Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I’ve always loved the universe of music creation. When I was a young child, I discovered my passion for singing, which then at the age of 5 inspired me to start guitar playing and then song writing. This led me to join the Music Institute with the purpose of getting a more indepth musical education as a young child, and then later in life – 7 years ago – a Music Business degree. I guess somehow I always knew this was what I wanted to do. But I lead a multidimensional life. Music is my main passion and now also a ‘job’ but then, I also have a master degree in International Relations and Political Science, I’m a tech nerd and love finding solutions to things everyone gives up on, I have huge interest in fashion and interior design, and I’m devoted to mental health cause and animal wellness. All this, together, gives me a balanced life supporting my musical dream and strong connection with people and nature.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I am all around with the music I listen to. Couple days ago I spent the whole evening listening to Sade. Yesterday I was blasting Rammstein and Nothing More followed by old Gojira. Today I feel like listening to Carpenter’s Soundtrack collection on vinyl.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘I Ya Toyah’?
A: Everything I choose to listen to resonates with me, but I truly think it’s life that inspires me most. Interactions with others, observation, emotion. Internal pain. Mental struggle. The way I feel about things. These elements dictate how my ‘next thing’ will sound. It’s always dark, and it’s always hopeful. Just like I am on the inside.
I Ya Toyah, when spoken out loud in my native Polish language means ‘It’s just me’, or ‘I am what I am’. These emphasize my philosophy, and what I do as a solo artist who writes, composes, records and produces her own music, oversees and plans out her live show that she then performs by herself, as a ‘one woman army’. I Ya Toyah is all those things. It’s me.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Ghosts’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I’ve been experiencing a whole new wave of feelings this past summer and I wasn’t sure how to deal. I wanted to create stripped down, acoustic versions of my songs for a while now, but this idea met with a rather sour feedback from some music industry professionals who strongly advised against that, telling me I should stick to my alternative electronic genre with an industrial twist, and that it’s too risky to do something that different in such early stage of my career. But I have more than one color, and more than one dimension. And for me, being able to express the entire array of human emotions is one of the most satisfying parts of making music.
I believe I should be able to create something harsh, like the Out of Order EP, and then turn around and release something as delicate and beautiful as Ghosts. Because they are both me. This EP came to life as a symbol and celebration of the independent spirit, and the freedom to create that has been the backbone of I Ya Toyah from the very beginning.
The Ghosts release, besides digital form, has a very limited edition physical CD which contains additional audio pieces. These take listeners further into the ethereal world of Ghosts and add a personal, intimate spin on it. I get so many messages from my fans who got the physical version, and the response blows my mind. I am so happy I listened to my gut and decided to do this release! It was one of the best decisions ever 🙂
Q: Can we expect an album from you in the near future?
A: Definitely. I just finished construction of my Studio 333 Creative Hub. Now that I have it, I am planning to spend a lot of time there and let my creativity thrive. I hope good things come out of these sessions. I have many ideas for what I want my next release to be. It will be exciting to start making it happen!
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: When I create my songs, it’s both lyrics and composition that support each other. It’s important that the listener tunes in and pays attention to the words, otherwise they won’t get the whole experience. I make dark alternative music using electronic instrumentation, piano, guitar and my voice. The sound is dark, but hopeful. A lot of my songs are danceable, with the pulsing rhythms and haunting soundscape. The lyrics carry the meanings hidden in that composition.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Music creation is my therapy. I don’t think I’d be the same person if I didn’t have this ability. It’s like having an expensive psychologist but without the bill. You can tell them anything, and form it any way you want. But there is much more to my process than this. When I make decisions about each and single sound layer, each part that later becomes an essential element of the composition, each note, intensity of expression, all this, it can take a long time. I never rush my creative process. To me, it’s not about that time. I treat music creation as an experience itself. I live for it. It is a blessing and just this part gives me a big fulfillment. Then, when I see people buying my record, I see them singing my songs while I perform, I get messages such as ‘your record changed my life’… It’s a transcendent feeling. I fly so high. Much higher than any of my expectations would ever take me.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I usually start with a lyric idea. Knowing what the song will be about helps me build the right mood for it, musically. A lot of times my original lyric idea will change here and there, to compliment my composition choices. Occasionally, I will write music first and then based on that, I’ll write the words.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: It’s definitely the time when I had to figure out how to exist in this world as a solo artist without the band. Creating I Ya Toyah was that challenge. Not only did I have to learn music production and figure out my process. I had to figure out how to perform solo, while playing as many instruments live as possible, and having a highly entertaining show, indulging not just the ears, but all the human senses.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Look at the answer for ‘What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?’ It’s the same thing. Because when you deal with a big obstacle that everyone around you calls ‘mission impossible’ and you embrace it, make it ‘mission possible’, then everything is possible. Overcoming is a success. I always tell everyone to never give up but to keep on going. Life is full of surprises and if you don’t try, you’ll never know what awaits. I am very excited about the recent past and all the things that happened for I Ya Toyah, from these obstacles, to multiple tours, high praise publications, several awards, numbers of album sales and streams, fruitful collaborations. All this would never be if that hardship and difficulties didn’t exist to be solved in the first place. I’d never be on this amazing journey. And now, I am as excited about this very moment, and am definitely very thrilled about the future.
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