Polish rock duo Partyzant performed concerts in Tehran on 28-29 April. The performances took place at Vahdat Hall. Partyzant is composed of guitarist father Krzysztof Toczko and his drum and cajon player son, Mikolaj. Toczko started his career in the legendary Polish rock band Dzem.
When did you decide to have world tours?
Krzysztof: Our first performance was in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a group performance with a number of German rockers and musicians. They liked our performance and even made a short film about us. That encouraged us to go on world tours.
Why did you choose to perform in Iran?
Mikolaj: I like Iran’s culture and we wanted to see it up close and personal. We took the chance when the Polish embassy in Tehran invited us to perform over here.
How did it go?
Mikolaj: I have performed in many other countries. Each one was a great experience for us. But Iran was a different experience. This was our first time and it was fresh. It felt like we were playing in Poland. We never felt like strangers. The crowd used to sing the melodies with us. They were very friendly and enthusiastic.
Krzysztof: We were very emotional on the stage. Audiences liked our performance and gave us standing ovations.
What type of audiences did you have?
Krzysztof: There were kids, young adults, and adults. They were particularly interested in watching us play. Polish kids are not like that. They never pay attention to the kind of music we play. Our main audiences are always adults, unlike here. It’s an honor to be here. We love the Iranian culture. They pay so much attention to music.
What type of music do you play?
Mikolaj: We play different music and styles. This includes rock and metal. I like metal but my father is mostly interested in classic Iranian and Polish music. However, this never causes friction between us. Quite the contrary, it helps us to improve and connect with each other.
You have your own style and technique when performing on stage. Tell us more?
Mikolaj: We have our own unique techniques. And we have developed them all by ourselves. For instance, my father plays guitar while holding it flat. He plays guitar using pencil. It’s the same style you use to play dulcimer. We are a rock duo, but we play as if it’s a big rock group. Father plays two guitars simultaneously. They are stuck together.
Why do you choose this particular technique?
Mikolaj: The whole idea is to create good sounds and good music from the instruments. It is important for any musician to create the best possible sound out of his instrument. Before performing it on the stage, we always try and rehearse different techniques. This way we can choose the best one close to our purpose. We always use a technique that gives us the best sound and the best performance.
Does this attract the attention of your audiences?
Mikolaj: It is important for musicians and artists to connect with their audiences. It’s their top priority. A musician wants to get the best mark from them. He wants to get them satisfied. We use these particular techniques because we want to connect with our audiences. You see, music and technique are part and parcel of each other. You cannot separate them. Music comes from technique and technique comes from music. This is what we mostly emphasize and concentrate on.
Did you also perform in Iran without rehearsals?
Krzysztof: We played with an Iranian singer named Masoud Saeidi. This was an interesting experience for us. We performed on the stage without any rehearsal.
Any plans to perform with others as a bigger rock band?
Krzysztof: As a rock due, we understand and feel each other. This is a plus point for any rock band. This kind of closeness and affinity helps us to connect and to cooperate closely. We know each other well and we learn from each other during rehearsals. You cannot have this kind of close relation with others. A father and son rock band gives us much better feelings on the stage. We tried to add some other musicians to our group but we could never make that special connection with them.
Mikolaj: My father always wanted me to attend a music school. He bought my first guitar when I was just a kid. I used to hit the strings while laying it on the floor. Father realized I liked to play drums. So he bought me drum sticks. I used them to rehearse. If I’m playing drums now it’s because of that childhood experience.
Translation by Bobby Naderi