Doomed Confessionary: Jakub & Julia (Kanalia)
Kanalia is an experimental sludge/doom metal duo from Poland. 100% DIY.
The band released their debut album »Dead Paradise« in April 2024 which was followed by »Forgotten Desires« split with Undignified Cave in May 2024 and »Two Ballads About The Love Of Diseases And All Kinds Of Plagues« split with Mourning Souls in June 2024.
Kanalia consists of J.K. (guitars, bass) and J.B. (drums, vocals).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Jakub: Kanalia came together as a duo in the summer of 2023 with the intention of playing dirty and primitive sludge/doom metal. However, as we’ve developed and created more songs, we’ve found ourselves playing other genres of music (mostly drone, noise and grindcore) in addition to what we play now.
Julia: We formed Kanalia in August 2023. At first we were focused on playing mostly doom/sludge metal. Over time, the more rehearsals we played we started to implement other subgenres as well. Playing in a duet worked out well for us, we’re having fun and that’s all that matters.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Jakub: To avoid getting bored too quickly in the band, I believe you can’t force yourself to make music, as it can take away the fun. Our solution to overcome boredom boredom is to add other genres of music – currently we are recording a split in the style of drone doom.
Julia: For me the biggest challenge so far was time management. Managing my time effectively between rehearsals, gigs and academic responsibilities has been quite demanding. However, I’ve learned how to organize my schedules so that my musical aspirations and academic goals are met.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Jakub: What makes me happiest is the very good company in the band. Since we play as a duo, we had to come to an agreement, but we managed to do it very quickly and practically without any compromises.
Julia: So far, our proudest achievements include releasing a full album, putting out a demo and participating in a split release. More material is on it’s way. I’m also pleased that playing as a duet is working out very well. Beyond our musical performances, we’ve built a supportive partnership that extends into our creative process and everyday interactions.
What was your biggest regret?
Jakub: I regret not prioritizing Kanalia from the stars as I do now. Previously, I was more focused on my other bands, which did not bring me as much satisfaction as Kanalia doeas currently.
Julia: My biggest regret has been not promoting our band enough on social media. Looking back, I realize that we could have reached a wider audience if we had been more proactive in sharing our music and other content. It’s a lesson learned, and moving forward, I’m committed to investing more time and effort into our online presence to ensure that our music reaches as many people as possible.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Jakub: In fact, we’ve only played three shows, but each one is memorable for us. A debut is a debut, and it’s something you always remember, even if it wasn’t our best performance. With each subsequent concert, we’ve felt our skills on our instruments improve, so performance-wise, each show has been better than the last. The best part, however, is that we’ve met many amazing people at each concert.
Julia: We’ve only played 3 concerts by now. Each show was a special experience filled with positive energy. The audience was truly heartwarming, it was incredibly fulfilling to interact with our listeners. Positive feedback definitively strengthened our passion for performing. We met some fantastic people during this time, and we still keep in touch with them till this day.
These shows also thought us valuable lessons about stage presence, audience interaction and the impact of preparation reminding us of the importance of continuous improvement and learning from mistakes.
Photos by Sławo Mir Kaktus
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Jakub: I like that people from other genres appreciate our music. We’ve played at punk and grindcore shows and people enjoyed it, but we’ve also received positive feedback from those not involved in metal music at all.
Julia: I was surprised by how kind and supportive people are in this music community. It’s incredibly humbling and inspiring to hear positive comments. These moments of connection and appreciation from our audience continue to be a source of our joy and motivation.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Jakub: Currently I’m trying to catch up on all the Archagathus splits, I’m also listening to a lot of Finnish and Greek black metal (Human Serpent, Noenum), the new albums of Thou and Ulcerate. I also listen to a lot of Tenhi, which is one of my favorite bands.
Julia: Currently, I’ve been rotating through a mix of skate punk and death metal. Bands like Teenage Bottlerocket, 200 Stab Wounds or Edge Of Sanity have recently been dominating my playlist.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Jakub: “Do what you like. Making music for other people kills all the fun.”
Julia: “Play for yourself first” – While it is very important to connect with your audience, your primary focus should be on creating music that you love and that resonates with you personally. When you’re passionate about what you’re playing, that authenticity shines through and naturally draws people in, creating a more genuine and powerful connection with your listeners. That’s why I’m playing in Kanalia.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Jakub: I don’t have one, I try to do everything on a regular basis.
Julia: Pushing my body to the limits while working out and sleeping in during the week.
Can you say something more about the music scene in Warsaw / Poland?
Jakub: Very varied. A large part of the people from the musical underground in Warsaw are involved in several musical genres. As a result, you can play grindcore with a drummer who normally plays rockabilly.
Julia: There’s kindness and camaraderie among artists, venues and audience. This supportive atmosphere not only enhances the quality of music being produced but also makes it a joy to be a part of such an amazing music scene here.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Jakub: We don’t have any concert plans for now, we are focusing on recording material for our new album. Additionally, we both have jobs and studies, so agreeing a good date is not easy.
Julia: So far, we haven’t scheduled any concerts yet. The next ones will definitely appear soon.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Jakub: Make a lot of music and have fun doing it. We have a lot of ideas for Kanalia in general, maybe we will start making vlogs? Maybe we will start organizing sludge metal concerts in our city?
Julia: Recording more material and playing more concerts. Like Jakub said, we might start filming vlogs which might allow us to show behind-the-scenes moments fostering a stronger bond with our audience. We also aim to increase our live performances to reach more people and connect with our fans in person.
How can people best support your band?
Jakub: For me, the coolest thing about making this kind of music are the moments when someone praises your work, the simple words “great album”, they are so effective.
Julia: People can best support our band by attending our shows, purchasing our music and merchandise, following on social media and engaging with our posts. Their support helps us reach more people which motivates us to keep creating and performing music.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Jakub: If you are reading this, that means you are interested in Kanalia, and for that, I am truly grateful.
Julia: Support live music, small bands and your local music venues. We wouldn’t be around without your support for sure.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well