Meet Zuzanna Całka

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zuzanna Całka. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zuzanna below.

Hi Zuzanna, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

My journey with confidence and self-esteem has definitely been a work in progress. Growing up as the only musician in my family, I started playing the piano at seven and was determined to pursue music. In those early years, my self-esteem largely came from external validation—my teachers’ praise and good grades on annual exams.

However, as I grew older, I realized that relying on external validation can be a trap. Rejection is a universal experience that every artist faces at some point. Understanding this helped me shift my perspective. I focused on building trust in my skills through consistent practice and good preparation.

I learned that live performances can be unpredictable, and no matter how well you prepare, things might not go as planned. Accepting that helped me develop a more resilient form of confidence,

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

„ ZUZANNA CAŁKA is a classically trained pianist and composer based in Warsaw.

Graduated from Berlin and Warsaw Music Universities. Classically trained on piano, she makes music by manipulating and multi-tracking sounds from piano and synthesizers. She sees making music as a spiritual practice, a ritual that helps her reconnect with the beauty and mystery of life.

She treats her compositions as a development of the aesthetics that grew out of studying classic compositions combined with her interest in electronic music and film. On her debut EP album Late Night Takes, the classically trained polish composer elaborates piano harmonies and melodies in a very intimate, soothing soundscape. Her soundtrack was awarded the first prize at the Transatlantyk Festival with Oscar winning composer, Jan AP Kaczmarek at the head of the jury. From then she collaborated with big music agencies including award winning american music agency The Crystal Creative.

Zuzannas Summer Europe Tour included Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Holland and Germany, including the OPIA Festival in Utrecht alongside world famous duo Kiasmos.

This fall she released a new single „Arpeggio in D minor” inspired by piece written for viola da gamba by one of Jan Sebastian Bach students, Karl Friedrich Abel. The single is a part of compilation album „Echoes” release by Berlin based label Piano and Coffee and was featured in KEXP *Pacific Notions* radio show.”

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Embrace failures as learning opportunities.

Reflecting on my journey, I’d say the three most impactful qualities have been resilience, a commitment to continuous learning, and a strong sense of passion. The desire to keep improving has been crucial. Whether it’s exploring new techniques, genres, or collaborating with others, staying curious has kept me fresh and exciting. Take lessons, attend workshops, and surround yourself with diverse influences. This will not only enhance your skills but also expand your creative horizons. However, it’s equally important to take time to digest these experiences through your own personal artistic sensitivity, allowing you to integrate what resonates with you into your unique style.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

“One good talk can change ones life” – once told me at the before going on stage Oscar winning polish composer Jan AP Kaczmarek . And it is so true!

From early age my mentors where woman – my piano teachers. But I’ve been fortunate to meet many incredible individuals along my journey, many of whom were outside the music industry. Their diverse perspectives and experiences have often mirrored my own challenges, providing invaluable insights. I would say that it’s essential to seek out mentors. Also because at some point they become your friends and guides through life. And you never know which concervasation would lead to this special relationship. So I would say the most important is to stay eager to learn, and most importantly, listen. Every conversation can be a chance to gain wisdom and grow, even if it’s just a brief exchange. Cultivating that mindset has helped me navigate obstacles and continually develop the skills I need to succeed.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Iwan Kudin
Jan Bogusz Szulc
Konrad Kultys
Filip Kovacevich
Jakub Lewicki

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than

Highlighter Series
Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?

We asked some of the most interesting entrepreneurs and creatives to open up about recent

Highlighter Series
Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and