Crossover Prog
Poland
Micha³ Wojtas - was born on 23rd of December 1977 in Kielce. He began to play as a child. He played only piano. That time his musical abilities and creativity appeared. He found his inspirations in the music of J. M. Jarre.
With the end of primary school he started to play classic guitar. Later on he learned some techniques of playing on ethnic percussion instruments and so on. He was studying music mainly by his own, moreover he attended secondary musical school and also other institutions connected with music.
In the meantime he was creating for the TV Kielce and for local broadcasts. In 1993 Michal for the first time heared about instrumental art of Mike Oldfield. This occurance changed the direction of his artistic development. As he was fascinted with Oldfield's music, he tried to imitate his way of playing on electrical guitar. Pink Floyd also influenced him. Then he met Bartosz Jackowski, person with similar inspirations, guitarist. In consequence they started to cooperate for next few years. Micha³ and Bartosz composed separately, but after they put it together,and that is how their music was created. Micha³ did also an arrangement.
In years 1996-97 they recorded the first demo. They went to Warsaw, to independent editor Ars Mundi. It was promoting music on Japan and western european markets. They got quite positive and warm feedback from the chief of Ars Mundi-Mieczys³aw Stoch. He was ready to risk and edit the debiut. But they resigned cause they didn't feel ready to do this. They wanted to wait until they ideas would be more clear and concrete.
During further work on the tracks and creating new music, Micha³ started to be guitarist in pop-rock group 'Soundwich' (later 'Tokyo').The group was giving concerts and the voices of critics were aprooving.'Sounwich' recorded two demo records. Nevertheless Micha³ left the group, he preferred to play music for Ars Mundi.
In 1999 Micha³ started to study in Institute of Musical Education in Akademia Owiêtokrzyska in Kielce. One year later he decided to record demo with different instrumental tracks. Thanks to the fascination in Oldfields album 'Amarok', he gave its name to his project.
In 2001 there was the next meeting with Mieczys³aw Stoch . Soon after this, the decision about the recording the debiut of Amarok was made up. There were also some changes within the duet. Bartosz finally became the co-composer of a few tracks. The rest, arrangement and playing was the role of Wojtas.This time he found strong inspiration in music of Mike Knopfler and Jeff Beck.
During autumn of 2001 the project amarok was welcoming the studio. At the beginning of next year debiut was available in the shops. Soon after this fact Micha³ was proposed to play the guitar on the solo album of British musician Collin Bass (Camel), entitled 'In the meantime'; also on his single 'Gently, Kindly'.
At the same time he was working on the material to the second album of Amarok. He also decided to invite Collin Bass as a singer. They started to work fast and in consequence in the end of 2002 the second album 'Neo Way' was ready. With the begining of 2002 the record was sold to many music markets in the world.
Few months later Michal started to work on the next album, entitled "Metanoia". This time among tracks composed only by Michal, there are some co-composed by Michal Ociwiarski (keyboards, synthesizers) And co-producer of this album. In difference from previous albums, Metanoia includes multimedia presentation and as well videoclip.
Album had a crucial meaning, cause apart from some influences, Micha³ started to look for his own style. This change was strongly connected with his spirituality. "Metanoia" it is not only studio project , but also concert project. The record appeared in shops in the end of March 2004.
ALBUMS:
2002 - AMAROK
Musicians:
- Michał Wojtas / guitar (electrical, slide, classical, acoustic, bass), piano, synthesizers, sampling, ethnic drums, percussion, woodwind, voice.
Guests:
- Małgorzata Stoch / violin
- Joanna Jaworz-Dutka / flute
- Krzysztof Pitula / percussion
- Agnieszka Dudek / solo vocals
- Marta Wojteczek / voice, backing vocals
- Robert Srzednicki / backing vocals
- Bartosz Jackowski / backing vocals
Tracks Listing
1. I'm a Rock (2:17)
2. Fieldmour I (9:10)3. Fieldmour II (6:37)
4. Avalon (3:16)
5. Fieldmour III (8:36)
6. Lavera (3:32)
7. Aqu (2:54)
8. Meriba (6:51)
9. Seya (6:30)
10. Massa (8:04)
11. Astron (2:30)
12. Khana (3:35)
Look!!
2004 - METANOIA
Musicians
- Michał Wojtas / guitars, keyboards, sampling & programming, effects
Guests musicians:
- Michał Ściwiarski / keyboards, sampling & programming, effects (3,6,7,11)
- Andrzej Rajski / drums & percussions (2,3,7)
- Mariusz Duda / vocals (2,3,4,7,8,10)
- Rafał Nowak / effects (1,3,4,7)
Tracks Listing
1. Metanoia (6:32)
2. Canticle (5:22)
3. Rules (3:12)
4. Look around (4:06)
5. Tirzah (4:54)
6. In struggle (5:05)
7. Come what may (3:17)
8. The moment (4:18)
9. Wind from the east (4:40)
10. The day after... (3:55)
11. Landscapes (7:24)
Total Time: 52:45
Look!!(flac)
