Wojtek Mazolewski on energy and music

When it comes to experiencing the sensation of “energy” as a listener, which albums, performances, and artists come to mind?

The first thing that comes to mind is a concert by Charles Lloyd’s quartet at the Blue Note club in Tokyo. I was invited by my Japanese journalist friend Eisuke Sato. The journey that this incredible saxophonist took us on went beyond anything I had known before.

He played only the essential notes—those that illuminated the space and allowed us to glimpse the nature of reality. The music flowed freely and naturally. At one point, I had the feeling that his spirit was floating between the tables, gently touching us and opening our hearts. I was moved to tears. It was true mastery.

Of course, I also remember many other remarkable concerts—like one at London’s Church of Sound, or at Gilles Peterson’s festival We Out Here. I also recall an extraordinary performance by Otomo Yoshihide.

Live music carries with it a beautiful sense of collective participation in the act of creation. It’s an irreplaceable experience—no recording, and certainly no streaming, can substitute for that.

There can be many different kinds of energy in art – soft, harsh, healing, aggressive, uplifting and many more. Which do you tend to feel drawn to most?

I want my music to uplift and inspire—toward creativity, personal growth, and being a better person. I believe that when each of us moves in that direction, we contribute our own small part toward building a better world.

I’m always searching for the kind of energy that allows this to happen, but it can take many different forms and expressions.

As far as it plays a role in the music you enjoy listening to or creating, what role do words and the voice of a vocalist play in transmitting energy?

The voice is probably the most natural instrument we have. It allows us to express ourselves without years of study or daily hours of practice.

I love music with words because I love poetry and literature. I read every day—it’s my greatest passion alongside music.

When it comes to experiencing the sensation of “energy” as a creator, how would you describe the physical sensation of experiencing it? Where do you feel it—do you visualize anything, is there tension or release?

It’s hard to define that process. Frank Zappa once said that talking about music is like dancing about architecture. No matter how many words you use, it still feels like something’s missing. That’s why I always say that sound is my true language—it’s how I express everything I have to say.

One of the beautiful things about music is that it leaves space for the listener’s own interpretation. It opens a landscape for dialogue.

How much of the energy in your music would you say is embedded in the composition itself, and how much comes from the recording process?

The core energy of a piece usually arrives with the first melody that comes to me—I don’t know where it comes from or how it takes shape.

I believe my main task is simply to live well and keep my heart and mind open. Then, during intense periods of playing and practicing, moments of insight appear, and the sounds begin to form naturally into melodies and phrases. They seem to embody something nearly physical, something that resonates with the world around me.

The next step is to work on the piece with the band, and each member brings something personal to it. What begins as a single idea transforms into a rich, multidimensional experience —it starts to operate on many levels of energy.

That’s why, even when the music we create is challenging, original, or unconventional, it can still connect with people and speak to them deeply.

In terms of energy, what changes when you're performing live on stage with an audience compared to the recording process?

Everything around us is part of a process - a constant state of change. I’ve been learning that my whole life.

To answer your question more directly: incredible things happen during concerts. We often create music right in front of the audience, responding to their energy, the space, and the moment. That’s why every concert is different and unique.

An album is like a postcard from a holiday that we send to you. A live concert, however, is an invitation to go on that journey with us.