https://www.facebook.com/BlackKayOfficial
Sounds like: Hard Rock/Retro Rock/Rock'n'Roll
From: Poland
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
My musical journey truly began in early childhood, around the age of six. It actually started with dance - I joined my first "dance groups" in kindergarten, continued taking dance classes for some years, and competed with my school’s dance teams. But it wasn’t a long journey. I gave up dancing after just about two years (maybe even less) and after my first serious competitions, from which I actually came back with medals. Still, I felt it wasn’t my path. I was always more drawn to singing and speaking into a microphone, but back then my voice was… pretty weak :D
In general... Performing has been a part of my life from the very beginning.
Teachers and school directors would often choose me to take part in various school plays, recitations, and ceremonies as an actress and speaker, and later I also sang in both school and church choirs all the way through middle school. In high school, I continued singing in the choir, but it was in my final year that I discovered rock’n’roll - I attended my first rock rehearsal and instantly felt that this was my music. I knew I wanted to keep performing in that genre.
I started performing my first concerts with student rock bands when I was around 20–22 years old. For the next eight years, I was the lead vocalist and lyricist of White Highway, with whom we signed a record deal and performed across Poland and abroad. White Highway was a band where we played 80s-style hard rock. The band’s name actually came from one of the songs by the American band Saraya, I believe from their debut album - one of the tracks was called “White Highway.”
In White Highway, we also played music with a strong 80s vibe, and that’s something I want to continue with BlackKay. We also perform 80s cover songs as part of my second cover project, Still Of The Night – 80s Rock LIVE Show.
I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of that retro vibe - my goal is to combine the best of 80s rock and hard rock with what’s happening in music today. After all those years of different projects and experiences, I decided to focus on my solo career with my band BlackKay, bringing together everything I’ve learned into one powerful, authentic rock sound.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
I want people to feel the authenticity, energy, and power that classic rock once had, but in a way that speaks to today’s listeners. My music is meant to ignite something inside - to remind people what rock’n’roll truly means: freedom, passion, and emotional connection. I also want people to pay attention to my lyrics, because I often share not only my personal stories through them, but also a message or a moral that I hope listeners will take away from what I write.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
It’s modern classic/hard rock with the fierce spirit of the 80s - I always try to deliver powerful vocals, heavy riffs, honest lyrics and emotions, and catchy hooks that bring rock back to its purest form. It’s unapologetic, charismatic, and full of live energy.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
I’d love to tour with bands that embody both strong musicality and stage energy. I think: Halestorm, KISS and Def Leppard would be incredible fits - they represent different aspects of the rock DNA that inspires my work. I also really appreciate Yungblud's work nowadays.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
AI can be a useful tool when you create music, but it can’t replace human authenticity, emotion, and live experience - especially in rock music. Rock is about real stories, raw voices, and shared energy between the band and the audience.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Hard Rock?
I think hard rock still has a strong and passionate global community, but what’s often missing today is the rawness and spirit that defined earlier decades. My goal is to bring that spirit back - not by imitating the past, but by fusing it with a modern sound. I also think that hard rock and classic rock have once again been pushed into the underground. In a way, the most beautiful aspects of rock’n’roll - its authenticity, rawness, and energy - are now happening in the underground scenes and clubs around the world.
On one hand, that’s reassuring, but on the other, I miss seeing more rock bands in the mainstream, at least on the level of bands like Youngblood or Halestorm. And I hope that one day I’ll have the chance to reach that level myself - at least, that’s what I’d love to achieve.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in Poland?
In Poland, the rock scene is basically the same as it is around the world. Most rock bands play in smaller, medium, or larger clubs, but overall it’s still very much an underground scene.
In the Polish mainstream, rock’n’roll is practically absent right now. There are a few legendary bands from the 80s - the true icons of Polish rock, and I’ve even had the chance to perform with some of them. But even they appear in the mainstream only occasionally, usually for anniversaries or big festivals.
Unfortunately, classic rock, hard rock, and the heavier side of rock’n’roll remain part of the underground scene in Poland.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
The current system often doesn’t reflect the true value of the work artists put in, especially for rock musicians who invest heavily in live performance and production. There’s definitely room for improvement to make it more fair and sustainable.
9. What’s next for BlackKay?
I’m currently performing live with my full band, promoting my latest album Vintage Soul and new singles, and reaching new audiences both in Poland and internationally. The plan is to expand touring, release more music, and collaborate with international partners to bring the BlackKay sound to a wider stage.
10. Any shoutouts?
Massive thanks to everyone who’s believed in this project so far - my bandmates, our supporters, and the rock fans who keep this energy alive. This journey is just getting started, and I can’t wait to share it with even more people around the world.
