BACK TO THE OCEAN

Here we are again. A new week is upon us, and it’s going to be a good one. Should we be upset that the US government is closed or should we be celebrating? So before we begin today I want to start by talking about how excited I get when I see music marketing & technology mesh. Rhapsody is kicking off a new partnership with BandPage by exclusively marketing several BandPage Experiences directly to fans of those artists. I am telling you folks, we have not even touched the surface on how amazing the experience will be for music consumers. Now lets get to the music with a solo artist that goes by Back To The Ocean. If you have not heard the vocals on this woman, you are missing out. I bought her song “Snow and Rain” on Amazon MP3 and I have not turned back. Join us today as we head to Warsaw, PL to talk about her vocal ability, unrest and violence all over the world, being compared to legends, and much more!

Stoli: Where are we talking from today and are you sad to see summer slowly turning to fall?

I’m just back to Warsaw from Copenhagen Songwriters Festival. In Denmark, I could see the first traces of autumn. In spite of the festival’s great atmosphere, the weather was rather cloudy and rainy. I hoped to catch the last of the some summer spirit in Poland, but it seems here it also began to turn to fall. I’m not happy about it… Sunny, warm weather makes me very optimistic and full of energy. In Poland we have 4 seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. Each one used to last about 3 months, but the pattern is changing year by year and the last two winters were very long. Most people complained about coldness and lack of sunlight.

Stoli: What do people do in Warsaw, PL for fun during summer months?

Warsaw is the capital of Poland, a vibrant European city. In summertime plenty of interesting cultural events take place here – concerts, exhibitions, performances, city games… A lot to do in your free time. On warm or hot summer days there are a lot of people relaxing on the banks of the Vistula, the longest Polish river which flows through the city.

Stoli: Agnieszka has a voice that makes you take notice and listen. At what age did you realize that you were blessed with such vocals?

My voice has always been a natural part of me, just a quality that I was born with. I never realized that it was so specific until I started to perform. After gigs, people would come to me and say how beautiful and magical it sounded to them, then also music critics started to underline its exceptional timbre. So, finally it became obvious to me that there was something in it. But when I sing, I use my voice very naturally and I never concentrate on its uniqueness. I just try to express emotions within the songs.

“Yes, You Are The Sun”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta9iev0E5So

Stoli: What is the meaning behind the band called Back To The Ocean?

Actually Back To The Ocean is me, not a band. It’s my artistic alias. A few years ago, when I started to record my own songs, I thought of it as a name for a band, but the musicians I cooperated with were changing and I realized that the basis and the core quality was me. The name came to me during a session of meditation. This was a very special and moving one. Suddenly I felt like I was sitting on the bottom of the ocean, able to breathe in the water, watching beautiful oceanic creatures passing me by, seeing wonderful oceanic flora. It was like being home, like reaching the deepest sense of unity with the whole world, being one with all livings. I thought “it’s my home. The ocean is my home”. And then I realized that making and performing music brings the same quality to me, so … making music is coming back home, back to the ocean.

Stoli: I am listening to ‘Yes, You Are The Sun.’ I love the album. How did you choose the 4 singles to be on the album and where did you write & record the music?

I am glad you love it, thank you. “Yes, You Are The Sun” is a very special album to me. It’s the first one released under the Back To The Ocean brand. In fact, the title song and “There Comes A Time” were recorded in 2009 and the other two songs two years later. At that time I worked very hard, had a daily job and faced some serious difficulties in my life. I was very happy to complete the project and release my first “introduction” to the music industry and listeners. The songs have been selected very intuitively. I am a very prolific songwriter, so I had a lot to chose from, but I just decided on those that were most relevant for me at that time. They were recorded in a home studio.

Generally, songs just come to my mind unintentionally. It can happen in the car, while shopping or just after finishing a phone conversation with a friend. First comes a bit of music with a line or two of lyrics. I already know what it is about and it always refers to something important in my life or something that moved me. Then I just have to sit and complete the rest.

Stoli: I really love the song “There Comes A Time.” What inspired Agnieszka to write that song and what does it mean to you?

“There Comes A Time”, just like most songs I write, has been inspired by a real situation. The song is about being betrayed and humiliated, but sang from the perspective of the person who had overcome such abuse and has found her own strength. Still, it is about the need for revenge. It expresses the anger and desire to let the one who hurt us experience the same pain we were forced to go through. Actually, I don’t think that revenge is the best solution in a world of injustice, but it’s good to find the “no” energy inside of us and to express strong feelings.

Stoli: What was behind the decision to work with the full band on this album as opposed to a solo effort?

When performing on my own, I am in a very intimate relation with listeners and that’s what I really love about solo performances. That’s the advantage and it’s good for gigs in small venues. But on the other hand, when you cooperate with musicians, there is the possibility to build complex and interesting arrangements, to create radio songs. Each musician, when really engaged in this process, brings her/his own quality, sensitivity and point of view. When making the album “Yes, You Are The Sun”, I was often moved to the bone. I remember screaming spontaneously “I love you” to the musician who played piano on the title track. He reached the depth of my soul and I was so grateful for it. The same about the bassist, who co-wrote two songs with me and produced the album. Or the drummer, Fela, the one I can always rely on as a musician and the one who has been with me from the very beginning of creating the band.

Stoli: Being that you are based in Poland do you feel that social media and the Internet allow you to have fans from all over the world and can you cite a cool example?

I consider the Internet and social media to be a miracle and a breakthrough for musicians anywhere in the world, especially for those living far from the US or Western Europe. There is such easy access to a variety of music which is created worldwide, to information about festivals and songwriting contests, to online lessons about singing or playing any instrument. There are crowdfunding websites. It is possible to co-write or record with a person living on the opposite side of the planet! Thanks to my activity on the Internet music platforms where I have my profiles, – Reverbnation and Sonicbids, I was lucky to find a great American agent, to successfully submit to world songwriting festivals in Nashville and Copenhagen, and to attract the attention of fans from all over the world. It’s such a satisfaction to know that my music is listened to and appreciated by people in the US, Australia, Japan, Italy, the UK, Portugal, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, Egypt… to mention only a few locations.

Stoli: There is such unrest and violence all over the world from Syria to Egypt and beyond. Should the EU and US be forced to take these refugees in seeking asylum?

Yes, definitely. But it is always a very complex matter. I believe we are one and we should support each other, especially when people suffer from violence. No country is isolated or independent from others, so there should be really strong public pressure on governments and societies where human rights are violated. But, of course, such actions should not serve any political or private interests. On the other hand, I think it’s important for immigrants or refugees to respect the country sheltering them, to respect its culture and laws, to be a committed citizen who pays taxes and works for the good of the whole community.

Stoli: If you were to write a song on how you see the world and your life what would it be an uplifting or sad song?

As regards my life, it would be definitely uplifting. I have transformed myself from the point of being someone lost and not very self-confident to the state where I feel free and happy, having a great family of wonderful people around me and doing what I always wanted to do in my life. Even if it is not always easy, I feel at peace with myself. The state of the world is not so unambiguous to me… I wish our planet was a safe and green place to live for everybody. There are a lot of things that worry me… But I believe we are waking up.

Stoli: Does it add pressure being compared to such legends as Sade, David Gray, & Tracy Chapman or are you flattered?

I’m absolutely delighted and honored. No pressure :D

Stoli: What is coming up for Back To The Ocean and where you @ online?

I have just released my new 5-song album “Rain” and it’s time to start promotion. With my American agent, we are working on details of the campaign which should commence on October. The album is very diverse – from a moody ballad “Rain” in the style of “Yes, You Are The Sun” through various shades of rock songs up to a light, quite pop one. I wanted to present the wider spectrum of the states of my soul and my songwriting abilities. The first song which announces the album is “Just” (a song very often called for as an encore by my audience) and the official video can be found on YT. In the beginning of September, I will start working on a video for the next song, the title track, the ballad “Rain”.

http://reverbnation.com/backtotheocean
http://facebook.com/backtotheocean
http://youtube.com/backtotheocean - Skope Magazine

Back to the Ocean is not only a really good band name, but it is the alias of Polish singer/songrwriter and guitarist Agnieszka Olszewska-Kaczmarek. Based on her four-song EP, Yes, You Are the Sun, you should certainly be hearing a great deal more from Back to the Ocean in the future. It is hard to listen to it and not wonder why you haven’t already.

Olszewska-Kaczmarek has been compared to such great female musicians like Melissa Etheridge and Tracy Chapman. It’s hard to put someone in such a category after just a few songs, but the potential is certainly there. On Yes, You Are the Sun Back to the Ocean shows strength in songwriting both musically and lyrically, but the obvious thing that stands out most is her voice. It is both unique and outstanding and is evident within moments of pressing play on “Ýes, You Are the Sun.” It is somewhat similar to Chapman’s, though I’d say I was sooner reminded of Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons. It just has fantastic depth and range, especially for a female vocalist. You must give it a listen to truly understand.

All of the tunes on Yes, You Are the Sun are in English despite Olszewska-Kaczmarek being Polish. And you would have no reason to believe it wasn’t her first language when listening to any of these songs. A song like “But You Can Believe My Lies” certainly shows that she is quite comfortable down to the cuss words in English.

Back to the Ocean performs as both a solo artist and as a band. When performing as a band Olszewska-Kaczmarek is joined by Joanna “Fela” Felczak (drums), Grzeogroz Kuks (guitars), Jacek Prokopowicz (piano/keyboard), Piotr Kuks (bass), and Natalia Winczowka (violin). Whether or solo or in group form I must highly recommend checking out Back to the Ocean be it recorded or live for a chance to see a star in the making.



Key Tracks: Yes, You Are the Sun, But You Can Believe My Lies

Kevin Kozel - Sr. MuzikReviews.com Staff

July 3, 2013 - Muzik Reviews

Here we are again. A new week is upon us, and it’s going to be a good one. Should we be upset that the US government is closed or should we be celebrating? So before we begin today I want to start by talking about how excited I get when I see music marketing & technology mesh. Rhapsody is kicking off a new partnership with BandPage by exclusively marketing several BandPage Experiences directly to fans of those artists. I am telling you folks, we have not even touched the surface on how amazing the experience will be for music consumers. Now lets get to the music with a solo artist that goes by Back To The Ocean. If you have not heard the vocals on this woman, you are missing out. I bought her song “Snow and Rain” on Amazon MP3 and I have not turned back. Join us today as we head to Warsaw, PL to talk about her vocal ability, unrest and violence all over the world, being compared to legends, and much more!

Stoli: Where are we talking from today and are you sad to see summer slowly turning to fall?

I’m just back to Warsaw from Copenhagen Songwriters Festival. In Denmark, I could see the first traces of autumn. In spite of the festival’s great atmosphere, the weather was rather cloudy and rainy. I hoped to catch the last of the some summer spirit in Poland, but it seems here it also began to turn to fall. I’m not happy about it… Sunny, warm weather makes me very optimistic and full of energy. In Poland we have 4 seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. Each one used to last about 3 months, but the pattern is changing year by year and the last two winters were very long. Most people complained about coldness and lack of sunlight.

Stoli: What do people do in Warsaw, PL for fun during summer months?

Warsaw is the capital of Poland, a vibrant European city. In summertime plenty of interesting cultural events take place here – concerts, exhibitions, performances, city games… A lot to do in your free time. On warm or hot summer days there are a lot of people relaxing on the banks of the Vistula, the longest Polish river which flows through the city.

Stoli: Agnieszka has a voice that makes you take notice and listen. At what age did you realize that you were blessed with such vocals?

My voice has always been a natural part of me, just a quality that I was born with. I never realized that it was so specific until I started to perform. After gigs, people would come to me and say how beautiful and magical it sounded to them, then also music critics started to underline its exceptional timbre. So, finally it became obvious to me that there was something in it. But when I sing, I use my voice very naturally and I never concentrate on its uniqueness. I just try to express emotions within the songs.

“Yes, You Are The Sun”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta9iev0E5So

Stoli: What is the meaning behind the band called Back To The Ocean?

Actually Back To The Ocean is me, not a band. It’s my artistic alias. A few years ago, when I started to record my own songs, I thought of it as a name for a band, but the musicians I cooperated with were changing and I realized that the basis and the core quality was me. The name came to me during a session of meditation. This was a very special and moving one. Suddenly I felt like I was sitting on the bottom of the ocean, able to breathe in the water, watching beautiful oceanic creatures passing me by, seeing wonderful oceanic flora. It was like being home, like reaching the deepest sense of unity with the whole world, being one with all livings. I thought “it’s my home. The ocean is my home”. And then I realized that making and performing music brings the same quality to me, so … making music is coming back home, back to the ocean.

Stoli: I am listening to ‘Yes, You Are The Sun.’ I love the album. How did you choose the 4 singles to be on the album and where did you write & record the music?

I am glad you love it, thank you. “Yes, You Are The Sun” is a very special album to me. It’s the first one released under the Back To The Ocean brand. In fact, the title song and “There Comes A Time” were recorded in 2009 and the other two songs two years later. At that time I worked very hard, had a daily job and faced some serious difficulties in my life. I was very happy to complete the project and release my first “introduction” to the music industry and listeners. The songs have been selected very intuitively. I am a very prolific songwriter, so I had a lot to chose from, but I just decided on those that were most relevant for me at that time. They were recorded in a home studio.

Generally, songs just come to my mind unintentionally. It can happen in the car, while shopping or just after finishing a phone conversation with a friend. First comes a bit of music with a line or two of lyrics. I already know what it is about and it always refers to something important in my life or something that moved me. Then I just have to sit and complete the re - Skope Magazine

All of the tunes on Yes, You Are the Sun are in English despite Olszewska-Kaczmarek being Polish. And you would have no reason to believe it wasn’t her first language when listening to any of these songs. A song like “But You Can Believe My Lies” certainly shows that she is quite comfortable down to the cuss words in English.

Back to the Ocean performs as both a solo artist and as a band. When performing as a band Olszewska-Kaczmarek is joined by Joanna “Fela” Felczak (drums), Grzeogroz Kuks (guitars), Jacek Prokopowicz (piano/keyboard), Piotr Kuks (bass), and Natalia Winczowka (violin). Whether or solo or in group form I must highly recommend checking out Back to the Ocean be it recorded or live for a chance to see a star in the making. - Indie Music Critic

Back to the Ocean is not only a really good band name, but it is the alias of Polish singer/songrwriter and guitarist Agnieszka Olszewska-Kaczmarek. Based on her four-song EP, Yes, You Are the Sun, you should certainly be hearing a great deal more from Back to the Ocean in the future. It is hard to listen to it and not wonder why you haven’t already.

Olszewska-Kaczmarek has been compared to such great female musicians like Melissa Etheridge and Tracy Chapman. It’s hard to put someone in such a category after just a few songs, but the potential is certainly there. On Yes, You Are the Sun Back to the Ocean shows strength in songwriting both musically and lyrically, but the obvious thing that stands out most is her voice. It is both unique and outstanding and is evident within moments of pressing play on “Ýes, You Are the Sun.” It is somewhat similar to Chapman’s, though I’d say I was sooner reminded of Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons. It just has fantastic depth and range, especially for a female vocalist. You must give it a listen to truly understand.

All of the tunes on Yes, You Are the Sun are in English despite Olszewska-Kaczmarek being Polish. And you would have no reason to believe it wasn’t her first language when listening to any of these songs. A song like “But You Can Believe My Lies” certainly shows that she is quite comfortable down to the cuss words in English.

Back to the Ocean performs as both a solo artist and as a band. When performing as a band Olszewska-Kaczmarek is joined by Joanna “Fela” Felczak (drums), Grzeogroz Kuks (guitars), Jacek Prokopowicz (piano/keyboard), Piotr Kuks (bass), and Natalia Winczowka (violin). Whether or solo or in group form I must highly recommend checking out Back to the Ocean be it recorded or live for a chance to see a star in the making.



Key Tracks: Yes, You Are the Sun, But You Can Believe My Lies
- Muzik Reviews

Back To The Ocean zostala zauwazona przez jurorów prestizowego amerykanskiego konkursu songwriterskiego International Songwriting Competition. Jej piosenka „Take Away” dotarla do pólfinalu tego prestizowego przedsiewziecia. To nie pierwszy tego typu sukces naszej polskiej Tracy Chapman.

Agnieszka Olszewska-Kaczmarek, czyli songwriterka ukryta pod pseudonimem Back To The Ocean, moze po raz kolejny pochwalic sie nie lada osiagnieciem i to na arenie miedzynarodowej. Wczesniej z powodzeniem brala udzial m.in. w takich konkursach, jak Song Of The Year (2009), Show Me The Music Songwriting Contest (2011) i Indie International Songwriting Contest (2011). Teraz przyszedl czas na International Songwriting Competition, czyli prestizowy konkurs, który co roku skupia dziesiatki tysiecy songwriterów z calego swiata.

Back To The Ocean z piosenka „Take Away” dostala sie do pólfinalu tego przedsiewziecia!

– To, co najbardziej mnie cieszy to fakt, ze to juz moje czwarte wyróznienie w swiatowych konkursach songwriterskich i to za kazdym razem za inna piosenke. To potwierdza moja dobra kondycje jako kompozytorki – mówi Back To The Ocean. – Niedawno podpisalam umowe o wspólpracy z amerykanskim konsultantem muzycznym. Takie wyróznienie znacznie wzbogacilo moje portfolio i – mam nadzieje – zwiekszy szanse na pozyskanie managementu czy stalej agencji koncertowej w Stanach Zjednoczonych – dodaje.

Warto podkreslic, ze International Songwriting Contest ma niezwykle prestizowy sklad jurorski (m.in. Tom Waits) i z liczba ponad 20 tys. zgloszen jest konkursem songwriterskim, na którym panuje najwieksza konkurencja.

Po wiecej informacji zapraszamy na www.facebook.com/backtotheocean.
- Fabryka Zespolów

Debiut Back To The Ocean ma spory potencjal. I to zarówno artystyczny jak i… komercyjny.

Back To The Ocean powstalo w 2007 r. z inicjatywy Agnieszki Olszewskiej-Kaczmarek i Rafala Smolinskiego. Sama Agnieszka byla wczesniej frontmanka zespolu Humbert Humbert, która to formacja zaslynela swego czasu supportujac szereg gwiazd polskiego rocka. Back To The Ocean zas w ciagu ostatnich paru lat zaistnial na scenie muzycznej dzieki m.in. wyróznieniu utworu "Yes, You Are Sun" w konkursie "Song Of The Year".

I faktycznie, wspomniana kompozycja najlepiej ukazuje walory grupy. Zwlaszcza wokal Agnieszki, która jest niewatpliwa bohaterka recenzowanej EP-ki. Dysponuje piekna, lekko "czarna", barwa glosu. Oprócz tego posiada rzadki dar przekazywania swoim wokalem niezwyklych emocji. Sam utwór to takze zmyslowa ballada ze stopniowanym, narastajacym napieciem i wyraznie zarysowanym, zapamietywalnym refrenem.

Szkoda, ze pozostale trzy umieszczona na plytce nagrania nie pozostaja w pamieci tak jak opisywany akapit wyzej numer. Takze jednak w nich wyróznia sie wokal Agnieszki, która po raz kolejny udowadnia, ze jest motorem napedowym grupy. Przyznam, ze chetnie uslyszalbym wiecej materialu Back To The Ocean glównie ze wzgledu na ten element ich twórczosci.

Back To The Ocean jest juz zespolem dojrzalym i uksztaltowanym. Zaluje, ze udalo im sie nagrac na razie tylko EP-ke, choc jednoczesnie mam nadzieje, ze wkrótce pochwala sie "duzym" albumem.
- Magazyn Gitarzysta

Do Kalisza powraca z wyjatkowym koncertem grupa Back To The Ocean. Warszawski zespól dal sie poznac z jak najlepszej strony, podczas 5. Festiwalu im. P. Bergera - ich wystep oczarowal zarówno publicznosc, jurorów oraz muzyków zespolu Dzem.

Teraz bedziemy mogli obejrzec i posluchac ich ponownie. Agnieszka wraz z zespolem przyjezdza do Kalisza na wielki koncert finalowy Wielkiej Orkiestry Swiatecznej Pomocy, który odbedzie sie w najblizsza niedziele, w kaliskiej Arenie. Poza Back To The Ocean tego dnia wystapia: Re-bell, Olaf Bressa, Los Agentos, Mlody Nowak, Tomek Olszanowski Band, Piano Song. Gwiazda imprezy bedzie Ania Wyszkoni. Impreza rozpocznie sie o godz. 15.00. Tradycyjnie podczas koncertu przeprowadzane beda licytacje, a o godz. 20.00 artysci oraz zgromadzona publicznosc puszcza "Swiatelko do nieba". Pieniadze zebrane podczas jubileuszowego XX Finalu WOSP przeznaczone zostana na zakup urzadzen dla ratowania zycia wczesniaków oraz pomp insulinowych dla kobiet ciezarnych z cukrzyca.
- Dziennik Wielkopolski

Jesse , Kind Off, Blisko Pola, Back To The Ocean i French Films to zespoly, które wystapily w piatek podczas drugiego dnia Nordland Art Festival.




Nordland Art Festival - Blisko Pola
Autor: ker
Na rozpoczecie Nordland Art Festival 2011 zagral Dash Channel

Koncert podczas drugiego dnia (8 pazdziernika) Nordland Art Festival, w Klubie Jazzga rozpoczal finski duet Jesse. Ich instrumentami byly syntezatory i laptopy, a zaprezentowana muzyka stylistycznie wpisuje sie w nurt elektro, choc mozna bylo uslyszec takze bardziej rockowe klimaty.

Wiecej publicznosci zgromadzilo sie w klubie Lizard King, gdzie publicznosc mogla posluchac powtórki z pierwszego dnia festiwalu - lódzkiej grupy Kind Off. Dalszy ciag wieczoru tez zdominowaly zespoly polskie. W Jazzdze na scenie pojawila sie kolejna lódzka formacja - Blisko Pola z liderem Piotrem Kwietniewskim. Muzyka laczaca elementy rocka z jazzem porwala zgromadzona publicznosc do zabawy.

Po przeniesieniu sie do Lizard Kingu moglismy posluchac formacji Back To The Ocean w skladzie Agnieszka Olszewska - wokal i gitara, Maciej Adamczyk - bas, Joanna Felczak na perkusji I Dominika Bienias na skrzypcach. Zostali goraco przyjeci przez publicznosc, szczególnie utwór "Yes, You Are The Sun", który ma szanse znalezc sie na liscie przebojów programu trzeciego.

Na zakonczenie wieczoru na deskach Jazzgi wystapila jeszcze finska grupa grupa French Films. Formula festiwalu gdzie koncerty odbywaja sie w dwóch klubach prawie jednoczesnie nie jest zbyt szczesliwa, ale trzeba przyznac, ze festiwal z kazdym dniem nabiera tempa.
- Moje Miasto

Back To The Ocean – wokalistka, gitarzystka i songwriterka, która w marcu tego roku wystapila podczas organizowanych przez MegaTotal Radioalternatyw, odnosi kolejne sukcesy!



Dzieki piosence But You Can Believe My Lies zostala finalistka miedzynarodowego konkursu dla songwriterów – 2011 Indie International Songwriting Contest a z utworem Snow and Rain weszla do finalu Show Me The Music Songwriting Contest.

Razem z zespolem otrzymala Nagrode Publicznosci i Nagrode Dla Najlepszego Basisty na Rockautostradzie 2011, a takze Nagrode Publicznosci, III miejsce w glosowaniu jury oraz Nagrode Specjalna od zespolu Dzem (piano Kawai) na V Festiwalu im. Pawla Bergera w Kaliszu.



Zespól zakwalifikowal sie równiez na lódzki Nordland Art Festival, prezentujacy najciekawsze zespoly z krajów skandynawskich i nadbaltyckich. W jego ramach, 7 pazdziernika o 23:30, wystapi w klubie Lizard King.

Piosenka Yes, You Are The Sun jest obecnie grana w wielu stacjach radiowych, jak: Radio Dla Ciebie, Radio Lódz, Program Pierwszy Polskiego Radia, Radio RAM, Radio Centrum, Radio Zachód, Radio FAMA, Radio Kraków.

Mozna na nia glosowac na Liscie Przebojów Trójki i na Alternatywnej Liscie Przebojów Radia Kraków.

Back To The Ocean nadal zbiera fundusze na wydanie plyty na MegaTotal. Bardzo polecamy :)


- Megatotal

Uwielbiam znalezc malo znane perelki. Glównie dzieje sie tak w muzyce. Mamy teraz czas ogromnej ilosci produkowanej muzyki, a przyczyna tego jest Internet, gdzie kazdy moze wrzucic swój „kawalek” i doczekac sie opinii fanów. Niestety, z literatura juz tak nie jest, choc pojawiaja sie blogi itp. to jednak nadal nie ma powaznego autora, który zaczynal publikowac w internecie. Mnóstwo ludzi pisze, a jednak nie ma nowych gwiazd. Moze decydenci rynku literackiego nie czytaja tego, co w internecie? Moze ruch literacki w internecie jest slabo zorganizowany?
Nie wiem. W kazdym razie z muzyka jest inaczej. I przez to mozna znalezc cos naprawde swietnego. Nie mówie o zupelnych nowosciach, nie mam czasu na przeszukiwanie sieci. Obie „perelki”, o których chce opisac, sa juz w radiu, Ale nadal to cos na obrzezach masowej kultury.
Pierwsza to Back to the Ocean. Uslyszalem ja (bo to kobieta) po raz pierwszy kilka dni temu. Pomyslalem – znów jakas utalentowana Murzynka. Troche smutny, melancholijny, gleboki glos. Swietna. Slysze drugi raz, przesuwam ucho do radia i mam nazwe. Szukam w internecie. I okazuje sie, ze to Polka – Agnieszka Olszewska-Kaczmarek. Zaczyna juz robic kariere na swiecie – wlasnie przez Internet „pokazala” swoje piosenki, wygrala konkursy, jedna piosenka znalazla sie na miedzynarodowej skladance.
Ale nie w tym rzecz. Mamy utwór “yes, you are the sun“. Jej glos gdzies nas prowadzi, uzywa go oszczednie, by pod koniec dopiero pokazac, co moze. A moze wiele. Nie znam sie na glosach, ale z pewnoscia pani Agnieszka ma wyjatkowy. Mój zachwyt jeszcze urósl, gdy przeczytalem tekst. Nie, nie jest o zakochanej lub samotnej dziewczynie. Tak naprawde, to krótkie opowiadanie fantasy, o chlopcu, który marzyl, by zostac bohaterem, a bal sie strasznych opowiesci. Ale dziadek-szaman go pocieszal, by nie byl zly na siebie za to, ze czuje strach. I w koncu zostal bohaterem. To nie jest oryginalna literatura, ale w piosence i do tego wyspiewanej takim glosem! Back to the Ocean – Yes, you are the star!
Druga perelka, zupelnie inna, to Biff. Nagrali juz plyte, dostali nominacje do Fryderyków. Widzialem ich jeden koncert. Zwyczajny, poza tym, ze wokalistka, ubrana w blyszczaca spódnice z tafty i kolorowa bluzke miedzy piosenkami plecie trzy po trzy. Muzyka wesola, pogodna (bo i wczesniej wiekszosc grala w zespole Pogodno), troche uszczypliwa. Mnie jest to mój klimat, ale jesli dodac do tego zabawe slowem w tekstach, to mozna ich polubic. Za fraze w jednej z piosenek: “lubie spedzac czas z kasztanami” – nie mozna nie kochac.
Sprawny czytelnik zauwazyl, ze obie te perelki pochodza z Polski. I nie jest to przypadek. Jest u nas wiele swietnej muzyki, tylko trzeba troche poszukac. Nie pokaze jej zadna telewizja ani radio Zet czy RMF. Szukajcie, a znajdziecie.
Komentowanie zabronione.
- Radoslaw Antczak

Byly takie sytuacje, ze musialam odwolywac koncerty. Prace i muzyke godzilam potwornym wysilkiem. Ciagle bylam przemeczona. Rano wstawalam do pracy, która byla bardzo intensywna, a po niej wracalam do domu i zamiast odpoczywac, jechalam na próbe, cwiczylam lub zalatwialam sprawy zwiazane z Back To The Ocean. A jest przeciez jeszcze zycie prywatne, jest rodzina i sa przyjaciele. To bylo, mówiac kolokwialnie, zarzynanie sie - fragment wywiadu z Agnieszka Olszewska-Kaczmarek, niesamowita wokalistka Back To The Ocean. Zapraszamy do lektury!



Skoro spotykamy sie mniej wiecej miesiac po Przystanku, to musze zapytac, jak po czasie oceniasz Wasz wystep na najpiekniejszym festiwalu swiata?

W tym roku pierwszy raz bylismy na Woodstocku, wiec bylo to dla nas duze przezycie. Ten festiwal robi po prostu gigantyczne wrazenie. Muzycznie bylo bardzo fajnie. Super sie gralo, dobre naglosnienie, dobry odsluch. Myslelismy, ze pod scena bedzie wiecej ludzi, ale tak sie zlozylo, ze tuz przed naszym wystepem padalo. To tak ogólnie podsumowujac Przystanek Woodstock.

To ja zapytam o szczegól. Na Woodstocku powiedzialas ze sceny, ze rzucilas prace w korporacji. Nie zalujesz z perspektywy czasu?

Nie, w ogóle nie zaluje. Jestem przeszczesliwa. Czas, który przeznaczalam na prace moge teraz poswiecic na promocje Back To The Ocean i rozwój muzyczny. Jestem po rozmowach z zyczliwymi dziennikarzami muzycznymi i producentami. Mysle, ze znalazlam czlowieka, z którym chce zrobic plyte. Szukalam kogos, kto siedzi w nazwijmy to "amerykanskich brzmieniach". Profil Back To The Ocean jest chyba bardziej amerykanski niz polski.

Nawiazujac jeszcze do poprzedniego pytania – myslisz, ze mozna "normalnie" pracowac i byc muzykiem na sto procent?

To jest absolutnie niemozliwe. Dopiero teraz widze, ile czasu zajmuje mi zajmowanie sie Back To The Ocean. Koncerty, wywiady – tego jest bardzo duzo. Poza tym musze pracowac nad glosem i technika gry na gitarze. Kazdy muzyk musi przeciez cwiczyc.

Jak wczesniej laczylas prace z muzyka? Mialas na przyklad takie sytuacje, ze nie moglas pojechac na koncert, bo nie dostalas wolnego?

Byly takie sytuacje, ze musialam odwolywac koncerty. Prace i muzyke godzilam potwornym wysilkiem. Ciagle bylam przemeczona. Rano wstawalam do pracy, która byla bardzo intensywna, a po niej wracalam do domu i zamiast odpoczywac, jechalam na próbe, cwiczylam lub zalatwialam sprawy zwiazane z Back To The Ocean. A jest przeciez jeszcze zycie prywatne, jest rodzina i sa przyjaciele. To bylo, mówiac kolokwialnie, zarzynanie sie.

To byla decyzja spontaniczna czy przemyslana?

Marzylam o tym od wielu lat, ale myslalam, ze zeby podjac taka decyzje musze wygrac w Totolotka. Tu chodzi tak naprawde o poczucie bezpieczenstwa. Przygotowalam sie do tej decyzji finansowo i mentalnie. Poza tym wiem, ze zawsze moge liczyc na mojego ojca.



Powiedzialas, ze masz teraz czas na promocje Back To The Ocean. W jaki sposób sie tym zajmujesz?

Po rozmowach z dziennikarzami, którym jestem bardzo wdzieczna, zrozumialam, ze musze poswiecic wiecej energii na Zachód. W ogóle po tych rozmowach mam takie przeczucie, ze w Polsce to jest troche taki ukladowy swiat. Ja nie jestem i nie chce byc w tym swiecie. Dlatego tez pozglaszalam nas na rózne zagraniczne festiwale i zalozylam nam profile na kilku zagranicznych serwisach muzycznych. Zobaczymy co z tego wyjdzie…

Kierujecie sie na Zachód, czyli gdzie?

Tam gdzie trafi nasza muzyka. Na pewno mamy dobry odbiór w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Po pierwsze wiem, ze mamy tam fanów, a po drugie zajmowalam tam czolowe miejsca w konkursach songwriterskich. Póki co jednak latwiej nam bedzie zaczac od Europy Zachodniej.

Jakie sa Twoje doswiadczenia z polskimi mediami muzycznymi?

Sami dotarlismy do kilku mediów. Mówie tu na przyklad o takich rozglosniach jak Trójka, Radio Lódz czy kaliskie Radio Centrum, które bardzo nas wspieraja. Moge powiedziec, ze najlepsze doswiadczenia mamy z rozglosniami lokalnymi.

No wlasnie, z tego co wiem Wasz utwór "Burnin 4U" swietnie radzi sobie na antenie Radia Lódz...

Tak, od kilku tygodni jest na pierwszy miejscu. I to jest wlasnie dowód na to, ze nasza muzyka jest bardzo dobrze odbierana (smiech).

Porozmawiajmy chwile o plycie, o której wspomnialas. Masz juz producenta, tak?

Nie chce teraz wymieniac imienia i nazwiska. Moge powiedziec tylko tyle, ze jest to ktos, kto odpowiada mi jesli chodzi o styl pracy i podejscie do muzyki. Rozpoczecie wspólpracy to tylko kwestia pieniedzy. W tej chwili szukam sponsorów. Nie jest to takie proste, choc musze przyznac, ze lata spedzone w korporacji pomagaja (smiech).

Macie juz material?

Material jest, tak. Jestem bardzo plodna songwriterka. Mam okolo 50 utworów, z których wybiore 11. Ich aranzowanie zacznie sie wtedy, gdy zacznie sie wspólpraca z producentem. Doswiadczony producent potrafi uczynic cuda. Doskonalym przykladem na to jest kawalek Jamesa Blunta "You're Beautiful". Slyszalam go w wersji, w - Fabryka Zespolów