Antonina Nowacka: Vocal Experiments and Sonic Journeys
Antonina Nowacka, a Polish singer and avant-garde composer who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, crafts minimalist soundscapes influenced by distinctive acoustics. Her initial endeavor, WIDT, which she co-founded with her sister Bogumiła Piotrowska, was recognized by The Quietus as one of the top releases of 2015. Following her studies in traditional Indonesian music from 2018 to 2019, she launched her first solo album, Lamunan, in 2020. Her later works include Vocal Sketches from Oaxaca (2021), Languoria (2022) in collaboration with Sofie Birch, and Sylphine Soporifera (2024). Nowacka has graced stages at the Lincoln Centre in New York and the Barbican Centre in London. She is inspired by naïve artists and reflects on a pivotal experience at the Goa Seplawan cave in Java.
Key facts
- Antonina Nowacka is a Polish vocalist, sound artist, and experimental composer.
- She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.
- Her first project WIDT was co-founded with sister Bogumiła Piotrowska.
- The Quietus listed their album among the best releases of 2015.
- Between 2018 and 2019, she studied traditional music in Indonesia.
- Her debut solo album Lamunan (2020) was compared to Meredith Monk.
- She released Vocal Sketches from Oaxaca (2021), Languoria (2022) with Sofie Birch, and Sylphine Soporifera (2024).
- She performed at Lincoln Centre, Barbican Centre, Silent Green, Centro Nacional de las Artes, Casa Encendida, Bourse de Commerce, PONEC Theatre, and National Museum.
- She lived in Reggio Emilia and Rome, Italy.
- She performed at Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza for Romadiffusa 2024.
- She defines art as expanding beyond personality toward the universal and cosmic.
- She defines music as an intentional collection of sounds.
- She admires naïve painters Martin Ramirez, Anna Zemánková, Noviadi Angkasapura, Minnie Evans, Emma Kunz, and luminists Caspar David Friedrich and Stefan Baumann.
- Her favorite songs include Trompe-l'œil by Midori Takada and Illusion by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.
- She recalls visiting Goa Seplawan cave on Java.
Entities
Artists
- Antonina Nowacka
- Bogumiła Piotrowska
- Meredith Monk
- Sofie Birch
- Martin Ramirez
- Anna Zemánková
- Noviadi Angkasapura
- Minnie Evans
- Emma Kunz
- Caspar David Friedrich
- Stefan Baumann
- Midori Takada
- Geinoh Yamashirogumi
Institutions
- Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
- The Quietus
- Lincoln Centre
- Barbican Centre
- Silent Green
- Centro Nacional de las Artes
- Casa Encendida
- Bourse de Commerce
- PONEC Theatre
- National Museum
- Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza
- Romadiffusa
Locations
- Poland
- Warsaw
- Indonesia
- Java
- Oaxaca
- Mexico
- New York
- London
- Berlin
- Mexico City
- Madrid
- Paris
- Prague
- Reggio Emilia
- Rome
- Italy