Début
She comes from a musical family - being a daughter of Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, a celebrated violinist - yet classical music was never her first choice. She débuted in 2006 with her self-produced album Out. Although this album made some noise in the alternative scene, it wasn’t until the release of Hat, Rabbit, Hat that she became widely recognized. Their album was not only acclaimed by critics but also achieved grand commercial success earning ‘golden’ status (meaning that over 15,000 copies were sold). It was certainly a turning point for Gaba Kulka.
Colaborations and ‘Wersje’
Soon she recorded an original album, Sleepwalk, with Konrad Kucz, electro / ambient composer and producer, and one year later appeared on the popular album Młynarski Plays Młynarski by Jan Młynarski, consisting of new arrangements of well-known songs by his father Wojciech. By that time, it had become obvious that cooperating with various artists is Gabriela’s speciality. In 2011 she joined forces with avant-garde jazz ensemble Baaba in order to record an album consisting entirely of Iron Maiden covers. Even though this collaboration was not meant to last long, the outcome was so promising that in 2013 they released an EP of almost forgotten Polish big beat songs from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In 2012 Gaba appeared as lead singer on one of the most exciting albums of the year – The Saintbox. This time she joined Olo Walicki (a double bass virtuoso and composer) to create highly distinctive music which is impossible to pigeonhole, such as singing a song in Latin (Somnia). The Saintbox received huge praise from critics and was invited to appear at almost every important Polish alternative music festival in 2012.
On November 4th, Gaba Kulka released another solo album, Wersje, which is definitely a sign of her maturity and on-going explorations. It blends jazz, stage song, cabaret and piano rock to create sounds very unusual for present day alternative pop.
More than a singer
As well as being an acclaimed singer and pianist, Gaba also works as a composer and songwriter. She has appeared on albums by Levity, Czesław Śpiewa, Reni Jusis, Karimski Club, Baaba and Smolik (her lyrics sung by Emmanuelle Seigner). Working with Marcin Bors, she composed and recorded backing vocals for Maryla Rodowicz's album of Agnieszka Osiecka songs (Buty 2). In 2012 she co-wrote and sang a song on the very successful the Hey album Do rycerzy, do szlachty, do mieszczan
Discography:
Recording Label: Eblok
Recording Label: Mystic Production
- 2009 Sleepwalk (with Konrad Kucz)
Recording Label: Jazzboy
- 2010 Rebeka nie zejdzie dziś na kolację
(with Młynarski Plays Młynarski)
Recording Label: Mystic Production
- 2011 Baaba Kulka (with Baaba)
Recording Label: Mystic Production
- 2012 Saintbox (with Olo Walicki, Maciej Szupica)
Recording Label: Mystic Production
Recording Label: Mystic Production