Passion can be a way of life - it sounds like an empty phrase. Marek Truszkowski, who became involved in music, knows what values this phrase carries. It is the path he chose as a child and followed in spite of adversity.
There is no world without music
Marek Truszkowski is primarily a composer, music producer, certified Sound Realization Technician, sound designer, music equipment reviewer and Presonus trainer. In addition to creating and composing music, he teaches the secrets of his profession at the Academy of Sound Realization in Warsaw. Together with the Soundeck group he spreads his music practically on all continents - incl. in TV3 Norway. He shared with the audience on the pages of Wataha.no about the path he had to go through, what adversities he had to face and where his passion for music came from.
How did your adventure with music start?
Early childhood. Village, Nasielsk.
Me, my father, keyboard, guitar and drums.
We played blues so that people came from nearby farms because they thought that there was a wedding and you could come across a bottle. There was still elementary music school, but I ran away screaming as they told me to sing.
Where are you now, is it the result of talent or hard work?
Where am I? That's a good question. Life is amazing once you go the hard way of doing what you love. The first compositions were created at the age of about 5. Later I was sitting and doing productions from around 1999, so that after many years it would accidentally become a way of life.
What was the attitude of your family home and immediate surroundings to your passion? Did they help you or rather advise you to take up music seriously?
My mother kept urging me to go to music education. I was at the campfire, I studied privately, but there was also an emphasis on having an alternative route prepared. Just in case the music didn't work out. Hence, 5 years of technical secondary school (technician-electronics specialist, specialization - computer systems), and later attempts to study computer science and real estate, but nothing by force. It didn't interest me.
Music is a passion that has become a way of life?
Yes it is. Endless road, long and bumpy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
What music area do you feel best in? Instrumental and musical compositions, film music compositions or music for business purposes?
I have always absorbed everything unknown to me and wanted to try it while doing it my own way. For years I have been looking for my style, but it turned out that both film music, electronic music, club music and jazz are close to me and in my music different styles have always been intertwined. So much so that sometimes I couldn't somehow label certain productions myself.
Example - "Drum And Bass Romantic Light Drama".
Besides composing music, what else do you do?
I love to sound the picture. Film, animation, computer games. Not only with music, but also with sound design. For me, it's also a kind of composing, when I have to come up with a sound that does not exist in the physical world.
I also teach at several music production schools, but it also mostly comes down to composing. I love to combine students' energy and create group projects with them, where everyone gives something from themselves. That's when amazing pieces are created.
Has your musical activity been awarded with some awards?
I won a few competitions, but the most important thing for me is how others perceive what I do.
For example, a painting and a letter from a military group that had just finished their education at school were priceless. I am glad that I could inspire with my passion people who had nothing to do with music production before.
Have you had any musical collaboration that you value the most?
Each one is different. I am always open to learning about new cultures.
At this point, I'm making a record in Japanese. I master an album of classical Indian music for a singer from Mumbai on a different barrel, I have a project with a guest from Senegal, I finish (I hope) a single with a friend from Georgia, I have been recording CDs for South America representatives for years, but I also have jazz, hip-hop and club projects in our native language.
A few days ago, I had the honor of entrusting me with the archiving of the musical output of a composer friend. At the moment, this is a project that is very important to me as it relates to his work from 1987 to today.
Who is your greatest musical inspiration? Has an artist had a particular influence on what you are doing now?
I do not have any. I always tried not to look at others and go my own way, but from childhood for sure - Mike Oldfield and Elton John.
One of Marek's creative inspirations. Photo: from a private archive.
One of Marek's creative inspirations. Photo: from a private archive.
Finally - is it better to make your dreams come true and turn your passion into work or start working and earn your passion?
I cannot answer this question. Everyone arranges their own way of life. I have been working in a printing house since I was about 14 years old. Later a year in a food factory in the UK in Poole, living in B'mouth, where together with a friend, we invested in equipment for the studio, which we opened after returning home. Then I was an investment and insurance advisor. In the end, I ended up in a music store where I traded keyboards and studio equipment by accident. After a few years, I quit him to devote myself 100% to what I love.
To sum up - I recommend everyone to follow the path of passion. It will not be easy, but it is worth waking up every day with a smile on your face, knowing that your work will begin soon, which will be what you enjoy.
