VILLAGE KOLLEKTIV
www.vk.com.pl
www.myspace.com/villagekollektiv
In Poland there is a very little representation of so called world beat music - fusion of electronics with traditional live music, the vision where the past meets tomorrow. Village Kollektiv from Warsaw appears as a pioneer live band of this genre and obviously they take fruits of their own national tradition.Village Kollektiv was formed in 2002 by members of a few Polish folk/fusion groups: Warsaw Village Band, Masala and others.
Music generated by Village Kollektiv is the first Polish fusion of electronics with live sound of original instruments and singing. The musicians use traditional melodies originating from Polish Kurpie region and those collected from the people of the Bulgarian Shop region. They incorporate traditional singing techniques: throat singing from Tuva and yoik of the Sami people. Original melodies also serve as an inspiration for their own creation and instrumental improvisation. Electronic music is a merger of breakbeat, electro, dub and drum&bass as well as punk rock vitality.
After four years the band released their debut album "Motion Rootz Experimental 2006".
The album was nominated to Fryderyki - the most crucial Polish music business award. It also won a prize at "New Tradition" Festival organized by the Polish National radio.
Shows and tours that followed were a natural consequence of the success of the debut album, bringing the band as far as Ollin Kan festival in Mexico City, where they perfomed in 2008.
Now the band is working on the new material. Some new members arrived (including horn section) and some left for maternity leave.
2009 saw them already performing at the festivals in Poland, including world stage at major European event Heineken Open'Er as well as abroad - at the Polish Festival in Edinburgh, Eurocultured in Manchester or Thames Festival in London.
Band members:
Maciek Cierliński - hurdy gurdy
Magda Sobczak-Kotnarowska - Hutsul hammerd dulcimer, vox
Sylwia Świątkowska - suka, fiddle from Plock, vox
Weronika Grozdew-Kołacińska - vox
Rafał Kołaciński - electronics
Bart Pałyga - electric cello, Jew'sharp, gadułka, throat singing
Rafał Gańko - trumpet
Adam Kłosiński - trombone