Convivial contemporary piano artist-composer-producer Janice Lacy and her music embody the casual elegance of California, where she lives and writes by the sea. Her growing body of work does not strive for grandeur or dramatic excess; instead, it draws listeners in through romantic melodies, illustrative dreamscapes, and a quietly expressive touch at the piano.
Living and working from a Southern California beach community, Lacy composes in a style inspired by nature, while drawing on her firm grounding in classical training and jazz. The result is a sound that feels both strong and fluid—music that speaks with clarity yet leaves space for reflection, reminiscent of a casual sunset stroll on the beach.
Her latest single, “Beside You” offers a refined example of this approach. Featuring Lacy at the piano alongside Grammy Award–winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, the piece unfolds as a gentle musical dialogue between the two. Love and devotion pour forth in the music. All three singles were produced by Tom Eaton and Will Ackerman; the recording reflects the same high production values and acoustic sensitivity associated with the legacy of Windham Hill and Ackerman’s Imaginary Road Studios.
Two forthcoming singles – “Sunset at Shaw’s Cove” (May 29, 2026) and “Embraced” – include contributions by the renowned artists Grammy-winning Eugene Friesen and Jill Haley on English Horn. Lacy says, “People like to go to the coves here along the coast to watch the sunset. This song is about watching a peaceful yet dramatic sunset at Shaw’s Cove.”
Lacy’s latest body of work aligns with a tradition that values melody, atmosphere and clarity of expression. Yet it also reflects a modern sensibility—one that embraces collaboration, high-quality production, and a global audience for instrumental music that offers both calm and connection.
The third single is “Embraced” scheduled for a July 2026 release date.
A defining moment: Dreaming of Daybreak
Diving deeper into Lacy’s history, one might say her 2023 album Dreaming of Daybreak represented a significant step forward in her artistic development. Recorded at Imaginary Road Studios, produced by Will Ackerman and Tom Eaton, the album brings together solo piano works and ensemble textures in a carefully balanced program.
The list of collaborators reflected a high level of musicianship: GRAMMY-winner Bisharat on violin, GRAMMY-winner Eugene Friesen on cello, GRAMMY-nominee Tony Levin on bass, and Jill Haley adding tonal color with English Horn. Despite the caliber of performers, the focus remains firmly on Lacy’s central compositions—melodic, measured, and thoughtfully paced.
The album’s reception was both immediate and sustained. It reached a tied No. 1 position on the Zone Music Reporter chart and climbed to No. 2 on the One World Music Radio Top 100, remaining in the Top 10 for five months. Music from the album also received coveted airplay on SiriusXM’s Spa channel and across international instrumental radio programming.
Critically, Dreaming of Daybreak has been widely recognized across major independent music awards:
- Coalition of Visionary Resources (2024) – Silver Winner, Sound Healing Music
- LIT Music Awards (2024) – Winner, Best New Age Music
- Global Music Awards (2024) – Two awards (New Age, Composer)
- InterContinental Music Awards (2024) – Winner, Best of Pangea (New Age) for “Abiding (Reprise)”
- Clouzine International Music Awards (2024) – Winner, Best Instrumental Composition for “Abiding (Reprise)”
Producer Will Ackerman described the recording as “simply a fine work of art”—a succinct assessment that reflects both its craftsmanship and its broad appeal.
Earlier releases and stylistic range
In speaking to Lacy, one quickly admires her warm yet forthright manner, and clarity of focus. It is no surprise to learn that before the success of Dreaming of Daybreak, she had already demonstrated versatility across adjacent genres with a variety of impressive collaborations.
In 2021, the EP and single “Catalina” was co-written as a smooth jazz groove and melody with producer Jeff Carruthers and Eden Perez, performed by the Janice Lacy Project (Feat. Eden Perez). The single gained significant traction on SiriusXM Watercolors and on smooth jazz stations across the United States.
That same year, Lacy co-wrote “Amazing” with Greg Scelsa and Eddie Miller. Recorded by vocalist Marlo Wells, the song earned a nomination at the InterContinental Music Awards, further highlighting Lacy’s adaptability as a composer working beyond instrumental formats.
She composed all the pieces on her earlier album Sanctuary for the Soul (2016), released under the Janice Lacy Project and produced by Rob Mullins, which blended piano with ensemble arrangements rooted in New Age and gentle jazz. Both Mullins and Lacy feature on piano, with Jeness Johnson on cello, Larry Antonino on bass, and Tony Braunagel on drums and percussion. The album debuted at No. 8 on the Zone Music Reporter chart and No. 5 on the One World Music Radio chart, where it remained for seven months—an early and exciting indication of her growing audience.
Musical beginnings and influences
Lacy’s relationship with the piano began early. She started playing at the age of three and went on to study classical repertoire, jazz and theory under the distinguished performer and teacher, Joe Weisberg. This combination of disciplined training and stylistic breadth continues to inform her compositional voice.
Her music reflects this dual influence. Classical structure underpins her phrasing and harmonic movement, while elements of jazz contribute subtle flexibility and nuance. The result is a style that feels both grounded and expressive, avoiding excess while maintaining emotional depth.
Living in a coastal region of Southern California, Lacy also draws quiet inspiration from her surroundings, informing her latest music’s new age vibe. The pacing and openness of her music often suggest a natural, unhurried landscape—never overtly descriptive, but consistently evocative.
A growing presence in Contemporary Instrumental music
As a voting member of The Recording Academy and a BMI-affiliated composer and publisher, Janice Lacy continues to build a steady and respected presence within contemporary instrumental, smooth jazz, and new age music.
With Dreaming of Daybreak establishing her as a significant voice in the genre, and new releases coming soon, Lacy’s trajectory suggests an artist continuing to refine and expand her musical language. In a musical landscape often defined by speed and complexity, her work offers something increasingly valuable: space, balance and a clear sense of emotional intention.
“As a pianist, I have always loved writing strong melodies and especially with my last album, Dreaming of Daybreak, interpreting my music through piano with instrumentation — piano with cello, violin, English horn,” she says, adding “My new singles continue this style, with even more piano-centered music that seeks to create an emotional connection with the listener.”
Follow and connect with the refreshingly understated excellence of Janice Lacy here: https://linktr.ee/janicelacy
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6m6zKcmCtFQApHeU92kzNd?si=1a2ab2de7cc343bf
Readers can learn more about music and respective artists in the Ambient, Progressive, New Age, World, Contemporary Instrumental, Electronic, and the Dream Pop genres by checking out weekly reviews on Contemporary Fusion Reviews.
