Composing and recording in Europe for the first time, she worked with new musicians and explored her family’s past, describing it as “following my roots.” Néo-Romance was mainly written in Rotterdam, where Stréliski moved to be with her partner. During this time, she uncovered surprising facts about her past, visiting homes in Amsterdam where her ancestors once lived and consulting a library in Paris for compositions by her forebearers, teachers, and composers from the Romantic Age.

“My dad is French, my family has Polish Jewish origins, and I ended up exactly where they used to live. I always felt like the only musician in my immediate family, but it turns out my ancestors were all directors, violinists, and theatre managers; many of the women were actresses. I didn’t know this story, so it opened doors of reflection and identity, prompting me to ask: ‘Where do I come from? Does music follow you through generations? What does this mean in my life?’”