Hey is one of the most popular rock-based Polish bands of the 1990s, led by charismatic vocalist Katarzyna Nosowska.
Hey was founded in Szczecinie in June 1992 by guitarist, bassist and composer Piotr Banach (formerly of punk group Kolaboranci). The band members included singer Katarzyna Nosowska, guitarist Marcin Żabiełowicz, bassist Jacek Chrzanowski and drummer Robert Ligiewicz. After their concert at Jarocin festival (awarded with journalist's prize) Hey signed a record contract with Izabelin Studio.
Their debut album Fire, featuring the hit "Moja i Twoja nadzieja" / "My and Your Hope" become a huge commercial success. The album was endorsed with two promotional concert tours in the spring and fall of 1993.
Their second album Ho! released in April 1994 sold more than 300 000 copies by the end of the year. In October 1994 Hey performed at the concert hall Spodek in Katowice; a live recording of the concert was released in December entitled Live!. In 1995 the band performed a series of concerts, including two tours in the USA. The concert tour in Poland endorsed their third album, ?.
In 1996 Nosowska released her first solo album Puk Puk. Hey, influenced by music from the 60s, produced new material and the record Karma in May 1997. After the next release - of the self titled album Hey in May 1999 - the leader and founder Piotr Banach left the band. He was replace by Paweł Krawczyk, guitarist of Nosowska's band and Houk formation. The following album [sic!] (Fall 2001) slowly moved their sound toward a more industrial rock, presenting a new sound, for the first time enriched with electronic instruments and effects. The band went on tour in Poland. Several concerts were recorded and released in the spring of 2003 a double album Koncertowy" / "Conerts. In 2002 Hey won the Fryderyk award for the best rock record of the season and received five more nominations in other categories. The seventh studio album, music, music, released in Fall 2003.
Hey's next record Echosystem, included the highly popular single Mimo wszystko" / "Despite Everything, released in November 2005. In 2007 the band recorded a concert at the Warsaw Roma music theatre for the MTV Unplugged television series. The concert release album was awarded with three Fryderyk prizes a year later in the categories for Best Rock/Metal Album, Best Album Design and Best Music Production. During the same Fryderyk edition Nosowska also won awards in four categories as a solo artist.
Hey's last album Miłość! Uwaga! Ratunku! Pomocy!" / "Love! Warning! Help! released in September 2009, was awarded in 2010 with Fryderyk statuettes in four categories. Remixed material from the album was released in 2010 as a double CD RE-MURPED.
Author: Maciej Sienkiewicz, November 2010
Discography:
- Fire, 1993, Izabelin Studio,
- Ho!, 1994, Izabelin Studio,
- Live!, 1994, Izabelin Studio (koncert),
- Heledore, 1995, Izabelin Studio (mini-album),
- ?, 1995, Izabelin Studio,
- Karma, 1997, PolyGram Polska,
- Hey, 1999, Universal Music Polska,
- [sic!], 2001, Warner Music Poland,
- music music, 2003, Warner Music Poland,
- Koncertowy" / "Concerts, 2003, Warner Music Poland,
- Przystanek Woodstock" / "Woodstock Station, 2004, Złoty Melon,
- Echosystem, 2005, Sony BMG,
- MTV Unplugged, 2007, QL Music,
- Miłość! Uwaga! Ratunku! Pomocy!" / "Love! Warning! Help!, 2009, QL Music.