Patrycja Vernhes (née Grzymałkiewicz; born March 26, 1980), known professionally as Pati Yang, is a Polish singer-songwriter. Over the course of her musical career, Yang has directed or contributed to a number of high-profile musical projects, from her solo project, which has released 4 LPs and 4 EPs, to the 13 film soundtracks she has appeared on, including Michael Winterbottom’s A Mighty Heart and Code 46, Richard Jobson’s New Town Killers and The Journey, and Hattie Dalton’s Third Star.

Pati Yang
Pati Yang in 2006
Pati Yang in 2006
Background information
Birth namePatrycja Grzymałkiewicz
Born (1980-03-26) March 26, 1980 (age 44)
OriginWrocław, Poland
GenresElectronic, trip hop
OccupationSinger
Years active1998–present
LabelsSony Music Entertainment Poland, EMI Music Poland

Career

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Born in Poland in 1980, Pati Yang spent much of the first 7 years of her life on tour with her stepfather’s iconic punk band, Lady Pank, whose overt opposition to Communism and Soviet influence made it a cultural cornerstone throughout Poland in the 1980s and the subject of government-sanctioned censorship.[1] At the age of 16, she left Poland and arrived in London with the intention of studying and writing music.[2] Her debut album, Jaszczurka, was released by Sony Music Poland in 1998 to critical and commercial success.

In 2001, she formed a musical duo with Stephen Dean Hilton, called Children. Based out of London, Children released their first EP on Mercury Records, and were covered in The Independent’s 2001 roundup of new electronic experimental artists. As her work with Hilton continued, Yang also appeared on David Holmes’s soundtrack for Code 46, which was nominated for Best Soundtrack at the 2004 European Film Awards.[3]

In 2005, she released the LP Silent Treatment, the followup to her debut solo album. Recorded at Air Studios in London, Silent Treatment raised Yang’s public profile tremendously – the album peaked at No. 14 on the charts in Poland and earned her a Fryderyk nomination for Best Pop Album of the Year. Shortly after, on June 9th, 2006, she was opening for Depeche Mode in Warsaw at Legia Stadium.[4]

Meanwhile, Yang and Stephen Dean Hilton continued collaborating under a new moniker, FlyKKiller. Under this name, they released their first album, Experiments in Violent Light, in 2007.[5] The self-titled single received praise from various UK-based music publications, including DMC World Magazine, NME, DJ Mag, and Hip Hop Connection. The single was proclaimed “Single of the Week” by BBC 6 Music, and FlyKKiller was featured in two BBC live sessions. Times Magazine named FlyKKiller the “Second Most Important Breakthrough Act” of 2007.[6]

In 2009, Yang's third album, Faith, Hope + Fury, produced by Stephen Dean Hilton, was released to critical and commercial success, topping the charts in Poland at No. 25. Her next album, Wires and Sparks, was produced by Manchester-based musician Joe Cross, who is most known for his work with artists such as Alex Metric, Hurts, and The Courteneers.[7] The album, released in 2011, received attention from BBC 6 Music, DJ Magazine, and Mixmag. Wires and Sparks topped the Polish charts at No. 38.

Today, Pati resides in the Mojave Desert, where she studies Native American medicine and sound healing techniques. Under the name Patricia Vernhes, she devotes much of her energy to installation and sculptural art, paintings, and sound art.[8] Noirmoutier, her experimental audio project with Nicolas Vernhes, “utilizes a variety of instruments, including a set of 20 binaurally tuned quartz bowls, synthesizers and analog tape delays, to create auditory experiences inspired by the laws of sound, hallucinatory resonance, and sound therapy.”[9] Yang also practices as a Yoga instructor, Reiki Master, and Ayurveda Yoga Therapist.[10] In 2015, she founded Mojave Desert Skin Shield, a small business based out of Joshua Tree, California, that produces sustainable self-care products.[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
POL
[12][13][14]
Jaszczurka
  • Released: October 12, 1998[15]
  • Label: Sony Music Entertainment Poland
  • Formats: CD
Silent Treatment
  • Released: October 1, 2005[16]
  • Label: EMI Music Poland
  • Formats: CD, digital download[17]
14
Faith, Hope + Fury
  • Released: March 27, 2009[18]
  • Label: EMI Music Poland
  • Formats: CD, digital download[19]
25
Wires and Sparks
  • Released: May 7, 2011[20]
  • Label: EMI Music Poland
  • Formats: CD
38
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title EPs details
Hold Your Horses
  • Released: September 17, 2012
  • Label: Godmama Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download[21]

Music videos

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Title Year Directed Album Ref.
"Jaszczurka" 1998 Piotr Rzepliński Jaszczurka [22]
"All That is Thirst" 2005
Silent Treatment [23]
"Stories From Dogland" 2009
Faith, Hope + Fury [24]
"Timebomb" 2010
[25]
"Near to God" 2011
Wires and Sparks [26]
"Hold Your Horses" 2012
[27]
"High Heels"
(Justyna Steczkowska feat. Pati Yang)
2015
Anima
(by Justyna Steczkowska)
[28]

References

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  1. ^ "POLISH BAND PLAYS THE CENSORSHIP GAME". Los Angeles Times. March 14, 1985. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  2. ^ robdead (September 17, 2012). "Review: Pati Yang - Hold Your Horses (EP)". NBHAP (in German). Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "Code 46", IMDb, retrieved February 5, 2022
  4. ^ "06/09/2006: Depeche Mode / Timo Maas / Pati Yang at Legia Stadium (Stadion Legii) Warsaw, Mazovia, Poland | Concert Archives". www.concertarchives.org. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Flykkiller - Experiments In Violent Light, retrieved February 5, 2022
  6. ^ "Pati Yang announces release date for second EP". www.aaamusic.co.uk. July 23, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Joe Cross". Discogs. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "A desert, a studio, a duality of objects: with patricia vernhes — FLORESTA Magazine". florestamagazine.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Noirmoutier". Patricia Vernhes. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Patricia Vernhes". Patricia Vernhes. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Organic skincare, sustainable clothing and handbags". Mojave Desert Skin Shield. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  14. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  15. ^ "Jaszczurka – Pati Yang – Muzyka – WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  16. ^ "Silent Treatment – Pati Yang – Muzyka – WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  17. ^ "Silent Treatment by Pati Yang on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Faith, Hope + Fury – Pati Yang – Muzyka – WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  19. ^ "Faith, Hope & Fury by Pati Yang on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  20. ^ "Wires and Sparks – Pati Yang – Muzyka – WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  21. ^ "Hold Your Horses (EP) by Pati Yang on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  22. ^ "Pati Yang, Jaszczurka – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Pati Yang – All that is Thirst – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ "Pati Yang – Stories From Dogland [Official Music Video] – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Pati Yang – Timebomb – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "Pati Yang – Near to God (HD) – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "Pati Yang – Hold Your Horses [Official Music Video] – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "Justyna Steczkowska feat. Pati Yang – High Heels – YouTube". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.