What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
Music has been with me since I can remember. As a little girl, I was creating melodies on a keyboard that my parents gave me. It was just a simple exploration and play. My mother noticed I could spend hours doing that and took me to the music school. This is how I started playing the piano and later on taking my first singing and guitar classes. I felt music was giving me a chance to discover this ethereal space where all is possible. I felt free. Today I believe, I’m first and foremost a writer. Lyrics are essential to me and need to convey a message, tell a story and bring something of value to listeners. This is when what I do makes sense to me.
Introduce yourself to all the members and tell us about your musical history.
As I’ve already mentioned, I started my musical path when I was still a child. I had this irresistible urge to express myself and give voice to my feelings. I was also somewhat restless and wanted to explore the world. I am originally Polish, but it’s been more than ten years since I moved to Barcelona. Today I speak English, Italian and Spanish. These languages helped me explore different musical traditions and influences. After many years performing on festivals in my teens, I came to Spain to continue my musical career. I studied voice technique in L’AULA de Música Moderna y Jazz and music therapy of voice in Escuela Voz Integral. I connected with incredible musicians from different cultural backgrounds and we performed together on various occasions. Three years ago the idea of a debut album was born and this is where I am now presenting to you the first single, “Like Wolves”.
Name me your 4 favorite albums.
“So” by Peter Gabriel
“Ray of Light” by Madonna
“Hounds of Love” by Kate Bush
“How Beauty Holds The Hand Of Sorrow” by Ane Brun
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
“Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in. How do you feel you are doing?
I believe that authenticity is key if we want to progress in music or anything else. For me, it’s more about a journey than a destination. I learn a lot about myself and the world around me. There are listeners who connect with my music and what it represents to them. If it brings comfort, inspiration or any other positive sensation to anyone then it’s worth keeping on walking. At the same time, most people in the music industry like what they know, so we need to persist, believe in ourselves and know as much as we can about this profession.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
It’s not easy to predict what can happen at any music gig. I think that basically we need to surround ourselves by staff we can trust and choose the right places to perform. It comes with experience and awareness of the self and others. In practical terms, there should be more security observing the event and keeping record of who enters and leaves the hall at any time.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
Yes. I know that no music is for everyone. That’s why I aim to connect with like-minded and like-hearted people who share similar interests and values. It’s important to see others in the process and care about their creations as well. Times have changed and now more than ever we need to collaborate and support each other. We all have access to the same tools. What can differ are our budgets. However, if we mind about quality of everything we share on socials, it’ll be spotted sooner or later. Investments and taking measurable risks are necessary, but they don’t guarantee anything.
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
I was sleeping once in the Amazon, fell in love with an Argentinean guy and owned a pet snake. Which one is a lie? ☺
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
No monopoly in this world is good for us in any sector. It slows down our growth as humanity to make certain groups more privileged than others. I think that the variety of options is necessary because our views on this profession often differ. What’s more, the possibility to monetize our work through certain channels, like Spotify, are still very limited. The artists are not remunerated as they should and the rich and famous keep on receiving the most benefit.
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
What can be conspiracy for one person for the other is something real. I’m not in favor of the word “conspiracy”. Who decides about what conspiracy is or isn’t? Oftentimes, it’s just a way to judge or reject non-mainstream perspective on something.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about?
I still don’t have a driving license but I am a certified NAUI diver.
What makes you stand out as an artist?
My eclecticism for sure, the effect of traveling extensively and connecting with people from many different cultures. In my songs the Nordic music blends with Mediterranean influences. I’m fascinated with fusions, experimentation and combining the acoustic multi-cultural sounds with electronics.
What are your musical influences?
I’m inspired by brave thought-provoking artists who were able to bring freshness, break a taboo and create atmosphere. The compositions of Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Thom Yorke or David Bowie are like wine that gets even better with time. I also like Nordic artists such as Ane Brun, Bjork, Sigur Ros, Eivor or Olafur Arnalds. They are amazing at creating mystery and dreamlike sound.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
This year I’ll be releasing singles from the upcoming album, “Butterflies”. The first one comes out on April 22nd and is called “Like Wolves”. It’s a rhythmic yet ethereal tune that talks about reclaiming our inner freedom through living in sync with our truth and nature. The whole album is a sound kaleidoscope of various landscapes and sensations. The six original pieces in English, three in Spanish and one in my native tongue, Polish, combine electronic music and acoustic one, especially the native instruments such as ney, oud, mandolin, duduk, udu, table, quenacho, bombo legüero and others. It’s a kind of alternative fusion of art pop and world music.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune.
I created “Like Wolves” long ago when I still didn’t know that one day it’ll be a part of the LP. I was going through a personal transformation and wanted to express on paper my desire for freedom from certain patterns that operated in me and my life that time. I took part in a female workshop in which every woman was constructing her own drum. This instrument and my fascination with the North led me to what would become music and lyrics of the song. I also read Clarissa’s Pinkola Estés book “Women Who Run With The Wolves” in the same period. These events served me as canvas for the musical arrangement. I met the perfect person to produce the song and the whole album. Joan Miró Prat connected personally with my music and thanks to him “Like Wolves” reflects what I wanted to transmit and share with listeners.
What was the recording process like?
“Like Wolves” was recorded in Medusa Estudio and Vocal Studio BCN (Barcelona) with the participation of fantastic musicians, such as Marcos Exposito (double bass), Joan Miró Prat (drum, guitar, textures) and Aleix Tobias (percussion and sound effects). During the same day we recorded also other songs from the album with Salvador Toscano (drums) and Antonio Mazzei (piano). We were working a lot remotely because the compositions were mixed and mastered in La Musa Estudio (Argentina). Finally, the official video to “Like Wolves” was recorded and edited by Panambí Productions.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
I learned that lyrics are like giving birth to a child. Some of them slip smoothly and others resist, need more patience and care. Sometimes there’s one more thing left to experience in a real life so that lyrics could be completed. It all comes down to trust in the process.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
No, I think it’s perfect the way it is. It’s a stage in my growth as an artist and a picture of my past. Next albums will be different for sure because of the experience I gained and new me but, in this moment, I like the final sound we gave “Butterflies”.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Let’s not be afraid to be different and face being misunderstood. Let’s look to the future and think about what legacy we leave the next generation. We’re all interconnected and what we emanate from within has impact on others. Let’s take responsibility that comes with visibility and share what’s uplifting and worthwhile. In the world there’s enough pain and anger. Art can and should help us transform.
PRE SAVE HERE
WEBSITE HERE