Founded in 2016, Immortal Onion is made up of drummer Wojciech Warmijak, pianist Tomir Śpiołek and Ziemowit Klimek who plays bass and Moog synthesiser. Although all three are affiliated with the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, the trio’s beginnings date back to their high school days. Śpiołek and Klimek met at the Feliks Nowowiejski Secondary Music School in Gdańsk. The musicians reminisce:
Our educational paths were different. Some went on to music schools, others were self-taught. For sure, however, music was an important part of life for each of us from an early age.
This is evidenced by the fact that the young instrumentalists also sought artistic challenges outside the school walls. Klimek and Warmijak met in one of their first bands. As members of the rhythm section, they must have enjoyed each other’s company, because it wasn’t long before they were at the forefront of a new trio. Tomir Śpiołek sat behind the piano keyboard. They called the band Immortal Onion to counteract the elitist vibe usually associated with jazz music. It was the spring of 2016. Klimek, Warmijak and Śpiołek had not yet matriculated.
Lively but broken
Just one year later, Immortal Onion released their first album. Ocelot of Salvation was released on Requiem Records to rave reviews. Among the most frequent references was atmospheric Scandinavian jazz, especially the Esbjorn Svensson Trio. In the work of the rhythm section, however, influences from rock music could be heard, especially math-rock and Chicago post-rock. The musicians say that such eclecticism has always come naturally to them, being an extension of their personal tastes. They admit:
We certainly didn’t identify with the environment centred around traditional jazz. We have always wanted, and continue to want, to play music that we ourselves would like to listen to. Whatever genre comes out of it for us.
Indeed, the trio follows a different path from many bands representing the improvised scene. One thing that sets it apart is its long-standing relationship with U Know Me, a label specialising in contemporary electronic music and hip-hop. Its label released the next two Immortal Onion albums. The musicians reminisce:
We met Groh, our publisher, at a showcase in Mannheim, Germany. Apart from the fact that we liked the music presented by U Know Me Records, we saw that he was mega fascinated by what he was doing. We didn’t need any more reason for this collaboration.
Whatever the reason, there are subtle electronic interjections on Immortal Onion’s first album released by U Know Me. On XD [Experience Design] Śpiołek plays not only piano but also synthesiser, and bass parts are sometimes generated with a Moog. The trio does not shy away from lyricism, but the tracks are compact, at times almost song-like. Perhaps this is due to the sound, which the trio worked on with Envee, a DJ and distinguished electronic music producer. The members of Immortal Onion say:
We probably spent more time listening to the music and talking about it than on the mixes themselves, but that probably only helped us get along. We remember our time with Envee as a lot of fun.
