Biography
Piotr Kurek, born in Biłgoraj, Poland in 1978, is a Warsaw-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, and one of the most distinctive figures in Poland’s experimental music scene. He began his musical journey studying classical piano and playing drums, but soon gravitated toward genre-defying explorations that merged free jazz, musique concrète, psychedelia, and drone. Kurek’s early career included co-founding the electronic group Ślepcy in the late 1990s, a project regarded as a pioneering force in Poland’s experimental movement.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Kurek developed a prolific solo and collaborative output, releasing music under his own name and various aliases (such as P.Qrek and Heroiny) on labels like Crónica, Sangoplasmo, Mondoj, Edições CN, and Black Sweat Records. His work is characterized by a distinctive approach to sound, blending electronics, voice, and intricate editing into forms that resist easy categorization. Kurek’s music has been featured at major festivals (Unsound, CTM, OFF, TodaysArt, UH Fest) and he has participated in international residencies, further cementing his reputation as an adventurous and innovative artist. In addition to his albums, he has composed scores for film and theater, including for the feature films 'Mammalia' (Berlinale 2023) and 'Sweat' (Cannes 2020).
Fun Facts
- Kurek is known for collecting vintage sound equipment, which he often incorporates into his recordings and live performances.
- He frequently starts ephemeral collaborative projects that are intentionally short-lived, preferring the spontaneity of one-off creative encounters.
- Kurek has composed music for both dance and theater, including authoring a play for the Poznań Malta Festival in 2009.
- He has participated in international residencies, including at EMS in Stockholm and Gyeonggi Creation Center in South Korea.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Classical and jazz traditions - Kurek studied classical piano and played drums in his youth, drawing on these traditions as foundational influences, though he did not pursue formal conservatory degrees. (Early formative years) [1980s–1990s]
Key Collaborators
- Marcin Stefański - Co-founded the electronic duo Ślepcy, a pioneering act in Poland’s experimental scene. (Ślepcy – debut album (Kool.POP, 2000), 'I'm So Fucking DJ Friendly' (2006)) [late 1990s–2006]
- Hubert Zemler - Collaborated as a duo in the project Piętnastka, initially a solo project by Kurek. (Piętnastka – 'Hayao' (2021), 'Keymonica' (2011)) [2011–2021]
- Francesco De Gallo - Duo project Abrada, exploring avant-garde and experimental sounds. (Abrada (various recordings)) [2010s]
- Sylvia Monnier - Duo project Suaves Figures, blending electronic and experimental aesthetics. (Suaves Figures – 'Figure 5' (2012)) [2012]
Artists Influenced
- Polish experimental and electronic musicians - Kurek’s pioneering work with Ślepcy and his solo output have inspired a new generation of Polish avant-garde and electronic artists. (Not specified; influence seen in Poland’s experimental scene post-2000) [2000s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Greyhound Days | 2025-03-07 | Album |
| Smartwoods | 2023-09-15 | Album |
| Heat | 2012-01-21 | Album |
| Peach Blossom | 2023-03-31 | Album |
| World Speaks | 2022-01-31 | Album |
| A Sacrifice Shall Be Made / All the Wicked Scenes | 2020-06-05 | Album |
| Polygome | 2019-03-29 | Album |
| Songs and Bodies | 2025-09-26 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Try To Be True (Try To Be True)
- Ceilings (Greyhound Days)
- Days (Greyhound Days)
- Shadows (Greyhound Days)
- Breath, Held (Greyhound Days)
- Now I'm Broken Into (Greyhound Days)
- Lily's Trace (Greyhound Days)
- Aerials (Greyhound Days)
- Klamm (Smartwoods)
- Smartwoods (Smartwoods)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Piotr Kurek has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2025 | 06:16 | It Used To Be a Songfrom Songs and Bodies | The Morning Setw/ Scott Borne |