Tampa Calling

If you’re having a difficult time spotting Artur Dyjecinski in a crowded room, just look for the guy in the cowboy shirt with the super bad-ass mustache. Then, once you find him, ask him to tell you about all of the places that you want to travel to, because it’s almost guaranteed he has been to them and can tell you where the party is at.

Artur was born in Poland, moved to Canada when he was two, then later relocated to England and is now pondering the idea of moving to Australia after touring the United States and France.

It all started when Artur picked up the guitar for the first time at age eight. He booked his first gig covering Bob Marley songs at age 13, and to this day has still never had a formal music lesson.

If he isn’t interesting enough to you yet, get this: Artur’s day jobs include creating and selling his art and using his Masters degree in Mathematics to run statistics for banks.

Artur recently played a show at the Luminaire in London, and then toured Australia, which was a life changing experience. He told me, “After arriving in Australia and getting searched by customs for 3 hours for cocaine, I finally set off on my journey, and a journey it was. Traveling alone always allows a freedom like no other. Change is funny, sometimes it’s forced and therefore not genuine, sometimes it comes slow and can barely be noticed. Other times, someone can just fall into their time and place, as if they enter into their element. This was Australia to me…I was in my element.” Do you all sense another move coming on soon? I know I do. Lucky Australians!

Artur’s ideal world as a musician is “One where all music is made with no audience in mind.” And I’m sure this ideal world would include Artur waking up in his bed with his Star Wars-themed sheets and putting on his favorite pair of vintage leather shoes… “They’re really nothing special to look at, they just look like old leather shoes, but I think they have subtle character. I love old things; especially shoes, because of the history… like ‘if these shoes could talk, oh! The stories they would tell!’ kind of thing. Anyway… I can’t imagine ever replacing them,” he says. Another thing I can imagine contributing to Artur’s ideal music world would be a dog: “I think all dogs should be called Stinky… If I got a dog it would look like life had dealt him a bad hand, and his only reason for living was hanging out with me…”

Still don’t think Artur is fascinating? That’s cool! I’VE GOT MORE! Artur collects wine bottle corks and Kinder Egg toys. What makes him cringe is the War on Drugs. And, he tells me his favorite thing to do on a rainy day is “Sleep in and eat hot-dogs for breakfast. The smell of hot-dog and rain takes me back to my childhood for some reason, and the hot-dogs have to be grilled in the oven with onions and lemon.”

As far as future happenings are concerned, Artur has written a new album and plans to record it in the U.S. at the end of this year. Prior to that, he will be playing some shows in France with Texas Tea.

Like many musicians, Artur feels like shitting his pants when he performs live, but reveals that if he lost the nervousness, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable.

And what keeps the incredibly talented Artur Dyjencinski playing music? “I guess I like the solitude that comes with the process of making music. When I have nobody, I always have my guitar.”

You will love Artur Dyjecinski if you love: Elliot Smith, Elvis Perkins, and Joe Purdy.

Click play below to listen to A Song About Her off of the A year and a Half of Rain album, hear the correct pronunciation of Artur’s name, and find out what was going through Artur’s head when he wrote this song:

Here is an interview I did with Artur and a performance of a Whistle Out Of Me off of his newest album:

And since we all love a little Elliot Smith, enjoy this cover of The Biggest Lie.

Artur Dyjecinski at Myspace. Artur Dyjecinski offical site.

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