Poland Native Basia Keeping it Upbeat and Real

With her cool, sultry vocals, extended vocal range and Latino style, Basia continues to wow audiences around the world.

Fortunately, she is known by her first name. Her full name is Basia Trzetrzelewska (pronounced basha che-che-lev-ska).

Basia was born in Jaworzno, Poland in 1954. She made her singing debut at the age of fifteen performing on the Polish Festival Avangarde in Kalisz with an amateur band named Astry. She was with all-female Polish band Alibabki for a couple of years and sang with the rock band Perfect for another couple of years.

However, it wasn't until she moved to London in 1981 that her career really began to make progress. She teamed up with Mark Reilly and Danny White who is the brother of European jazz guitarist Peter White. The three formed their own band initially called Bronze and later changed to Matt Bianco. Their debut album "Whose Side Are You On?" released in 1984 sold more than 1.5 million copies across Europe.

In 1987, Basia and Danny White launched Basia's solo career with "Time and Tide" which sold almost two million copies worldwide, one million of them in the United States alone. The single "Time and Tide" itself reached number 30 on Billboard's Top 100 chart.

Her second effort "London Warsaw New York" replicated her previous album's success, selling almost two million copies worldwide with one million copies sold in the United States. Another single "Cruising for Brusing" was a second top thirty hit for Basia.

"The Sweetest Illusion" followed to become her third album. Moderately successful, it also contained "Drunk on Love" which was a number one hit on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.

What followed after "The Sweetest Illusion" were mostly compilations and live albums.

But life took a change for Basia and not for the better. She withdrew from performing in 1998 due to the deaths of several people who were close to her, including her own mother. Basia simply didn't feel like singing.

After several years and much encouragement from friends Danny White and Mark Reilly, the three of them reformed their original group Matt Bianco. After releasing "Matt's Mood" in 2004, Basia and White resumed working on Basia's solo career while Reilly continued with Matt Bianco.

In March 2009, Basia released her fourth studio endeavor, "It's That Girl Again."

Blessed with an incredible vocal range and sporting multiple vocal harmonies, Basia is a gifted singer. The musical accompaniment with many of her songs has a Latin staccato flavor that keeps the tempo upbeat and well compliments her voice.

Basia has many fans all over the world: Japan, France, and the United States. And even has a few notable fans.

Liza Minnelli once called her when she performed in Paris. Danny de Vito and Rhea Perlman visited her in her backstage dressing room in New York City. Michael Douglas was in the audience at her San Diego concert. And Gloria Estefan makes it a point to visit Basia every time she appears in Miami.[1]

Basia has sold 10 million albums and is the only Polish vocalist who can claim a worldwide career. But Basia does not allow it to go to her head.

"It definitely gives satisfaction and encourages further work," Basia has said. "We know that somebody listens to us, that our work makes sense. I think that's enough."[1]

In an interview with Guy Perryman between shows in Tokyo, Japan, Basia stated that she loves creating songs as well as performing with the members of her band, comparing it to being at holiday camp. But what she likes most is when people like the songs. "There's nothing better than that," Basia said. "When people respond to what you felt, it's most gratifying."[2]

Basia also enjoys collecting paintings, particularly works of Polish artists such as Halina Tymusz. One of her dreams is to have her own art gallery to show her collection and possibly help artists sell their work.[1]

"It's That Girl Again" debuted at number five on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz chart in the United States and has gone platinum in Poland.

Sources:

[1] Rzeczpospolita, Translated into English by Krysia Szurek
[2] Interview with Guy Perryman
Basia website