Bajka - A Vocalist About Whom I'd Like To Learn More

[JSngry]

All I've heard is her work here:

And all I can get in terms of bio is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajka_(music) :

Bajka (pronounced "Biker") is B. Pluwatsch (born 25 December 1978) is a poet and singer, currently based in Munich, Germany. She was born in India to German parents, and is well-travelled, having lived in Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa. She attended schools in Goa, Bangalore, Lagos, Portugal, Seattle, Durban and Capetown.

She is the daughter of J. Pluwatsch, a member of the German Krautrock band Embryo. Bajka studied music in Prague. Her relationship with Asia remains a the main theme of her poetry. She has performed spoken word poetry on several projects, including Transglobal Underground's "Instinctive Traveller" and South African Zulu Nation's "Bubblegum". She has also performed with Noujum Oazza and his band Urban Dervish, and for the Royal Moroccan Orchestra. In recent years, her role has moved from poet to singer. Her voice is described as jazz/soul and she has appeared on a number of chill out and electronic dance tracks. Most recently, she appeared on several tracks on Bonobo's latest album, Days To Come.

Discography

* The Only Religion That I Believe (7") (2005)

* I Can No Poet Be / Love's Serenity (12") (2006)

Appearances

* Beanfield - Human Patterns (November, 1999) (1 track)

* Ben Mono - Dual (2003) (4 tracks)

* Beanfield - Seek (2004) (2 tracks)

* Das Goldenes Zeitalter - A Vision / Breakin' Through / Im Würgegriff Der Schönen Künste (2006) (1

track)

* Radio Citizen - Berlin Serengeti (September, 2006) (6 tracks)

* Bonobo - Days To Come (October, 2006) (4 tracks)

Well, ok, maybe that's all I need to know. Or not. Anybody? I really dig her voice & delivery & poetry & all that stuff.

Edited June 8, 2007 by JSngry

[JSngry]

Up? Anybody? How's things in Germany? Hello?

[couw]

I only know the Bonobo. With your recently acquired taste for the elektro scene, you'll probably like this one. She's not world famous in entire Germany or anything. Actually, I didn't even notice whom you were talking about until I saw the Bonobo listed.

[JSngry]

Ah, a cult figure at home and abroad!

Seriosuly, she's got a timbre and a liquidity in her speaking voice that remings me of Billie Holliday's singing voice, and her singing voice puts me in mind of...Billie Holliday if Billie had been a protege ot...hmmm...Tom Waits? My reference base fails me here...

Anyways, on this album at least, she does very good work and very interesting work. I'm digging it more than a little.

[couw]

my first impression was a cross between Billie, Neneh Cherry and Róisín Murphy (of Moloko fame).

Bonobo's music is a bit like a John Lurie movie soundtrack that went through a cimputer.

here's one of the 4 tracks featuring Bajka: click.

[Guy Berger]

"ELAINE: No, but they got the chocolate. We'll be going in with a lesser Babka."

[JSngry]

here's one of the 4 tracks featuring Bajka: click.

That's very nice, and thanks for pointing that out. I'll look for it. But I think I prefer the Radio Citizen material. Grittier, groovier, sexier, you know, all the things that young kids like me go for, doncah' know...

First tune on the album is something about going for a ride in a car and there's a fly in the back seat. The way she says "fly" is just all kinds of cool, as are the implications contained therein. Still not sure exactly what the lyrics are about, but I've narrowed it down to about 500,000 or so possibilities.,,,

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

u mean BASIA- i am a fan

[couw]

But I think I prefer the Radio Citizen material.

some webbrowsing allowed me to listen to the first track as well as Mondlicht; cool bassline on the latter!

[JSngry]

u mean BASIA- i am a fan

No, I mean Bajka. I like the way she says "fly": http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&a...33:fifwx09gldfe

[JSngry]

some webbrowsing allowed me to listen to the first track as well as Mondlicht; cool bassline on the latter!

Vaguely influenced by "Las Vegas Tango", wouldn't you say? ;)

[Bluesnik]

i also like her voice. though she's not so young her solo career is just in its first steps. i think she has some solo singles on Jazzman, a British label devoted to deep funk reissues. no lp so far, though i think she's working on one.

she's the daughter of a German krautrock musician, i think from Embryo, and as such hates MySpace and the whole online virtual thing. so you won't find much info on her out there.

i know her from collaboration work (vocals on top of programmed/live music) with bands like Beanfield and other similar artists on Compost and from I can no poet be, but that was at the beginning of the 2000s.

but she really has a great soulful voice and i think she could develop into an interesting artist if she finds her own angle in more organic productions or probably with a proper live band, which might be what she's doing now with German deep funk band Poets of Rythm.

[JSngry]

she's the daughter of a German krautrock musician, i think from Embryo, and as such hates MySpace and the whole online virtual thing....

Not sure I see the connection?

i know her from collaboration work (vocals on top of programmed/live music) with bands like Beanfield and other similar artists on Compost and from I can no poet be, but that was at the beginning of the 2000s.

but she really has a great soulful voice and i think she could develop into an interesting artist if she finds her own angle in more organic productions or probably with a proper live band, which might be what she's doing now with German deep funk band Poets of Rythm.

Just heard, entirely coincidentally, something called "The Season" by Beanfield on a podcast. Really nice, and even if I had no idea who the band was, that voice was immediately identifiable. What a distinctive timbre! And even more distinctive as a speaking voice.

Did find a picture. Looks like she's into that Insect Look.

Edited June 12, 2007 by JSngry

[JSngry]

Not an insect at all!

[Bluesnik]

no, no she's got great looks. wanted to mention that on the first post but forgot finally... completely my type, btw

and about the connection, there isn't necessarily one, but with her kind of hippy/traveller upbringing i imagine she's more the real type, more into reality than reality TV, so to say. more active than passive.

it's just a guess, but what's sure is that she's into some kind of MySpace and online runnings boycott. and i can completely understand that. just look at MySpace, it's fucking ridiculous. might be a useful tool for some to get gigs and everything (i know of many) but it's the lamest thing i've seen in years. a place for unfriends. friends are people you can touch and you dont' need to impress with a fake persona. though i know there's heated debate pro and con. it's just that i'm seeing the start of a downturn in that whole web 2.0 thing. it's fake.

and that's just not to talk about Second Life, where people spend real $ for 3D constructs and to lead an imaginary life that's the opposite ot their real one ... it's the end of communication and, taken to its extremes, of social life.

look at this this

Edited June 12, 2007 by Bluesnik