Biography & Press
Resina is the alias of composer Karolina Rec, a participant in Poland’s vibrant independent music scene since the late 00’s. Taking the plunge as a solo artist, Resina signed to FatCat’s pioneering 130701 imprint, with a debut album released in September 2016, and has steadily been making a name for herself through her striking, emotionally-resonant recordings and her powerful live performances. Her sophomore album ‘Traces’ was released in July 2018 to wide acclaim, with a review on Line of Best Fit calling it “thrilling and unsettling… A remarkable achievement.” The Guardian described it as “haunting,” XLR8R as “visceral, tense and thrilling” and Electronic Sound Magazine as ”an album that ultimately bastardises her instrument, but in such a way that the listener is never quite sure where it’s going. And therein lies the beauty.” Her latest EP with remixes by Ben Frost, Ian William Craig, Lotic and Abul Mogard was released on 31st May 2019. Honed through continual experimentation and seeking out unexpected characteristics of the cello alongside the use of looping, electronics, percussion and her own voice, Resina’s musical style is distinguished by both an adventurous, personal language as well as improvisation. Resina is currently working on a new solo and two collaborative LP’s – with Christina Vantzou and Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch.
The Guardian
Resina, AKA Karolina Rec, layers her cello in real time using looper pedals, mixing long drones with shimmering tremolo effects and staccato riffs, and occasionally singing in a ghostly wordless howl. The results are often haunting.
Electronic Sound
…an album that ultimately bastardises her instrument, but in such a way that the listener is never quite sure where it’s going. And therein lies the beauty. Superb!
The Vinyl Factory
An intoxicating return… On Traces, Resina appears to have grown in confidence, and the sound is more assertive, at times more directly emotive… Percussive elements, choral wisps and electronic may add a new level of intricacy to Resina’s already expressive manipulation of the cello, but its on the album’s quieter moments, like ‘Lethe’ that it soars highest.
XLR8R
Visceral, tense and thrilling.
