Inspired by Alice Coltrane, Sophie and a certain Muppet, the New York musician lives out her dream on an addictive second EPOne of this year’s best EPs was partly inspired by a cryptic dream about a Muppet dying. As Elmo floated into the abyss, New York musician Jane Paknia unexpectedly realised she was living the musical dream that had always felt just out of reach.Paknia, 24, had been frustrated that she couldn’t connect her youth as a talented pianist (taught by her Iranian grandmother) and brass player with her boundary-pushing inspirations Sophie and Alice Coltrane. But you sense she was being hard on herself. Since releasing her debut EP, Orchid Underneath, last year, Paknia hasn’t lacked validation. Cape Town collective John Wizards reworked her song Glimmers; a remix of the title track by producer Hagop Tchaparian was named among 2024’s best tracks by Pitchfork.Millions of Years of Longing is released on 6 June via Eat Your Own Ears Continue