Video: Raphael Rogiński live at The state51 Factory

Raphael Rogiński is a Polish musician, guitarist, composer, and ethnomusicologist whose innovative work has carved a unique space in contemporary music. Known for his deep engagement with both traditional music and avant-garde experimentation, Rogiński has emerged as a transformative figure in the exploration of Jewish, Middle Eastern, African, and Central European musical heritages. His genre-defying projects draw on centuries-old traditions and reinterpret them through the lens of improvisation, jazz, and experimental sound art.

Born in 1980 in Warsaw, Poland, Rogiński studied classical music and jazz guitar, as well as music theory and musicology. However, what distinguishes him is not formal academic training alone but his profound commitment to ethnographic research. He travels extensively, immersing himself in the cultural contexts of the music he explores. His approach is rooted in listening — not just to sounds, but to the histories, rituals, and lived experiences behind them.

Rogiński’s Jewish heritage plays a significant role in his musical vision. Projects like Shofar (with Mikołaj Trzaska and Macio Moretti) delve into the mysticism and intensity of Hasidic nigunim (wordless melodies), Klezmer traditions, and Jewish liturgical music. Rather than reproducing these traditions in their historical form, Rogiński reinterprets them through noisy guitar distortion, modal improvisation, and minimalist textures. This fusion results in music that is both reverent and radically original. Rogiński's career resists categorization. He has been involved in a wide range of musical endeavors, from solo guitar works to large-scale collaborative projects. One of his most acclaimed ventures is Cukunft (Yiddish for “future”), a project focused on reconstructing pre-war Jewish music from Eastern Europe with modern sensibilities. In Cukunft, Rogiński melds punk energy with modal melodies, highlighting the continuity between the old and the new.

Another key project is Wovoka, named after a Paiute spiritual leader, in which Rogiński draws on Native American traditions, blues, and trance-inducing African rhythms. This ensemble exemplifies his fascination with the intersections of spirituality and sound, particularly in non-Western musical traditions. Rogiński is not a purist. His music frequently breaks the mold of traditional form, reflecting his belief that tradition is not static but something to be continuously reshaped. In his hands, tradition becomes a living, breathing entity — one that can speak powerfully in contemporary terms.

Raphael Rogiński is more than a guitarist or composer; he is a cultural mediator, a modern-day ethnographer, and a sonic alchemist. His work embodies a rare synthesis of intellectual depth and emotional resonance. In a world increasingly marked by cultural fragmentation and oversimplification, Rogiński’s music reminds us of the complexity, beauty, and enduring relevance of human musical traditions. Through his radical reinterpretations and thoughtful explorations, he continues to expand our understanding of what music can be — not just sound, but a bridge between worlds.