Minru Concert at Otwarta Pracownia | July 2023
Three girls from Berlin came to Jazdow, Warsaw, and truly enchanted the small, hidden in the center of the city cabin studio. Minru, because that’s what they call the band, mantled the audience with warm vocals combined with the harmony of playing the violin, guitar, and piano.
Minru's performance was one hundred and thirty-fourth one for the Music at Otwarta Pracownia. The audience was full. There were dozens of loungers set up in front of the stage - all were taken. A few people were missing the chairs and were sitting at the front, proudly taking the “Royal Box” first row, on the blankets. Overall more than sixty people attended. The band got long applause from the audience for its gorgeous and atmospheric performance. After the concert, the attendees could buy CDs and Vinyl of artists.
fot. Alicja Bakalarska and fot. Zuzanna Gałczyńska
Music for the Soul
Before we start, I advise you to listen to one of the songs first. Play the button below and listen to the music as you read.
Minru's music is a bit wintery, a bit blanket-like. You play this kind of music when it snows outside, and you sit on the couch with your hot cocoa. On the other hand, it's a piece of summer music. You chill on a lounger in the backyard or beach while gazing at the sky. It's a warm, August night. You look at the sky and think about all the stars' secrets. You wonder about all the millions of years they've lived and realize how small and fragile we are. Compared to those stars up there, human lives don't last a century. It brings you down to earth and holds you in the moment. It doesn't matter what happens in the media, other countries, or around the corner - it's you and only you now. This is the magic - the magic of music that Minru brings.
My personal story
Pleasant and delicate indie rock rocks us to dance. The music takes us for a walk together through empty fields, wild northern forests full of berries and animals. There is even a slight sound of a stream rushing behind the corner. Minru's melody is a personal story that everyone can interpret in their way depending on their experiences and level of sensitivity. Nevertheless, no one remains unaffected. Whether sad or good memories come to mind, those words and music affect everyone in some way. It makes people experience and feel: the present, the past, and the future deeply and expeditiously.
My music is a bit like breaking the ice. I want to break through this big wall that we create around us and get to the inside, to the core of the emotions. It is often difficult for us to describe our feelings. Music helps us. It helps me describe my feelings which are usually indescribable. - Minru
Who is Minru?
Minru is a Swedish singer living in Berlin. Today, she plays with a pianist and bass player - Marlene from Germany, and violinist Jean-Louis from South Africa. Despite several separate projects that each of the girls does, they meet together and give concerts across Germany and abroad.
What is the story of the girls? How did they meet? Have they imagined themselves on the music scene?
Marlene: I haven't always imagined myself on stage. The moment came when I was studying music production and I realized that my path was more to be a musician than a producer. After finishing my bachelor's degree, and these were the times of the pandemic, I had to think about everything and put it in order. There was a moment when I worked in an office for a while and realized I want to be a musician.
I met Minru in 2020. We were playing together for the Norwegian artist Tuvaband at the time. She was in the process of recording Liminality at the time and invited me to the project. We met again last year because of her radio show. That's how I met Jean-Louis.
Jean-Louis: I knew I wanted to be a musician. I don't know what else I'd do (laughs). I played in bands many times before. After moving to Berlin in 2020, I'd been looking for new projects. I had many plans related to traveling and playing, but a month after moving, the pandemic broke out. One evening, I saw Minru's post on a Facebook group for musicians in Berlin. She needed a cellist or a violinist. I contacted her but didn't meet her in person due to the pandemic. After some time, Minru invited me to join her on the radio show.
After a few years, this led to the release of Minru's first debut album Liminality, which consists of 9 tracks.
Music at Otwarta Pracownia
Music in Pracownia is a project of concerts organized in a charming Finnish cabin in Jazdów, Warsaw. Depending on the season, the events may be inside - in the cabin or outside - in the garden. The usual music style is melancholic, ambient, and jazzy, but sometimes you may hear energetic and club-like rhythms. The name of the performer is always a big mystery. Oh, yes. The organizers hide the artist's name from the audience. Exciting, right? This little trick and how much it confirms us with a moment of the present.
