“Sam Kowalski” Vinyl / A New Release from the ROZDROŻA Centre
🆕 In May 2025, the debut album Sam Kowalski (by Mateusz Kowalski) was released, published by our ROZDROŻA Centre. We had the pleasure of meeting the artist during last year’s KODY Festival.
The premiere took place during the 26th Polish Radio Folk Festival Nowa Tradycja, held from 15 to 18 May 2025 at Studio S3 of Polish Radio. The event showcased an innovative and personal interpretation of folk music, met with great enthusiasm.
Mateusz Kowalski – known from bands such as Radical Polish Ansambl, Tęgie Chłopy, and Warszawska Orkiestra Sentymentalna – presented his solo project Sam Kowalski, offering a more intimate musical expression.
🎤 “I once came across a guitalele by chance, in a music shop. I picked it up and discovered it was simply a pleasure to play such a small guitar. It’s compact, well-made, and stays in tune,” says the artist.
Kowalski performs traditional songs, especially oberki from the Przysucha region, learning them directly from the older generation through oral transmission.
🎸 The album contains 11 tracks – traditional folk songs and oberki – arranged for voice and guitalele (a miniature classical guitar).
👏 The Sam Kowalski project received the Special Award from the Fryderyk Chopin National Institute during the 2024 Nowa Tradycja Folk Music Competition.
“People ask me what instruments to buy for children. Never toy ones – always real instruments, because even small ones, if well-made, can bring true joy in playing!” – Sam Kowalski.
Album Publisher – ROZDROŻA Centre
Album Producer – Grzegorz Paluch
You can purchase the album via our store: sklep@rozdroza.com
