You were taking part in singing contests for kids since childhood. How did this adventure with music start?
I was brought up in a house filled with artistic atmosphere. My father was a painter but he never tried to convince me to follow the same path. He always said: “a rough road leads to the stars” and I take my stubbornness after him. I think I was three years old when I discovered the acoustics in our cellar. I quickly started recording my vocal performances. I remember that the first melody I memorised was “Standchen” by Schubert and “Dmuchawce, latawce, wiatr…” by Urszula, which I heard somewhere but sang with my own lyrics. I started thinking about career in music seriously when I was about twelve. Since then not a single day has passed in my life without singing. There was always a microphone, an amplifier and a tape recorder waiting for me after school…
What is music for you?
Music is my glasses. I look at people through music. This is the only thing that hasn’t changed for years. When I hear music I think about the main elements, with a strong emphasis on fire and water… It is a difficult road to follow but whenever I have doubts, the passion always wins.
What made you start taking opera singing lessons?
When I was fourteen I knew I had to learn vocal emission no to overstrain my throat and use my diaphragm. I didn’t know how to do it on my own. It was kind of a coincidence that it all started from opera vocal emission lessons, although a Polish-born conductor from Argentina had noticed earlier that I had a natural opera voice. He added: “from now on you have to remember not to drink and smoke too much“. (laughter)
I found a lady who didn’t want to teach a singer but a songstress. I had my first lesson at the Polish Theatre in Warsaw when I was fifteen. My education lasted five years.
Where did the idea to combine opera singing and popular music come from?
In 2003 I went to a recording studio to make my first Depeche Mode cover. The sound engineer told me that the opera timbre of my voice combined with a strong rock music made sense and that I should think about it. My singing was very “classical” at that time, focused on arias, which is evident in “In your room”… It didn’t hinder but rather helped me reach my audience. I was really surprised with a positive reception of this song both by the critics and my listeners.
How do you choose your repertoire?
I have to “feel” everything I sing: the character and the message of the song. If I don’t believe in what I’m singing about, my audience will not believe me either. I don’t follow any principles while choosing my repertoire. It just happens.
You perform songs by various artists. Which one of them is closest to your heart? Who inspires you most?
It’s a long list. I wouldn’t like to forget anyone important but… it’s definitely Niemen, Piaf, Demarczyk, Presley, Depeche Mode, Cohen, Cave, Aznavour, Brel…
You performed with artists from the Bolshoi Theatre, you sang in the Zabić Papałę (To Kill Papała) film by Sylwester Latkowski, and you met with Stan Borys. Could you tell us about these experiences?
Wojciech Siemion directed a presentation devoted to Pushkin’s works. Although he auditioned me at my house, I was very nervous. I remember that he held my hand and asked me to hum something. It was “Glass rain”, a theme from the “Swan Lake”. He said: “I know everything I need to know” and this is how I performed along with some outstanding Russian artists. This was a wonderful experience…
I met Sylwester Latkowski in 2006. I sent him my record and this is how it all started…
The most amazing experience though was meeting Stan Borys. I sent him a record with my Queen cover. I thought that if he told me I should quit up music and such experiments, I would but he didn’t. His opinion turned out to be way beyond what I expected. After some time we actually met. I still think about this day as a “sunny evening” which gave me strength and faith in what I do. The maestro recognised and appreciated my otherness and gave me a positive kick.
You perform around the world. Do you have your own band, which you always play with? How do people in different countries react? What kind of repertoire is best to become connected with the audience?
I play with various musicians but never with a band. Sometimes I perform together with a pianist, and other times with a guitarist or a tuba player. I need freedom and I believe a regular band would limit me in some ways…
Every country has a unique atmosphere. My concerts are never the same. They are always interesting, sometimes even surprising…
Are you going to make a record with your own songs?
I don’t compose music or write songs. There are brilliant and average people in this area and I’m the average one so… I’m still waiting for a crazy composer with a fierce heart who will know how to put everything I have in my soul into notes and words. I would love to make a record with musicians from around the world. Maybe I could even do it online?
Do you have any other dreams?
When I’m old I would like to look at the map of the world and recognise only few places where I hadn’t been to with my concerts. I would also like people to have their hearts filled with music and not hatred. No matter how musical they are…
The songs by Agnieszka Czajkowska and more information about her you can find on: YouTube i FB
Photo © from pivate archive of Agnieszka Czajkowska