Her undeniable talent notwithstanding, Ola Turoń will be facing several major competitors throughout the show. It is already visible, after several battles we saw last weekend with singers from four teams led by Edyta Górniak, Maria Sadowska, Andrzej Piaseczny and the duo Baron and Tomson, that the resident of Wroclaw is now facing an uphill struggle. However, given her musical and vocal talent, her experience performing live and her zest and determination, there is no reason not to believe that Ola will do her best to dazzle several million viewers watching the show.
See how Ola Turoń swept the jurors of her feet in the blind audition stage
Sometimes yes, sometimes no
Ola is native to Oleśnica. Several years ago she chose Wroclaw to complete her studies. And she did, with an MA in journalism. "I have to admit I regret one thing. I regret not having selected the Academy of Music or other artistic studies," says Ola. "But when the time came to decide about my future I chose to focus on music, which, despite being always with me, may not be something I will always be pursuing in the future. So I also need Plan B."
However, it is now music that she wants to pursue as her future career. She took up a job as a hairdresser to pay for her singing classes and to simply pay the rent. Now she knows how to wash, dye or style her customers' hair. When we ask if she sometimes hums along while at work, Ola says she does so only in silence, but she really likes to have a nice chat with her customers.
We also find it nice to speak to Ola, who is herself a relaxed and open person, with no false pretences. She knows she can sing, and she simply loves music. This comes as no surprise. This amiable young lady has been friends with music throughout her entire life. "My parents enrolled me at music school when I was four," she says. "I learnt how to play the violin and the drums," she adds. When asked about this unusual choice of musical instruments, she says that by choosing the drums she tried to express her adolescent rebellion. "When I decided I wanted to be a tomboy. I also liked the way you can relieve all the tension," says Ola.
Singing she can do, even a cappella
As she started her studies in Wroclaw, Ola Turoń also signed up for private singing lessons to improve her vocal skills. She says that your voice is like a musical instrument that you have to tune regularly to achieve the ideal sound. The sound you need to sing Janis Joplin's repertoire a cappella at the precasting stage in the programme, since this is how she stormed through preliminaries, with no musical accompaniment to rely on. "The jury liked my interpretation, and I was asked to perform one more tune," she says. "And since I've got millions of them in my mind and regularly sing them at banquets, receptions or club [she performs live with a cover band called Lime and in a duet called Acoustic Cookies with guitarist Michał Szablowski; editor's note], I had only a moment's hesitation which song to choose," she adds. "I put Kayah as one of my favourite artists in my application survey, so I chose her repertoire for a second helping. Millions of viewers saw what happened next in the blind audition stage.
Shooting The Voice of Poland with Halina Mlynkova
"I think I couldn't choose better by joining Maria Sadowska's team. She has loads of charisma and is also really knowledgeable. And she is also really involved in what she does with her pupils. She is serious about what she is doing. She can be tough sometimes, but she is good as gold," Ola praise her mentor. "And what I find particularly crucial is that we have similar musical tastes, which really helps us to get along.
You can soon see the results of their collaboration or if Ola is capable of fulfilling her mentor's expectations when she enters the ring to win the next vocal duel in the programme. This is quite likely to happen even this Saturday. Watch and keep your fingers crossed!
How to make them hear you
Ola has been singing since childhood using deodorant cans, at family get-togethers, school celebrations, various competitions (her parents discovered her potential and kept their fingers crossed for their daughter and her talent). The tradition she set up is now continued by Matylda, Ola's nine-year-old and equally talented sister. "She simply adores the theatre and has been successful at nationwide declamation contests. She also dances," says the elder sister, who knows best what road to cover to achieve her desired and seemingly unattainable goal.
The Acoustic Cookies can be seen and heard live at Schody Donikąd in Plac Solny
"I made several unsuccessful attempts to get to The Voice of Poland, I would attend castings wherever I could, and I slipped virtually unnoticed through X Factor. Now that I have finally made it, I'll do my best no to lose the chance and not to let down both my friends and family and my fans who vote for me on TV," says Ola. You are more than welcome to give your vote to Ola. Those of you who wish to find out more about Ola Turoń or would like to listen to her live should visit the singer's Facebook profile. And also feel free to join her upcoming concert at Wroclaw's Vertigo Jazz Club. The show starts at 8 pm.
Photographs: A. Cichosz, Facebook
