This seven-piece collective lives and plays in Gdańsk, a northern Polish city where salty Baltic air mixes with student life and creative energy. Their sound is rooted in the 1970s, weaving together funk, soul, fusion and psychedelia, but it also carries electronic hooks, indie-pop twists and a laid-back rap flow. They debuted four years ago; since then, they’ve released two albums, a live record and countless singles. Their latest release, last October’s three-track Osaka Cuts, irresistibly blends all of the above while adding drum and bass lines and pseudo-Japan-pop melodies. Luxury cuts indeed.
It’s no coincidence that Klawo performed at last year’s Expo in Osaka or at the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, and even appeared on the American platform Tiny Desk Concerts. They share Poland’s rich contemporary scene with bands like EABS and Immortal Onion, and their name now resonates across Europe. They expand their “klawoverse” through playful music videos, profess a love for sauna sessions, Czech beer and “jednorymowy joint” – the title of one of their tracks. When asked in an interview with Full Moon magazine to describe their music in a single image, they didn’t hesitate: “A turtle eating watermelon on the beach.”