Robert Piotrowicz | uk

Robert Piotrowicz (born 1973) is a polish sound artist, composer, and improviser.

He works within contemporary electroacoustic music field. Piotrowicz is an instrumentalist whose main tools are modular synthesizer and guitar. He's an experienced improviser, working with world's known artists. Composer, author of many solo projects (recordings, performances), interdisciplinary projects (scores for theatre plays, literary and radio projects) and abstract sound installations. He participated in many art events around the world.

Together with Anna Zaradny he runs Musica Genera label and annual festival of the same name.

Piotrowicz has developed his trademark sound of intense dynamics seized in dramatic and balanced form. Several albums with his solo music had been released, the last one so far, "Lasting Clinamen" in 2008, highly acclaimed by the critics around the globe.

Robert Piotrowicz as instrumentalist and composer works most often with Anna Zaradny also Burkhard Stangl, Valerio Tricoli. Other collaborators in recent years included Oren Ambarchi, Jerome Noetinger, Martin Klapper, Xavier Charles, Lasse Marhaug, John Hegre, Tony Buck, Kevin Drumm, and others.

Piotrowicz participated in many international events and festivals, including: "In Between" Chicago 2001, Jazz in E. in Germany, Copenhagen Jazz Festiwal 2001, Audio Art Festival 2000/2004/2010, Muzyka z Mozgu 2000, Artgenda 2002, Horbar Festival Hamburg 2002, ALTF4, SKIFF, NPAI Pathenay, AuxPole'n, Densities 2005/2009, Ultra Hang 2007, Hapzura 2007 Club Transmediale 2008, Stimul 08, What Is Music 2009, All Ears 2010, Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival 2010 and others.

The long list of interdisciplinary projects that Piotrowicz participated in include: "Zmartwychwstanie", "Homage", TOJTOJ, "Summe von Nullen", "Definition". He composed music for theatre plays: "Lastade" " Lasztownia 2008. Four pictures in Space, "Smierc czlowieka wiewiórki", "Bóg/ Honor/Ojczyzna: Katarzyna Medycejska".

He started to play music at the age of 12, his first instrument was drums. Then a few years latter he found the guitar as a tool to have a band. From this time he was trying to find his place in music. From the early 90's he was a leader of his own band called STUCKONCEILING, there he found his way of guitar playing and learned to lead a band. Around 96-98 he released a couple of albums reflecting his early fascination which revolved around hard core, noise avantgarde metal. In this rock loud period he found out improvisation is a great way to create music. At the same time Piotrowicz was researching electronics as a topic for sound challenge.

The breaking times for Piotrowicz music approach was 1999 when together with his band he finishing noise rock period and he turn himself into free improvisation. Together with Anna Zaradny - she joined STUCKOCELING around 98' - they both together strongly focused on experimental and improvised music.

In 2000 Piotrowicz played few concerts with well know improv figures as John Butcher and Tony Buck. In next year together with Anna Zaradny they found label and festival MUSICA GENERA. From 2002 all their art activities are strongly connected with record label, festival and events of improvised and experimental music in Poland. From this time he regularly play concerts all over Europe, including festivals and other events. Activities of Musica Genera became one of most important phenomenon for experimental music in Poland.

Piotrowicz uses analog synthesizer to work on sonic research. He treats guitar as a sound source, to play he uses bow, metal, paper, engine etc. Electronics - beside their sound characteristic - are other way of expressions. Piotrowicz works with free impov contexts as well as working solo and on compositions. As improviser he works usually with Anna Zaradny and Burkhard Stangl with his most focused lineup (the trio released album "Can't Illumination"). By last years he collaborates often with: Tony Buck, John Butcher, Xavier Charles, Kevin Drumm, Jerome Noetinger etc. Occasionally he collaborated with Otomo Yoshihide, ErikM, Martin Siewert, Dieb 13, Werner Dafeldecker, Lionel Marchetti, Nikos Veliotis and many others.
Piotrowicz released some solo production (3 albums and one single cd) and he dedicates lots of attention for aesthetic of his musical status. Composed works of him touch noise music aspect as well as electroacoustic music tradition.
Together with pure audio work he collaborates with visual artists. His most important work includes collaboration with great film maker and musician Martin Klapper. He worked for the radio and theatres. Together with Anna Zaradny composed music for films.

Piotrowicz participates in international festivals (Audio Art Festiwal, Jazz en Gatineite, Alt F4, The Strings of Difference Athens, SKIFF, Muzyka z Mózgu, In Beetwen Chicago, Jazz in E., Copenhagen Jazz Festiwal, Art Rhytmic Depot).
He played in all over Europe (France, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Czech, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Croatia) and USA. .