The new interview is with the sweet singer-songwriter Klara. She's the first Polish singer interviewed on this blog.
Her debut album "Away" was published in 2012. This album has reached the place in the top 20 best-selling CDs in Poland.
I strongly advise you to go and listen to this talented songwriter, you will hear her beautiful songs and her exceptional captivating voice. Incredibly cute.
Her channel: Klara and her last live video on the bottom of this page.
Thank you so much for the interview Klara. Can you tell us a little bit about you, where were you born, where have you lived?
I was born in Lódz, a city in central Poland. Currently, I live in a small village near this city. I also study in Lódz.
Maria-Klara Jedrzejewska is your name but you use only Klara. Why this short artistic name?
It is surprising that you know my full name! Actually, only few people know that there is some “Maria” before “Klara”, even my friends often aren’t aware of this fact. My parents, mates and teachers have been calling me “Klara” since I remember, and I barely use my first name - only in some official situations – it’s sometimes quite confusing. That is why I decided to sign in such a simple way on the records. To tell you the truth, now I wish I could change it into something more abstract. So many artists nowadays use their names as a artistic pseudonyms. I think I will try to change it into something more than just my name in the future.
What is your musical background and how you got started in music? At what age did you start singing?
I started when I was 7 years old. My parents noticed that I was quite good at playing toy pianos and I was able to repeat some melodies on them using just my ears. They decided to sign me up for some piano lessons, but I’ve never attended any music school. After few years, when I was about 10, I began observing how the harmony is created and how do the accords work. That was the moment when I started composing my own songs.
When did you decide to become a singer and songwriter?
I think I’ve never decided to become a singer or a songwriter. Today I am not sure what will I do for my living. Will it be singing, some typical work or both. Music was always a way of living for me, when I was a kid and a teen. It came naturally to me. When I was younger, some people were saying that I had got no talent for singing. I didn’t give up and I was still doing it a lot, especially for myself, because I loved it. Year by year, more people seemed to be interested in my songs and singing. After my album has been released, I finally started believing that maybe there is a tiny chance for me to do in life something which I like, not something which I will just try to like.
You released your first CD "Away" in 2012. Have you written all the songs for this album?
Yes, the songs on “Away” have been written by me. Arrangements were developed by me and producer, Artur Gadowski, who is also my “discoverer”.
You play several instruments on it, piano, guitar, ukulele, xylophone, how many instruments do you play?
Generally, I play the piano, guitar and ukulele. And unfortunately I’m not very good at any of them. I think I’m just not patient enough. I dream about playing cello.
Some of the songs express the sadness. Are you sad in life?
Yes, I think I’m quite sad person in life. People don’t like me when I moan, so it’s nice to have an opportunity to express feelings in songs.
Where do you get the inspiration for your music?
I don’t know, seriously. If I knew, I would probably write much more songs.
Can you describe your music in one sentence?
Simple, sometimes weird, calm songs sung by a little girl, who doesn’t want to grow up.
You make the drawing for the cover of this first album, it's important for you to do everything?
There wasn’t a lot of time for planning graphical design of the album, so I found it much more convenient to be responsible for that. It’s also a nice thing to make a package of a CD yours. I think that in the future I’ll also try my best to do some things on my own and personalize my albums, just as they were my diaries, because they actually are.
Two amazing videos were released: Enchanted and The Cliff. Are you also involved in their creation?
As it can be seen I was merely an actor. Screenplays, ideas and the process of filmmaking are the products of the work of director Klara Kochanska-Bajon and her team.
Klara: Enchanted
Klara: The Cliff
Do you take care of your appearance?
Everyone cares a little bit. I am specific girl, because I hate such things as make-up and I generally don’t wear it on a daily basis. I also hate high-heels. These are two things which I really can’t understand. Especially high-heels. On the other hand, I always wear skirts or dresses. I also keep my hair long, mainly because of the fact that I’m afraid of hairdressers. I think that these points are some of characteristic elements of my appearance.
You keep your glasses on for promotional pics and videos. Is this appearance is important to you? Do you really need glasses?
Without glasses I can hardly see anything. I’m that type of person, who doesn’t wear things that aren’t necessary. For example, I never wear jewelry. Glasses are important for me and I keep them big, because I sometimes try to hide behind them, they make me feel safer.
Have you ever visited my blog and discovered some artists?
Yes, I think that your blog is an interesting idea. You know so many artists with glasses! That’s impressive. I wish you and your blog all the best.
If you weren't singing, what would you be doing?
I study information technology at technical university, but I don’t believe that I could do only such technical-scientific things, because in fact, I don’t like it most of the time. I think that I could get into drawing and painting or writing short stories, I also like taking pictures sometimes. What is more, I was always attracted to herbariums and greenhouses. Sometimes I imagine studying botany, having my own beautiful herbarium and lots of small plants.
What are your plans for the future?
Future is now. I don’t like thinking about next years, as they scare me. I wish I could do something that would make me happy. I’m afraid of getting old or even becoming an adult. Sometimes I’m angry that I spend the most beautiful years of my life in school. Lots of people say it will pay off in the future, but I’m afraid it won’t. It requires a great courage to go your own way if you try to be an artist.
Can you promote some links to discover your music?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klarasounds
Bandcamp: klarasounds.bandcamp.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/klarasound
You speak a little French, are you planning to sing in French?
Maybe it’s possible. However, singing in foreign languages is difficult. I am used to English as I started with this particular language years ago, but unfortunately my accent isn’t perfect and I sometimes get really sad about it. I occasionally write songs in Polish, but this language contains lots of unpleasant sounds and in the result it’s hard to write Polish song, which sounds nice to my ear. French is tough and I’m afraid that my pronunciation would be so awful… Especially now, when I wear braces, it’s sometimes really hard to produce some nuanced sounds. But in the future, why not? I’ve been thinking about it many times already.
What kind of music do you listen to today?
I usually tend to choose quiet music. And by “quiet” I mean organized and controlled. I really don’t like chaos and messy songs, filled with tons of different instruments, which are mixing with each other producing noise. The calmest song on an album is probably my favourite, however there are some exceptions. I love when the band is able to keep the energetic, rhythmic song tidy.
Are you working on any new material?
I am constantly working on some new songs. I’m still looking for something even more exciting and hopefully I will find it one day.
Can you leave us with one last thought about your next album?
If I think of one illustration, which can describe my plans, I see my blue bed with me in it, drifting across the ocean.
