Poland


Wojciech Kzrak
Age: 26

My Job Title

Musician, journalist, radio dj, anthropologist - Warsaw Village Band / Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa, s.c., Warsaw, Poland

My Education

Warsaw University, Anthropology/Ethnology (2000-2004)

My Work

"For the past 7 years, I've been a key member of Warsaw Village Band, the best known abroad Polish folk music band. I play the violin and I'm the only nyckelharpa player in Poland. Together with my band, I have visited more than 30 countries on 4 continents. We gave concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Ronnie Scotts in London and many other places from New York to Algier and Taipeh; took part in festivals such as the Roskilde Festival. In 2004, we won the BBC Radio 3 Award in the World Music category. Since then, I've had many contacts with people from UK and, as a result, this year BBC made a documentary about our band - " European Roots: 'Warsaw Village Band's Journey".

In the band I'm responsible for the contacts with media from outside Poland. I've worked with newspapers, radiostations and TV stations from Japan, Portugal, Ireland, USA, Canada, UK and other countries. I'm also responible for contacts with our agents, so I know well how the music business works, not only in Europe but also in America and Asia. For the past few years I've had many chances to perform not only at many big festivals (Roskilde, Womad), but also in small clubs, and I know how countries and audiences can be different."

Issues in the music industry in my country

I work with/play in the best known Polish band abroad so I have a perfect standpoint. The word "Polish" has a very special meaning here, especially because my band plays Polish contemporaty roots music. We are the symbol of Polish culture for many, many people abroad - from USA to Japan.

First of all, we need to fight the stereotypes that people may have about Poland. It's been eighteen years since the nightmare of communism ended, but Polish culture is still being recognized as... nothing. Through the lack of professional association of promoters in the country we have poor contacts with European, Asian and American agencies and, as a result, the market there. Not enough support given by official media to independent movements in the country must have some influence on how bad and inadequately we are promoted abroad. There are so many fantastic and creative people waiting to be given a chance to show how great and original ideas they have to share with others! All we need to do is let them do their job!

Innovative artists & music business trends from my country

The music of Warsaw Village Band, the main Polish band recognised in UK and awarded by BBC, can be described as "old polish roots with conteporary power". It's the best Polish mark we can have. Songlines, the most prestigious World Music magazine in UK, wrote that WVB is " The Polish Pogues". The New York Times wrote that the WVB is 'the best taste of European World music right now...' The BBC documentry about our band got great reviews from States, Europe and Asia.

The information above is taken from the application form completed by the finalist in early 2007. Things may have changed since this information was provided and we recommend that you should not rely upon this information as a definitive statement of current fact. Click here to contact the finalist.