BEMY presents “PETITE POLOGNE” – a vinyl tribute to the work of Zbigniew Wodecki
The idea for the project was born spontaneously — from a short social media video in which BEMY presented a French interpretation of a fragment of Zbigniew Wodecki’s song “Lubię wracać tam, gdzie byłem.” The video was met with an enthusiastic response from listeners, which naturally led to conversations and the beginning of a collaboration with Katarzyna Wodecka, the artist’s daughter. The album is produced by Legendy Polskiej Muzyki / N-TEQ, while the creative strategy is handled by SAYHi, TWIST ON PRODUCTIONS, and IQART.
The result of this collaboration is a unique release — the mini album “PETITE POLOGNE,” on which BEMY reinterpret selected songs from Zbigniew Wodecki’s 1987 album “Dusze kobiet” (with lyrics written by Jacek Cygan), expanding the tracklist with two additional hits from the artist’s repertoire. The band took on an ambitious challenge: transforming these classic compositions into a modern indie-pop context, enriched with French sensitivity and their signature style.
Inspired by Zbigniew Wodecki’s artistry and encouraged by the success of previous singles — including a duet with Natalia Szroeder — BEMY decided to complete the project with a vinyl release. It is a deliberate tribute to the era in which Wodecki’s music was primarily experienced on analog records. The band was also inspired by the artist’s original vinyl cover artwork, which is reflected in the visual identity of “PETITE POLOGNE.”
The creative process behind the release proved especially inspiring for the band. BEMY decided to weave original vocal fragments by Zbigniew Wodecki into the arrangements, creating the illusion of an intergenerational dialogue — a kind of duet with a legend. In the song “Słownikowa samba,” one can clearly hear inspirations drawn from the French duo Polo & Pan and their characteristic electro-tropical sound, which perfectly complements the lightness of the composition.
A particularly memorable moment during the recording process was the meeting with Natalia Szroeder at Maurycy Żółtański’s studio while working on the track “Dusze kobiet.” The artist surprised everyone by quickly mastering the French version of the lyrics and giving the song a unique emotional expression.
The lead single promoting the release is “Chałupy Welcome To” — an original reinterpretation of the cult classic. The inspiration came from BEMY’s concert at Chałupy 6 in 2024, where the band first performed Wodecki’s repertoire. The song, considered the unofficial anthem of the venue, was rearranged in an indie style with the band’s signature blend of Polish and French lyrics. Interestingly, the artists initially translated the word “Chałupy” as “chaloupes” (French for small fishing boats), giving the interpretation an additional playful meaning.
The release date of “PETITE POLOGNE” was chosen deliberately — the album will premiere on May 6, Zbigniew Wodecki’s birthday, as a symbolic gesture of remembrance and tribute to the artist. The project combines respect for the original material with a fresh, contemporary approach — a musical bridge between generations, languages, and aesthetics. It is also a personal tribute to the work of Zbigniew Wodecki — an artist who continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
BEMY emphasize that this is one of the most important projects in their career so far — and they hope it would have earned the appreciation of the master himself.