RYCERZYKI
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Rycerzyki create melodic, melancholic and ecstatic music that fits loosely into the alternative pop trend and refers to the climate of the 1980s. The band debuted in 2015 with an album titled Rycerzyki under Krakow’s Stajnia Sobieski label. In 2018, Thin Man Records released the band’s second album under the title Kalarnali, very warmly received by the media, including Polityka, Gazeta Wyborcza, Dwutygodnik and Polish Radio Three. Rycerzyki have also been selected by the European showcase network INES in association with Poland’s Spring Break as one of the hundred promising young bands from Europe (INES Talent 2019). The single Czerwiec from the Kalarnali’s album was the song of the day on Polish Radio Three (2018) and the whole album was the album of the week on many different radio stations in Poland. Kalarnali was featured in many lists of the best Polish albums of 2018, among others on Beehype, Bartek Chaciński’s Polyphony blog, T-Mobile Electronic Beats, Music Is, Trzy Szóstki,. As part of an international tour just before Pandemic, the band performed, among others, in Seville, Berlin and Prague. Rycerzyki have appeared at festivals such as Off Festival (2015), Spring Break (2015) and Monkey Week (2019), among others. They have performed as a support band before Canadian band TOPS, Mikromusic, Pustki and before Gaba Kulka bands.
August 2021 saw the release of Rycerzyki’s third album Zniknij na zawsze (released on Thin Man Records), promoted by singles titled Duch, Trochę jaśniej, Żar, Pętle and Lew, followed a year later by an album of remixes of the Rycerzyki’s songs Zniknij na zawsze – Remixes, prepared by such artists of the independent scene as Legendary Afrojax, Pejzaż, Jakub Lemiszewski, Kadabra Dyskety Kusaje, Bogdan Sękalski, Ala Zastary, Xamille, Mucks. The release was, among others, the album of the week in Radio Four.
The band is currently working on a new album. Rycerzyki perform as a trio, consisting of: Gosia Zielińska (vocals, synthesiser), Karol Jadach (guitar, electronics) and Maciej Pitala (guitar, bass).
EKHTO
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EKHTO is a Wroclaw-based alternative duo performing electronic music. Anita Barton and Kuba Iwanejko, inspired by synthpop, electronica and melodic techno, create music that combines a danceable mood with lyrical sensitivity. The duo draws inspiration from groups such as Rüfüs Du Sol, GusGus and Röyksopp. Their latest singles, Cosy Mess and On Cloud 9, were created in collaboration with producer Bartosz Szczęsny, setting a new direction in the band’s work.
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The duo was founded in 2012 by Piotrek Lewandowski (Indigo Tree) and Radek Krzyżanowski (Kamp!, La Giang). Since their first release, the band has developed a recognisable style (sad disco) and label on the Polish electronic music scene. The band has released two albums (Moments in 2014 and Ghosts in 2016), four EPs and played over 100 concerts, including the most important Polish festivals (Open’er, Audioriver, Tauron Nowa Muzyka, OFF, Orange Warsaw).
ZIMA STULECIA
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What would have happened if Michael Dudikoff had gone missing in action, say – in Poland in 1987 – during the harshest freezing spell of the century? Would he have coped under these conditions like John Rambo has in the town of Hope? We shall never find out, but the soundtrack is already there. Latarnik and Cancer G (members of EABS and Błoto) would call this film Zima Stulecia: Minus 30°C.
The music of Zima Stulecia is difficult to label in terms of genre. It oscillates towards melancholic electronic music. For some it will be techno, others will hear elements of house, all accompanied by improvised synth and percussion music.
Zima Stulecia is a duo that was not supposed to have any chance of success. Many years ago, back in 2006, when they were still budding musicians they met for the first time at a jazz workshop. When they found out where they both came from and that they were separated by almost 800 kilometers, despite having great chemistry in playing, they jokingly said goodbye with the sentence: “it was fun playing together!”. They figured they would never meet again. At the time, none of them imagined that in a few years’ time in Wrocław they will form one of the most interesting contemporary jazz bands in Poland: EABS and Błoto. On top of that, they were both born in January 1987. The last of the historic “winters of the century” (eng. for “zima stulecia”) occurred at that time in Poland, which ultimately determined their name as a band. Minus 30°C album is a recording of the non-verbal workings of these soulmates, and a fruit of a musical collaboration that has lasted for 16 years.
BRODACHÈ
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brodachè are uncouth condors rising above the ocean of mixed waters of electronics, alternative and pop.
brodachè is the collective of the best qualities you wish your mother had. brodachè is the caring father you probably didn’t have.
They like density in the beat, they like space in the being.
Festivals they have attended so far:
Kazimiernikejszyn, Kortowiada, Juwenalia Poznań, Cekcyn Electronic Music Festival, Spring Break, CzarnOFF, Festival, Frytka Off Częstochowa, Powidz Jam Festival, Liederlauschen (Germany) and many smaller ones.
The debut album #beardoelectro was mastered at the legendary ABBEY ROADS studio in London.
BOKKA
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BOKKA has been surprising for the past 10 years with its unconventional approach to their image, lively concerts and stylistic turns – from the nostalgic debut noticed by Pitchfork, through the energetic album Don’t Kiss And Tell, the cosmic Life On Planet B, to the apocalyptic Blood Moon.
Remaining anonymous for the past 10 years, they operate according to their own unique principles. What will they surprise with this time celebrating their 10th anniversary? BOKKA HITS 10 coming soon!
They are one of the most amazing phenomena on the Polish scene. They have 4 well-received albums to their credit, 3 Fryderyk nominations, and their work has been recommended by many foreign media. An original approach to creating their image and music, using unconventional instrumentation, often consisting of random objects, quickly became BOKKA’s trademark. The group’s potential was quickly recognised abroad, which resulted in playing at the most important events in Europe, including the British The Great Escape, Czech Colours of Ostrava, German Reeperbahn or Dutch Eurosonic, and then in clubs in Brussels, Prague or Budapest.
In 2022, BOKKA returned in another guise, presenting the mysterious and apocalyptic album Blood Moon, thus gaining another Fryderyk Award nomination. The video for the song Walk on A Wire received the Grand Prix at the Polish Music Video Awards, an honourable mention at the Berlin Music Video Awards, and was the only Polish video to be nominated at the Camerimage festival among artists such as Lykke Li, Harry Styles and Rammstein.
KIDNAP
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Matt Relton, aka Kidnap, first gained recognition by winning the iTunes Best Electronic Track in 2012 with his release Vehl. Forever experimenting with sounds, the Sheffield producer rapidly carved out a unique and intelligent sound. In pursuit of artistic independence, he launched his Birds That Fly imprint in 2015 with Moments featuring Leo Stannard.
Staying true to his sound, Relton consistently releases music that evokes memories. Here is an artist who truly understands the importance of each and every sound. Through the use of vocals, intricate percussion and melodies, his productions conjure emotions from deep within.
2017 was a profound year for Relton, both personally and with his career. Having gone through a year of change and reflection, it was time to drop ‘Kid’ and release under Kidnap.
In 2018 Kidnap became an Ambassador for Corona Sunset Sessions which saw Relton travel around the world playing shows in extraordinary locations, from rocky beaches in southern Italy to Mountain summits in Canada. Kidnap also added further releases, Ashes EP, Ursa Minor & Turn2U to his Birds That Fly imprint.
However, it was 2019 that saw the most pivotal year of Kidnap’s career. This would be the year that the London based producer would release his finest body of work to date. His debut album, ‘Grow’. Kidnap has enjoyed a momentous year in the lead up to the release of his first album. Its title song saw the return of Leo Stannard, a tried-and-tested formula that gained the pair huge success with hit track ‘Moments’. Picking up from where they left off, ‘Grow’ soon became #1 on SiriusXM Chill and entered the Top 100 U.S. Dance chart. Following on was ‘Start Again’, securing radio play from Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, and third single ‘Sea Breeze’, a club-ready anthem with support from heavy hitters such as Eelke Kleijn, Mambo Brothers, Don Diablo and Moguai. The album was celebrated in a truly unique fashion when Kidnap conducted an exclusive audio-visual presentation at the Greenwich Planetarium, an experience that will live long in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to attend.
Marching confidently into 2020, Kidnap linked up with long term collaborator and friend Lane 8 for their second release in the form of their track Matcha Mistake on Lane 8’s This Never Happened imprint. This highly anticipated reunion wet the appetite for yet another reunion in Kidnap’s career. Anjunadeep fans were overjoyed to see Kidnap was returning to the label with his latest club-ready cut Silence earning a plethora of spins at radio including Pete Tong at Radio 1.
Respected and supported by esteemed figures such as; Sasha, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold and Maceo Plex… Kidnap continues to confidently stride forward with his sights set on his next endeavor.