№ 133 - Hermeneia

The Warsaw-based artist holds down a residency for online radios like LYL RADIO or befriended Noods and played at other celebrated stations like Kiosk Radio or NTS. Her music focuses on the sound system sonics and low-end hitters that move from slow to fast with some of that new-school half-time and good old dancehall 7’inch business. Her Noods show runs by the name FURDA, which also covers an event serial she runs in Warshaw, bringing exceptional bass music to the Polish capital. Her mix for EDWIN covers artists like London one-of-a-kind LordTusk, Bristol boys Lean x Yokel, producer Mutant Joe from Australia, or German Dubstep creator: Twisted. As ever, we spoke with our host. Read below what Hermeneia shares about her musical upbringing, her work at the Unsound festival, her radio shows, her early influences and what the future brings.

Q. Hello Karolina, you are based in Warsaw and do all your music-related work from there. Can you introduce yourself a bit to our readers? How did you end up doing what you do and how does it resonate with your environment in Warsaw?

A. Ciao, so thrilled to be part of this series alongside those living legends! I’m 24, and yeah, I’m based in Warsaw, but I’m always trying to get out into the wild and reconnect with nature whenever I’m free. Usually, I’m not, because I work a lot. That’s why my remote office is pretty much anywhere with fresh air. I grew up in the mountains, right on the border of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. So little Karolina was in three places at once and I guess I used to live like that: busy busyyyyyy!

Before moving to Warsaw for university (I defended my Masters degree in Artistic Research and Curatorial Studies), I used to visit the city often. The first cultural spot I experienced there was Pogłos (RIP)–an iconic DIY venue. You could hear experimental music live or on tapes, attend punk concerts, dub/reggae sound-system gigs, and even join queer bingo sessions. Everything seemed to come out of Pogłos....the people involved in the night series, promoters, and curators, were all inspiring! Fun fact: I threw my first party there when I was just 17, thanks to Rrrkrta from Brutaż. Then came student life and my first real business...working for the Unsound Festival. It literally changed my life. Over four years there, I experienced A LOT.

Q. Did you have musical training of any kind? 

A. I used to be trained as a musician and vocalist. I also played the violin and piano. Honestly, it was my plan for the rest of my life to be a sound artist. But I guess that must wait. I started feeling this crazy pull towards sound-system music, especially here in Poland. That’s why I’m all about pushing it now, with DJing serving as a bridge between those worlds. 

Q. Growing up, what music were you exposed to? What influenced you?

A. As I mentioned, I grew up in the mountains, and for almost half my life, I was exploring and performing Polish folk music. I was fascinated by it. I’m sure you know the legendary Polish band Księżyc and believe they are not the only one worth your attention. Besides that, I was deep into pop music too. I know almost every Y2K artist...Picture this: me lying in bed at my grandma’s place, glued to MTV...Ke$ha, Missy Elliott, Sean Paul, Nelly Furtado...mhmmm, all of it.

Here’s something not everyone knows: my dad’s younger brother was a huge fan of Dubstep, Jungle, Reggae, and even some cheesy hip-hop. He tragically passed away at just 23, which is probably the biggest loss of my life. But here’s the thing, I ended up with all his CDs, the ones he used to fall asleep to. I grabbed them when I had the chance. Such a selecta...DeepMedi, The Upsetters, and so many more gems. Then I found Cocteau Twins, Sade, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Mika Vainio, William Basinski, Hyperdub, Inga Copeland and Dean Blunt. And when I was so young, I went to my first Unsound Festival. And now...here I am.

Q. You are a resident of LYL Radio, Lyon and NOODS Radio, Bristol. How did you get linked to the radio stations and is there a philosophy behind your shows? 

A. Lucas (Bisous) from LYL found me somewhere...I’m not even sure if it was Instagram or SoundCloud. As for Noods, I don’t remember exactly how it went, but I think I sent them a show submission, and they totally ghosted me haha. I was so disappointed because, at the time, Noods felt like the most forward-thinking platform out there. What can I say? It was just a dream, right? But then, a few months later, out of nowhere, they hit me up personally, saying they wanted me on Noods with a regular show. I mean, wow. Let’s just say, I’ve had to learn (more or less, haha) how to be a patient person. (eye roll)

Anyway, my Furda show on Noods isn’t about philosophy and never was. It’s all about Soundsystem mutations and pushing boundaries, or sometimes, realizing there aren’t any. My guests and I can mix old-school dancehall with Arvo Pärt or Meredith Monk, and it’s okay. That’s the approach I’m trying to get people used to. For me, DJing isn’t just about beat matching. It’s about knowing your roots and being“mindful” or even playful about balancing different tones, with total respect and curiosity for all genres. FURDA is my tool for making that happen, in its purest form.

Q. FURDA is also the name of an event serial you run in Warsaw in different locations with quests like Ossia or Josi Devil. What does the name mean to you and what is the direction of the party? 

A. Furda, as a party series, is exactly what I said about my radio show. The difference is, it happens live, usually with a belly-shaking sound system in full effect. About the name, I love the track“FurdaMurda” by Seekers International. Every time I listened to it, I wondered if Furdamight would also be a Polish word since it kinda sounds like that. That strong 'R' makes it feel so special, so meaty, so rich... So, I dove into a Polish dictionary and discovered that, many years ago, Furda was an exclamation people used to dismiss trivial things. So weird. Just-Furda! I’m obsessed with semantics and phonetics, and no matter how this word sounds, I keep discovering new personal meanings for it. Who knows, maybe it’ll evolve into something new for me soon.

Q. How is the music scene in Warshaw? Can you share some insight with us?

A. It’s super diverse. Modern Jazz and experimental Hip-Hop are being pushed really hard, while a few local crews are diving deep into UK Bass, UKG, and modern dubstep. At the same time, there’s massive interest in EBM and electro. What’s exciting is that younger and younger people are getting into music, and many of them are collaborating with more experienced musicians and DJs. And it’s not just about sound artists, Poland also has several incredibly talented visual artists and graphic designers. The level of creativity here is seriously on a high level. 

Q. Is there a local club or party that had a major impact on what you do?
 
A. I’m following the moves of some crews from Poland, and Holm (linked with Pandadread Soundsystem) from Gdańsk is insanely nice.
Also, I’m not crazy about the Cumbia genre, but the crew called Cumbia Warszawa is pushing things really well! Samba by Gnojki is the festival at the lake, which is so low-key and so sick. I’m also a fan of Wrocław’s Uczulenie–it’s the small event’s cave full of gems, good vibes and amazing people engaged. I’m keeping an eye on some crews from Poland, and Holm (connected with Pandadread Soundsystem) from Gdańsk is insanely good. 

Q. On what projects are you currently working?

A. Me and my amazing team are putting so much effort into our DIY, pop-up radio station–Radio Lola! Since July 2024, Radio Lola has been serving up a selection of genres played from records, tapes, CDs, and hybrids, all powered by the mighty 850 sound system. We’ve also hosted live performances ranging from harp and portative sets to drum/saxophone sessions, rare one-deck dancehalls, and illegal '90s hip-hop mixtape DJ sets. Magical day-to-evening events, complete with pop-up bars offering drinks and snacks, each time with a slightly different vibe. We’ve had the honour of hosting international guests like Disrupt (Jahtari), Death Is Not The End (NTS), K Means, Nick Klein, Giouann and Arthur (Hardwax, Duty-Free Merger), Haunted Dancehall, Gillielove, and many brilliant Polish talents. 

Recently, Radio Lola popped up during the grand opening of the new Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw–shutdown, here in Poland, we’re really feeling the lack of underground spaces, venues, and clubs, especially those open during the day. Now, Lola is on the hunt for a long-term venue to fill that gap and create something truly independent. We’re also working on securing funding, and it’s my current struggle. 

Q. How and where was your EDWIN MUSIC CHANNEL Mix recorded and can you tell us about the idea behind it?

A. It’s tricky to find someone with CDJs at home, so I did it at my place, using a DDJ400. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I recorded a mix like this. I was literally pissed off, digging through my laptop for tracks......Most of them were old archive tracks because I hadn’t saved the new ones to my hard drive, I was a mess! I seriously can’t stand situations like this, but hey, this is what came out of the chaos. Let’s just say it’s the whole idea behind it. It’s kinda muggy, gooky, and pretty mad-just like me right now lol... 

Q. Which albums/tunes shaped your life? 
 
A. Yes, I’d say:

Sade- Promise
Mazzy Star- So Tonight That I Might See
Hype Williams - One Nation
Yellowman - Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
Firma - Nielegalne Rytmy

Q. Can you name us some producers/musicians from your home country, that are special and that the world needs to know about?

A. Producers: SSRI, ynaynska, gttrdmmrng, woschod, Błotoquartet, Zaumne, vocalist: Antonina Nowacka, sick drummers: JanPieniążek, Bruno Jasieński and SKI. 

Q. Which artists are you listening to these days?

A. Florence Sinclair, Wilted Woman, Lord Tusk, Valentina Magaletti, Alice Coltrane, Sugar Minot and Alepher-such a stunning album“Dodges Aim”.

Q. What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to? 

A. Of course, there’s war: in Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon,Sudan, Yemen, and so many other places. I’m also truly devastated by the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. People need to know that people are still dying there. Polish people were hoping for change when a more liberal/left-leaning government won last year’s election. But now, the brand-new Polish Prime Minister is considering an asylum ban for immigrants. Come on. No one is illegal!

Q. Who is your favourite person to follow on Instagram?

A. 
@world___music__ 
@arcx1000
@cobraguy45
@ijahbar_
@upsammy

Q. What are you doing when you are not involved with music? 
Any job or occupation?

A. I’ve started postgraduate studies at the University of Wrocław in the Sound and Audiosphere faculty. I’m planning to begin a PhD next year. Ha, but it’s still all about music (in this case, not the sound system music!)! I’m also involved in some freelance side jobs in the cultural sector.

Q. And to close things off, your insider tip in Warshaw?

A. I’m a big fan of eating, drinking, cooking...so it has to be about food. For proper Polish food, check out Lotus or Bar Mleczny ‘Rusałka.
On your way to Bar Pacyfik (mezzzzzcal +++ ), make sure to meet the city’s most experimental drummer. He’s usually in the city centre, playing with empty boxes and even pets, right next to the brand-new building of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.

When you want to buy a piece of local art & design from Servvis or V9 (every Wednesday they print sick graphics on your clothes. Also, on Wednesdays, head to Spatif for the iconic jam sessions and testosterone-fueled macho antics.

Photo credit: Filip Piotrowicz