bio
Marta Golka, born and raised in Poland, is an Amsterdam-based bass player and composer. She moved to the Netherlands in her early 20s to pursue education in music and has since earned her Bachelor and Master degree in jazz from the Conservatory of Amsterdam (the latter in 2022). As a side player in various projects, she performed on such festivals and stages as Paradiso, Patronaat, Amsterdam Dance Event, Into the Woods, Jazzfest Amsterdam, Meer Jazz Festival, Het Landjuweel and others. Since 2022, she is primarily active as a leader and working on 3 projects of her own: Josef Kowalsky – contemporary instrumental jazz quintet incorporating complex rhythms and catchy harmonies, ata sama – a soulful r'n'b project with minimalist vocals and a hint of djent, BLoom – pseudo-classical solo bass guitar repertoire. Each of them defies boundaries of genre and explores the possibilities beyond the beaten track.
During her master studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Marta conducted artistic research on deriving compositional tools from progressive metal and using them in the context of contemporary instrumental jazz. This work has become defining element of her compositional style and she continues to explore the topic and develop her skills under the guidance of some of the well-known composers and arrangers. In 2024 her master thesis got nominated for the Belle van Zuylen Prize for the best artistic research in music in 2021/22.
An important aspect of Marta's artistic identity is her being on the autism spectrum as it strongly influences how she perceives and understands music. The presence of patterns is dominant in her compositions, they often intertwine with one another and the interaction between them is what makes Marta's music extraordinary. The social aspect of being autistic is also present in her work. Through her music, she explores the topics of alienation, communication noise and homelessness of the soul in today's overstimulating world.
Marta is currently working on the material for Josef Kowalsky's second EP and the production of the first solo single as ata sama.