Omasta Interview: Polish Jazz, Dilla & Jazz Report from the Hood

An interview I'm utterly excited about. I discovered Omasta last summer, and I instantly felt a connection with their forward-thinking take on jazz music. Their debut record, Jazz Report from the Hood, was one of my favourite records of 2025. A rich, urban soundscape balancing nostalgia and forward-thinking energy.

If you're looking for a place to start, "We Gonna Make It" is a great entry point into the art of the Krakow-based 5-piece. They were also at ESNS at the time when our team and Izabel were (she was performing there too in January), so naturally, I had to reach out and talk to the band.

I had the pleasure of catching up with the band for our next interview feature. Wojtek, who plays bass, and I spoke about their origins, influences, touring life, and what's cooking next.

Antoni, Bruno, Nikodem, Paweł, and Wojciech - welcome, guys! How are you all doing?

We’re all doing great - busy but excited!

You guys formed because of a Dilla tribute event. Can you tell us more about that moment and how it led to Omasta as a project?

We actually formed because of friendship and our shared love for similar music. The Dilla show really brought everything together - it was the spark that made things official. Of course, we had been playing and creating together before that, but after the tribute, everything really kicked off. That was the moment Omasta truly started.

Dilla Day was a few weeks ago. What does his music mean to you personally and collectively as a band? Any other inspirations?

His music is hugely influential for us, and I think you can definitely hear it on our album. For me personally, Dilla was the second producer I really dug into deeply after Madlib.

Beyond Dilla, we draw inspiration from many places - jazz, hip-hop, soul - it’s a wide palette.

I looked up the meaning of “omasta” in Polish - it means gravy or liquid fat. Any specific reason for choosing that? It feels very groovy.

You explained it perfectly yourself :) Our music is simple yet flavorful. Just like fat, just like omasta.

What are your musical origins? Are you classically trained, or did you follow different paths?

I’m almost fully self-taught. I went to music school as an adult but dropped out very quickly. Music education is very delicate - young people open up creatively, and it’s easy to hurt their ambitions in rigid systems. It’s important to find a guru figure as a young musician, but not necessarily at school.

Your debut record, Jazz Report from the Hood, is one of my favourite 2025 releases. What inspired you to create it? And where does the title come from?

There wasn’t one singular inspiration. It’s really a mix of all our individual influences - and not all of them come strictly from other musicians. We tried to tell a universal story about urban life and youth. It’s a rollercoaster through emotions - from struggle to joy - all happening in a fast and unforgiving environment.

The title reflects that concept. It's our report from the hood - our perspective, our lived experience translated into sound.

What was the recording process like?

We recorded the album in three days at a studio in Warsaw. The process itself wasn’t difficult, but preparing for it took months and was stressful, especially since we didn’t have much prior studio experience. Once we were there, though, it flowed naturally.

Any specific artists that inspired that particular record?

There are many to name, but some key ones include Lonnie Liston Smith, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, and Madlib.

There’s a lot of discourse around contemporary jazz right now. It feels like the genre is reaching younger audiences again, especially through artists like yourselves who blend new influences. What are your thoughts on the current state and future of jazz?

Jazz is always evolving, and we’re happy to see it happening so rapidly in front of us. Young people have rediscovered jazz globally. One factor could be the vinyl revolution - ten years ago, I thought it had peaked, but nowadays record-digging culture is stronger than ever among young people. It’s nice to see a real opposition to global streaming services and a return to physical formats.

The Polish jazz scene seems to be thriving. What’s driving that? A global resurgence or something local?

I think it’s a mix of both. The global rediscovery of jazz definitely plays a role, but locally there’s a strong tradition of Polish jazz and a new generation ready to reinterpret it in their own way.

You recently wrapped an electric set at ESNS and have more European dates lined up. How has touring shaped you as a band - and as friends?

Touring isn’t easy - we found that out quickly. It teaches you discipline and consistency. But it’s always fun, and we treat each other like family. Playing live definitely strengthens both the music and the friendship.

What’s on your playlist these days? Any artists we might be sleeping on?

Check out our Spotify playlist Burner Ringtones - that's where you’ll find what we’re currently listening to.

What’s next for Omasta?

Many things, but most importantly, we’re working on our second album right now.