JOANNA JAKUBAS 

A Journey Through Music and Emotions

Joanna Jakubas is a name that resonates with versatility. As a crossover vocalist, lyricist, songwriter, and producer, she gracefully navigates various musical genres, creating her own path in the world of music.

Joanna’s music foundation was set at the Manhattan School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree. She then, refined her craft at the Royal College of Music in London, graduating with a Master of Music in Advanced Vocal Performance.

Her stage debut came at the prestigious International Jan Kiepura Music Festival, an event organized annually by the renowned Polish music critic Bogusław Kaczyński. This successful performance led to collaborations with the Cracow Philharmonic and a special appearance at Andrea Bocelli’s concert in Warsaw. Her artistic debut earned her the Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Award for “Best Singer’s Debut of the Year” in 2011.

Throughout her career, Joanna had the pleasure of performing in esteemed venues such as the Warsaw Congress Hall, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Witold Lutosławski Concert Hall of the Polish Radio, as well as the National Opera in Warsaw, working with conductors such as Jerzy Maksymiuk and Jose maria Florênco.

Film enthusiasts remember her from roles in: Wojciech Wójcik’s “Randka w ciemno” (Blind Date), Ryszard Zatorski’s “Los Numeros” and Robert Gliński’s “Kamienie na szaniec” (Stones for the Rampart) where she had the opportunity to work with the Oscar-nominated cinematographer Paweł Edelman.

Her artistic journey led her toward an extraordinary opportunity to perform in the Ennio Morricone’s concert at the Cracow Arena, where she performed a piece from Roland Joffe’s film “The Mission.”  In 2015, she also made her debut at the Opera Bastille in Paris, portraying Kate in Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly.”

In 2017, Joanna performed at the Transatlantic Film Festival, organized annually by oscar-winning composer for “Finding Neverland” Jan A.P. Kaczmarek. That same year, musical and opereatta fans could watch her in the roles of Cosette in “Le Miserables” and Wanda in “The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein” at the Music Theater in Lodz.

December 2021 saw the release of Joanna’s EP “White Christmas.” The EP, available across all digital streaming platforms, found a warm reception, with its tracks frequently aired by Radio ZET and Radio 357. In a listener survey by Radio ZET, the album’s songs were ranked among the top selections.

Joanna Jakubas’ first studio album “My New Wings,” released in 2022, was a significant moment in her career. Recorded at London’s prestigious AIR Studios Lyndhurst and the legendary Abbey Road Studios, mixed by Simon Rhodes and mastered by Simon Gibson, it was musically produced by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek.  Within the album, Joanna is accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices choir, acclaimed for their contributions to iconic films such as “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” and “The Lord of the Rings.” The album’s lead single, “Spente le Stelle,” earned her a nomination in the “Best Song” category at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in the field of neo-classical music.

Joanna ventured into new musical territories in 2024 with her first pop single, “Brand New Courage.” This song, for which Joanna wrote the lyrics, is a piece about self-discovery. Produced by the recognized songwriter-producer team Hotel Torino, known for producing chart-topping hits, it invites listeners to embark on their own courageous journeys.

This fall, Joanna released her second studio album “Authentic Self,” featuring thirteen pop songs co-written by the artist herself. For some of the songs, Joanna had the pleasure of working with Michał Jelonek and Marek Kościkiewicz, an excellent musician and one of the co-founders and leaders of the iconic Polish band De Mono. Marek Kościkiewicz also assumed the role of music producer for the album, which was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. The mixing of the tracks was performed by Paul Pritchard, while the mastering was carried out by Alex Wharton—both from the Abbey Road Studios family.

The songs on the “Authentic Self” album are characterized by a sense of freshness, while the emotionally charged lyrics touch on topics most important to the artist: sincerity, depth, and women’s strength. Joanna often emphasizes that “Truth is the foundation of everything precious and significant in life: love, friendship, feelings, and a deeper understanding of one another. Authenticity is the first and foremost step toward creativity. Art loves the truth.”

Joanna Jakubas’ career is evidence of the power of genuine musical expression. Her musical journey, filled with constant development and the exploration of new genres, encourages listeners to keep discovering new sounds and to listen to their own emotions.