Intuitive Music

Zbigniew Karkowski

Born in Kracow, Poland, in 1958, Zbigniew Karkowski is one of the most significative artists in the experimental, noise and isolationism genres.

Zbigniew Karkowski studied composition at the State College of Music in Gothenburg, Sweden, aesthetics of modern music at the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Musicology, and computer music at the Chalmers University of Technology. After the completion of his studies in Sweden, he also studied sonology for a year at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Den Haag, Netherlands. During these years, he attended many summer composition master courses where he studied studying with Pierre Boulez, Iannis Xenakis, Olivier Messiaen, and Georges Aperghis.

Zbigniew Karkowski has produced numerous works in the fields of both acoustic and electronic music music, and has written pieces for large orchestra, an opera and several chamber music pieces. Karkowski is also a founding member of the electroacoustic music performance trio “Sensorband.”

Based in Tokyo, Karkowski has a large collection of releases numbering more than 60 of mostly field recordings. He also records under the philosophy that all conventional rules and thought about music have to be destroyed, which is surprising considering he studied music under several different teachers in different countries. Karkowski also runs his own label called Sensorband.

He has worked with artists such as collaboration with Chris Watson, Francisco López, and The Hafler Trio.