By blending jazz, soul, blues, and neo-soul with raw emotion and immersive storytelling, Dora Pj (pka Dora Papayannakis) has become one of New York’s most evocative new voices. The Greek born, NYC-based singer-songwriter and composer carries a rich musical heritage and a resonant frequency that feels both healing and haunting—lingering long after the final note. With her latest release, When the Shadows Fall, she deepens that legacy.
Released on March 24th, When the Shadows Fall is a soul-stirring three-song collection that traverses jazz balladry, blues textures, and soul-rooted grooves. At the center of it is Dora’s powerful voice—tender yet commanding—and her ability to turn emotional truth into music that breathes.
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Joining her is a lineup of exceptional musicians: pianist Xavier Kim brings harmonic sensitivity and subtle brilliance to every chord; bassist Nelly Efron anchors the tracks with warm, groove driven elegance; drummer Jacob Byrd offers rhythmic nuance and soulful precision, while also contributing beautifully understated backing vocals.
And then there’s the legendary saxophonist Craig Handy—a towering figure in modern jazz whose work with Art Blakey, Betty Carter, and Herbie Hancock has shaped generations of musicians. Handy’s tone is at once bold and poetic, his solos weaving seamlessly into Dora’s emotional world, elevating each track with gravitas and grace.
This isn’t Dora’s first step into the spotlight. Her debut single Can You Feel introduced audiences to her soulful sensitivity, while her follow-up, Taking Back My Love, leaned into neo-soul textures, offering a defiant, empowering narrative that quickly became a fan favorite. She also made a notable appearance as Dora Pj in the collaborative album Healing Transformations by 2islander—a seven-track project where her vocals stood out for their honesty and expressive range.
Over the years, Dora has grown steadily as an artist, deepening her sound, vision, and voice. After taking a step back to evolve personally and musically, this release marks a pivotal return— one that feels both intentional and renewed. With a background in jazz studies and currently pursuing her Master’s in Songwriting at Berklee College of Music, she continues to refine her craft with a global perspective—fusing cultures and genres into a style that is both personal and expansive. Whether singing in English, Greek, Spanish, French, or Italian, she creates deeply evocative soundscapes rooted in truth and vulnerability.
Dora is also making waves on the New York live music scene, performing regularly in duets, trios, and full-band setups that showcase her vocal agility and magnetic stage presence. Each show is unique—intimate yet immersive—shaped by the chemistry of her collaborators and the emotional thread that runs through her music.
Looking ahead, Dora plans to expand her sonic universe even further. A second chapter of this release is already in the works for summer 2025, offering a completely different energy—a brighter, more optimistic vibe that stands in contrast to the dusky, introspective tones of When the Shadows Fall. If this release represents the shadow, the next will be the light: bossa nova colors, soulful warmth, and songs that celebrate healing, joy, and the journey forward.
With exciting collaborations on the horizon and a steady presence on New York stages, Dora Pj is carving out a space where vulnerability meets virtuosity—and where every shadow gives way to light.
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