diff --git a/docs/pages/product/data-modeling/syntax.mdx b/docs/pages/product/data-modeling/syntax.mdx
index 2939745e1b67e..46865cd47b7cc 100644
--- a/docs/pages/product/data-modeling/syntax.mdx
+++ b/docs/pages/product/data-modeling/syntax.mdx
@@ -602,6 +602,73 @@ the [template context](/reference/python/cube#templatecontext-class).
 
 </ReferenceBox>
 
+### Curly braces and escaping
+
+As you can see in the examples above, within [SQL expressions][self-sql-expressions],
+curly braces are used to reference cubes and members.
+
+In YAML data models, use `{reference}`:
+
+```yaml
+cubes:
+  - name: orders
+    sql: >
+      SELECT id, created_at
+      FROM {other_cube.sql()}
+
+    dimensions:
+      - name: status
+        sql: status
+        type: string
+
+      - name: status_x2
+        sql: "{status} || ' ' || {status}"
+        type: string
+```
+
+In JavaScript data models, use `${reference}` in [JavaScript template
+literals][link-js-template-literals] (mind the dollar sign):
+
+```javascript
+cube(`orders`, {
+  sql: `
+    SELECT id, created_at
+    FROM ${other_cube.sql()}
+  `,
+
+  dimensions: {
+    status: {
+      sql: `status`,
+      type: `string`
+    },
+
+    status_x2: {
+      sql: `${status} || ' ' || ${status}`,
+      type: `string`
+    }
+  }
+})
+```
+
+If you need to use literal, non-referential curly braces in YAML, e.g.,
+to define a JSON object, you can escape them with a backslash:
+
+```yaml
+cubes:
+  - name: json_object_in_postgres
+    sql: SELECT CAST('\{"key":"value"\}'::JSON AS TEXT) AS json_column
+
+  - name: csv_from_s3_in_duckdb
+    sql: >
+      SELECT *
+      FROM read_csv(
+        's3://bbb/aaa.csv',
+        delim = ',',
+        header = true,
+        columns=\{'time':'DATE','count':'NUMERIC'\}
+      )
+```
+
 ### Non-SQL references
 
 Outside [SQL expressions][self-sql-expressions], `column` is not recognized
@@ -693,4 +760,5 @@ defining dynamic data models.
 [ref-custom-granularities]: /reference/data-model/dimensions#granularities
 [ref-style-guide]: /guides/style-guide
 [ref-polymorphism]: /product/data-modeling/concepts/polymorphic-cubes
-[ref-data-blending]: /product/data-modeling/concepts/data-blending
\ No newline at end of file
+[ref-data-blending]: /product/data-modeling/concepts/data-blending
+[link-js-template-literals]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn_web_development/Core/Scripting/Strings#embedding_javascript
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/src/compiler/YamlCompiler.ts b/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/src/compiler/YamlCompiler.ts
index 30933af64df3d..bfcaab5d0cd28 100644
--- a/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/src/compiler/YamlCompiler.ts
+++ b/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/src/compiler/YamlCompiler.ts
@@ -230,11 +230,11 @@ export class YamlCompiler {
       } else if (str[i] === '`' && peek().inStr) {
         result.push(str[i]);
         stateStack.pop();
-      } else if (str[i] === '{' && str[i + 1] === '{' && peek()?.inFormattedStr) {
-        result.push('{{');
+      } else if (str[i] === '\\' && str[i + 1] === '{' && stateStack.length === 0) {
+        result.push('\\{');
         i += 1;
-      } else if (str[i] === '}' && str[i + 1] === '}' && peek()?.inFormattedStr) {
-        result.push('}}');
+      } else if (str[i] === '\\' && str[i + 1] === '}' && stateStack.length === 0) {
+        result.push('\\}');
         i += 1;
       } else if (str[i] === '{' && peek()?.inFormattedStr) {
         result.push(str[i]);
diff --git a/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/integration/postgres/yaml-compiler.test.ts b/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/integration/postgres/yaml-compiler.test.ts
index a6abb2eae3a56..9695454ca3077 100644
--- a/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/integration/postgres/yaml-compiler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/integration/postgres/yaml-compiler.test.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,40 @@ cubes:
     );
   });
 
+  it('simple with json/curly in sql', async () => {
+    const { compiler, joinGraph, cubeEvaluator } = prepareYamlCompiler(`
+cubes:
+  - name: ActiveUsers
+    sql: SELECT 1 as user_id, '2022-01-01'::TIMESTAMP as timestamp, CAST('\\{"key":"value"\\}'::JSON AS TEXT) AS json_col
+
+    dimensions:
+      - name: time
+        sql: "{CUBE}.timestamp"
+        type: time
+      - name: json_col
+        sql: json_col
+        type: string
+    `);
+    await compiler.compile();
+
+    const query = new PostgresQuery({ joinGraph, cubeEvaluator, compiler }, {
+      dimensions: ['ActiveUsers.time', 'ActiveUsers.json_col'],
+      timezone: 'UTC'
+    });
+
+    console.log(query.buildSqlAndParams());
+
+    const res = await dbRunner.testQuery(query.buildSqlAndParams());
+    console.log(JSON.stringify(res));
+
+    expect(res).toEqual(
+      [{
+        active_users__time: '2022-01-01T00:00:00.000Z',
+        active_users__json_col: '{"key":"value"}',
+      }]
+    );
+  });
+
   it('missed sql', async () => {
     const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(`
 cubes:
diff --git a/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/unit/yaml-schema.test.ts b/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/unit/yaml-schema.test.ts
index 5fbe4f18f1100..cf04ff44961a4 100644
--- a/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/unit/yaml-schema.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cubejs-schema-compiler/test/unit/yaml-schema.test.ts
@@ -77,30 +77,33 @@ describe('Yaml Schema Testing', () => {
     await compiler.compile();
   });
 
-  it('escapes backticks', async () => {
+  it('empty file', async () => {
     const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
-  - name: Users
-    sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    dimensions:
-      - name: id
-        sql: id
-        type: number
-        primaryKey: true
-      - name: c2
-        sql: "{CUBE}.\`C2\`"
-        type: string
-      `
+      '   '
     );
 
     await compiler.compile();
   });
 
-  it('empty string - issue#7126', async () => {
+  it('empty cubes in file', async () => {
     const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
-  - name: Users
-    title: ''`
+      'cubes:   '
+    );
+
+    await compiler.compile();
+  });
+
+  it('empty views in file', async () => {
+    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+      'views:   '
+    );
+
+    await compiler.compile();
+  });
+
+  it('Unexpected keys', async () => {
+    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+      'circles:   '
     );
 
     try {
@@ -108,15 +111,17 @@ describe('Yaml Schema Testing', () => {
 
       throw new Error('compile must return an error');
     } catch (e: any) {
-      expect(e.message).toContain('Users cube: "title" must be a string');
+      expect(e.message).toContain('Unexpected YAML key');
     }
   });
 
-  it('null for string field', async () => {
+  it('can\'t parse error', async () => {
     const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
       `cubes:
-  - name: Users
-    title: null`
+      - name: Products
+        sql: select { "string"+123 } from tbl
+        dimensions:
+    `
     );
 
     try {
@@ -124,106 +129,196 @@ describe('Yaml Schema Testing', () => {
 
       throw new Error('compile must return an error');
     } catch (e: any) {
-      expect(e.message).toContain('Unexpected input during yaml transpiling: null');
+      expect(e.message).toContain('Can\'t parse python expression');
     }
   });
 
-  it('empty (null) dimensions', async () => {
+  it('unnamed measure', async () => {
     const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
       `cubes:
   - name: Users
     sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
     dimensions:
-    `
+      - sql: id
+        type: number
+        primaryKey: true
+      `
     );
 
-    await compiler.compile();
+    try {
+      await compiler.compile();
+
+      throw new Error('compile must return an error');
+    } catch (e: any) {
+      expect(e.message).toContain('name isn\'t defined for dimension: ');
+    }
   });
 
-  it('empty (null) measures', async () => {
-    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
+  describe('Escaping and quoting', () => {
+    it('escapes backticks', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
   - name: Users
     sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    measures:
-    `
-    );
+    dimensions:
+      - name: id
+        sql: id
+        type: number
+        primaryKey: true
+      - name: c2
+        sql: "{CUBE}.\`C2\`"
+        type: string
+      `
+      );
 
-    await compiler.compile();
-  });
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
 
-  it('empty (null) segments', async () => {
-    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
+    it('escape double quotes', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
   - name: Users
     sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    segments:
-    `
-    );
+    dimensions:
+      - name: id
+        sql: id
+        type: number
+        primaryKey: true
+      - name: id_str
+        sql: "ID"
+        type: string
+      `
+      );
 
-    await compiler.compile();
-  });
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
 
-  it('empty (null) preAggregations', async () => {
-    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
+    it('escape curly braces', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
   - name: Users
-    sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    dimensions: []
-    measures: []
-    segments: []
-    preAggregations:
-    joins: []
-    hierarchies: []
-    `
-    );
+    sql: SELECT 1 AS id, CAST('\\{"key":"value"\\}'::JSON AS TEXT) AS json_col
+    dimensions:
+      - name: id
+        sql: id
+        type: number
+        primaryKey: true
+      `
+      );
 
-    await compiler.compile();
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
   });
 
-  it('empty (null) joins', async () => {
-    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
-  - name: Users
-    sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    joins:
-    `
-    );
+  describe('Parsing edge cases: ', () => {
+    it('empty string - issue#7126', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      title: ''`
+      );
 
-    await compiler.compile();
-  });
+      try {
+        await compiler.compile();
 
-  it('empty (null) hierarchies', async () => {
-    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
-  - name: Users
-    sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    hierarchies:
-    `
-    );
+        throw new Error('compile must return an error');
+      } catch (e: any) {
+        expect(e.message).toContain('Users cube: "title" must be a string');
+      }
+    });
 
-    await compiler.compile();
-  });
+    it('null for string field', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      title: null`
+      );
 
-  it('unnamed measure', async () => {
-    const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
-      `cubes:
-  - name: Users
-    sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
-    dimensions:
-      - sql: id
-        type: number
-        primaryKey: true
+      try {
+        await compiler.compile();
+
+        throw new Error('compile must return an error');
+      } catch (e: any) {
+        expect(e.message).toContain('Unexpected input during yaml transpiling: null');
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('empty (null) dimensions', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
+      dimensions:
       `
-    );
+      );
 
-    try {
       await compiler.compile();
+    });
 
-      throw new Error('compile must return an error');
-    } catch (e: any) {
-      expect(e.message).toContain('name isn\'t defined for dimension: ');
-    }
+    it('empty (null) measures', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
+      measures:
+      `
+      );
+
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
+
+    it('empty (null) segments', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
+      segments:
+      `
+      );
+
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
+
+    it('empty (null) preAggregations', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
+      dimensions: []
+      measures: []
+      segments: []
+      preAggregations:
+      joins: []
+      hierarchies: []
+      `
+      );
+
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
+
+    it('empty (null) joins', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
+      joins:
+      `
+      );
+
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
+
+    it('empty (null) hierarchies', async () => {
+      const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
+        `cubes:
+    - name: Users
+      sql: SELECT * FROM e2e.users
+      hierarchies:
+      `
+      );
+
+      await compiler.compile();
+    });
   });
 
   it('accepts cube meta', async () => {
@@ -425,6 +520,7 @@ describe('Yaml Schema Testing', () => {
       await compiler.compile();
     });
   });
+
   describe('Access policy: ', () => {
     it('defines a correct accessPolicy', async () => {
       const { compiler } = prepareYamlCompiler(
@@ -439,6 +535,9 @@ describe('Yaml Schema Testing', () => {
             - name: status
               sql: status
               type: string
+            - name: is_true
+              sql: is_true
+              type: boolean
           measures:
             - name: count
               type: count
@@ -461,6 +560,14 @@ describe('Yaml Schema Testing', () => {
                       operator: equals
                       values:
                         - "{ securityContext.currentDate }"
+                    - member: "count"
+                      operator: equals
+                      values:
+                        - 123
+                    - member: "is_true"
+                      operator: equals
+                      values:
+                        - true
               memberLevel:
                 includes:
                   - status