectful nod to her musical roots before she takes flight with the self-penned “Open Your Eyes.” From here, the album blooms into its true self—lush with longing, courage, and emotional truth. “Open Your Eyes” balances soft piano flourishes with an urgent vocal plea, a wake-up call for empathy and connection in an age increasingly defined by distraction. It’s the kind of track that plays and invites.
Track three, “If It’s Real Love,” could easily be the album’s thesis statement. A smooth, mid-tempo groove underscored by fluttering flute lines (thanks to Tom Keenlyside’s touch), the song explores love not as fantasy, but as a durable force—messy, grounding, and transformational. There’s a palpable maturity in Solena’s writing here, especially in lines that hint at weathered intimacy: “It’s not just holding hands in the rain / It’s showing up when there’s nothing to gain.” Her delivery is tender but unwavering, never overselling the emotion, just letting it land.
“The Dream” and “September” follow in a more reflective mood, blending jazz harmony with pop accessibility in a way reminiscent of early Norah Jones or even Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now era. “September” in particular feels like a love letter to memory—fading photographs, late-night walks, laughter that still echoes. Solena’s voice takes on a whispery hue here, fragile and reverent, as if tiptoeing through the past without waking it. These are not filler tracks, but are the emotional marrow of the album.
“Before The Night Is Done” changes the pace, layering a playful groove beneath vocals that flirt with joy and melancholy. Then comes “Grateful,” a standout ballad that pulls no punches in its vulnerability. Produced with gentle restraint by Allan Rodger, “Grateful” captures that rare kind of gratitude born from surviving and not unscathed, but undiminished. Solena sings not from a pedestal, but from eye level, sharing thanks not for perfection, but for presence. It’s subtle, soulful songwriting at its finest.
Tracks eight and nine, “Do You Know?” and “Hold Me Tight”, are handled by producer Miles Black, and the sonic shift is noticeable in all the right ways. These songs lean further into the intimate pop space, with lighter jazz undertones and a slightly more contemporary shimmer. “Do You Know?” is especially haunting, asking more questions than it answers, letting silence and space carry the weight of uncertainty. It’s a stunning piece that could sit comfortably alongside the work of artists like Lianne La Havas or Emily King.
The title track, “Yesterday and Tomorrow,” closes the album in a full-circle gesture—soulful, spacious, and brimming with quiet wisdom. It’s a song that doesn’t seek to solve life’s riddles but embraces their complexity. “We are more than what we leave behind,” Solena sings, over gentle piano and ambient brass, “we’re the hope we hand to someone else.” It’s not a grand finale, but a gentle release, a closing of the eyes as the light dims and the heart opens.
With “Yesterday and Tomorrow“, Mariah Solena has given us something rare: an album that is timely and timeless. It acknowledges hardship without sinking into despair, celebrates love without descending into cliché, and honours the past while leaning firmly toward a brighter future. It is, in every sense, a refuge. And in today’s world, that may be the most radical thing an artist can offer.
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