Zuzanna Całka is polish pianist and composer, classically trained. Her musical language is considered to be a development of classical aesthetics combining modern techniques derived from her interest of film and electronic music. She makes music by manipulating and multi-tracking sounds from piano and synthesizers.
On her debut EP album Late Night Takes, she elaborates piano harmonies and melodies in a very intimate, soothing soundscape. Released on 29th of March got to the top of the Piano Day playlist curated by Nils Frahm. Zuzanna also contributes to this year Piano Day vol.4 compilation by Leiter.
Her latest project crosses the boundaries of classical music, combining tradition with experiment and psychedelic raptures. Minimalist sketches contrast with complex structures, creating intriguing, and sometimes even hallucinatory, trance-like melodies. Major role in the process is improvisation which emerges each show in a different way.
“I see making music as a spiritual practice, a ritual that helps me reconnect with the beauty and mystery of life. Major role in the process is improvisation which emerges each show in a different way. My music brings the sensation of being held by the earth which allows things to grow from it.” Zuzanna Całka
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In 2024 Zuzanna performed at numerous festivals in 2024 like OPIA, LAS, Summer Contrast. The tour included Germany, Holland, Slovakia and Poland. Zuzanna was invited to play 3 shows at the Olafur Arnald’s OPIA Festival. Released a single which was featured on KEXP radio on Pacific Notions show. Zuzanna played 25 shows in 2024. This year began for her with performing on the biggest showcase festival ESNS 2025 in Groningen, Holland.
On her debut EP album Late Night Takes, the classically trained polish composer elaborates piano harmonies and melodies in a very intimate, soothing soundscape. Released on 29th of March got to the top of the Piano Day playlist curated by Nils Frahm. Her soundtrack was awarded the first prize at the Transatlantyk Festival with Oscar winning composer, Jan AP Kaczmarek at the head of the jury. Zuzanna’s music video May B was picked as a 10 top favorite videos by Max Cooper.
„Polish composer and pianist Zuzanna Całka is classically trained and comes from Warsaw. The Lutheran Church is a very suitable setting for her extremely visual compositions, in which she tacks between piano and electronics. The structure, with many variations on a theme but especially improvisation, is the strong point of the impressive performance. The build-up of tension, which rarely releases but precisely for that reason holds the attention well, automatically takes you almost like a carefully composed TV documentary. Towards the end of the performance, beats also make their entrance, so that the performance does not bore at all. The sympathetic pianist has improvised to her heart’s content, so that she concludes that she only has six minutes left. She concludes it in style with a renewed improvisation.” After Eurosonic Noordeslag Show