kaja draksler

pianist composer

Kaja Draksler Photo by Sara Anke

I was born in a small village in Slovenia and grew up in the countryside. My father was a train driver, my mother is an accountant. I have a younger brother who became an engineer.

At the age of 18 I moved to The Netherlands for music, the idea won over my plans to study Latin and old Greek. A few years later, I was immersed into the rich world of Amsterdam’s improvised music scene, which complemented my studies of classical composition in a great way. After 13 years in Holland, I moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, stayed there for 5 years, and recently moved back to Trboje, my home village.

Welcome to my website.

for bio and cv please scroll down

 

 

News:

My Octet just recorded a new album past April. The release is planned for the end of this year. Here are two of the new pieces we played at our first concert during the residency: Skylark and In Kyoto.

I am honoured to be part of a compilation album called GAZA, a charity release for Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund. Please support if you can.

In October 2024, I held a residency at Hradec Kralove. Two excerpts from the solo organ concert are available here and here.

Czajka & Puchacz was featured on Kamizdat compilation album Access Frame: Authority on the occasion of Netlabel Day. The audio release is digital and it includes an offset printed zine with liner notes by Nina Dragičević.

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On Innovation and the Future of Music (and art), a collection of interviews is out digitally and in printed, 200 copies limited edition. The zine features drawings by Szymon Gąsiorek and is designed by Maga Ćwieluch.

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RECENT VIDEOS:

Kaja Draksler Octet: Skylark

Kaja Draksler Octet: In Kyoto

matter 100 at Neposlušno: Flood Plain

Premiere of matter 100: at the Bimhuis

matter 100 in rehearsal: True/False

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If you would like to receive my newsletter, send an email entitled "Newsletter" to kaja@kajadraksler.com. Thank you!

Agenda

May 28 Punkt.Vrt.Plastik at Loft Loft
Wißmannstraße 30, 50823 Köln, Germany
May 31 with Ada Rave and Sun Mi at Splendor Splendor Amsterdam
Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 116, 1011 LX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jun 3 with Ab Baars, Michael Moore and Onno Govaert at ImproCafe/playing Misha Association Hall 100
De Wittenstraat 100, 1052 BA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jun 18 Variacije na Goldberga na festivalu Spider Plečnikov avditorij
Pod turnom 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jul 4 Solo specijal na Ciklu 10° Rudnik Sitarjevec
Sitarjevška cesta 46, 1270 Litija, Slovenia
Jul 15 matter 100 at IJP Lodz Wytwórnia
Łąkowa 29, 90-554 Łódź, Poland
Jul 16 Draksler/Bach/Masecki at IJP Lodz Wytwórnia
Łąkowa 29, 90-554 Łódź, Poland
Aug 27 with Samo Kutin and PARL at Neforma Španski borci
Zaloška cesta 61, 1110 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sep 27 Petter Eldh's Kammar Koma Frauenfeld
Switzerland
Oct 12 To Pianos at Exploratorium exploratorium berlin
Zossener Str. 24, 10961 Berlin, Germany
Nov 4 matter 100 at Jazz Fabriek Rüsselsheim
65428 Rüsselsheim, Germany

Downloads

  • “Draksler is one of the most potent musical minds of our time.“

    Quietus

  • “The young Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler shows off a wealth of sturdy ideas and nonchalant technique on this stunning solo recording.”

    Downbeat

  • “/.../ the young Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler pulls together information from a century of experimental music and jazz. She also makes rhythm a priority, and reminds you subtly that she knows what she’s doing. /.../ It’s hard, or maybe impossible, to predict where she’s going to take you. That’s not so common from a young musician.”

    New York Times

  • “Draksler brings austerity, subtlety and poignancy with her fluid piano playing and rings through in bright, rich textures.”

    Irish Times