Opla

Opla is a duo of Piotr Bukowski (Xenony, Duży Jack, Javva) and Hubert Zemler (Wacław Zimpel’s LAM, Zebry a Mit, Istina). “It may appear that Polish traditional music is currently experiencing some kind of a revival,” Zemler says. “There are music festivals focused on folk that are really interesting, there are a few publications touching on past and current folk arts and our old masters are finally getting some wider appreciation,” he adds. Bukowski and Zemler got into Polish folk music quite late and maybe that’s what drove them towards taking an experimental approach to their “Obertasy” project. What they did could be summed up as an alternative version of history where sampling devices and computers never reached Poland and urban-based performers carry on the tradition of playing oberki (a lively Polish kind of composition). It’s just that expression and emotional load here precede any attempt of staying true to the original form. “It’s basically a comeback to our roots: a somehow distorted guitar and drums and these instruments’ raw energy,” Bukowski explains. “We’re far from what you can call revivalists, we’re constantly looking for new ways and Opla could be perceived as an attempt to find our own identity,” he adds. Opla "Obertasy" was released on July 27th 2019 Ersatz Recordings (a sub-label of Instant Classic) .