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Justyna Steczkowska facts for kids

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Justyna Steczkowska
PrepartyES - Justyna Steczkowska 01 (cropped 3).jpg
Steczkowska in 2025
Background information
Birth name Justyna Maria Steczkowska
Born (1972-08-02) 2 August 1972 (age 52)
Rzeszów, Poland
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • violin
Years active 1992–present
Labels
  • Pomaton EMI
  • EMI Music Poland
  • QL Music
  • Luna Music
  • JS Music

Justyna Maria Steczkowska, born on August 2, 1972, is a famous Polish singer and songwriter. She has represented Poland twice in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her first time was in Eurovision Song Contest 1995 with the song "Sama". She returned to the contest in Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with her song "Gaja".

Life and Music Journey

Starting Her Musical Path

Justyna was born in Rzeszów, a city in southeastern Poland. She is one of nine children in her family. Her father, Stanisław Steczkowski, was a music teacher and conductor.

When she was five, her family moved to Stalowa Wola. There, she went to a special music school. She later studied at a music academy in Gdańsk but decided to focus on singing instead. Before becoming a solo artist, she played the violin in her family's band. She also sang in rock and jazz groups.

Her Big Break with "Boskie Buenos"

In 1994, Justyna tried out for a TV talent show called Szansa na sukces (which means Chance for Success). She won the show by singing "Boskie Buenos (Buenos Aires)" by the band Maanam.

Later that year, she performed her song "Moja intymność" at a big music event, the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. She won a main award there and was praised by a famous Polish singer, Irena Santor.

First Time at Eurovision

Because she was a promising new artist, Justyna was chosen to represent Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995. Her song was called "Sama", which means "Alone". It was a thoughtful and a bit sad song. She finished in 18th place with 15 points.

Her Famous Album Dziewczyna Szamana

After winning another festival in July 1995, Justyna started working on her first album. She worked with Grzegorz Ciechowski, a well-known musician.

In March 1996, her first solo album, Dziewczyna Szamana (meaning Shaman's Girl), was released. This album mixed spiritual ideas with jazz music. It was very popular and received great reviews. Songs like the title track, "Grawitacja", and "Oko za oko, słowo za słowo" became her most famous hits. In April 1997, she won four Fryderyk awards, which are like Polish Grammys!

Changing Sounds and Working with Others

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Justyna performing in 2016

After her first album, Justyna released Naga [pl] in 1997. This album was a bit more hopeful but still had a touch of sadness. In 1999, she created the music for a film called Na koniec świata.

In 2000, she released Dzień i noc [pl]. This album showed her trying out new electronic sounds. She worked with other famous Polish singers like Katarzyna Nosowska and Edyta Bartosiewicz on this record.

In 2001, Justyna released an album called Mów do mnie jeszcze [pl] with Paweł Deląg. On this album, they used poems by famous writers like William Shakespeare.

In 2002, she released Alkimja [pl]. This album was inspired by Ashkenazi Jewish culture and featured songs sung in different languages like Hebrew. It won her another Fryderyk award.

In 2004, she released Femme Fatale [pl]. On this album, she sang her own versions of songs by famous female singers like Marilyn Monroe and Édith Piaf.

Justyna has released many other albums over the years. These include Daj mi chwilę [pl] (2007), Puchowe kołysanki [pl] (2008), and Szamanka [pl] (2022). She also made albums for children, like Puchowe kołysanki 2 [pl] (2013). She has also worked with other artists on albums like Mezalianse [pl] (2011) with Maciej Maleńczuk.

Witch Taroharo and Eurovision Return

Justyna Steczkowska, ESC 2025 PL preselections 06 (cropped)
Steczkowska at Polish preselections in 2025

On December 29, 2023, Justyna released a song called "Witch Taroharo". She performed this song to try and represent Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. She came in second place. "Witch Taroharo" later became the title song of her album, released in November 2024. This album explores themes from Slavic myths and nature.

The next year, she won Poland's national competition to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. She sang another song from her album, "Gaja". This meant Justyna represented Poland again after 30 years! This long gap between her Eurovision appearances broke a record. She made it to the final of the competition on May 17, 2025, where she finished 14th with 156 points.

Other Activities

Besides singing, Justyna has also acted in movies like Billboard. She has appeared on many TV shows. In 2007, she was a runner-up on the Polish version of Dancing with the Stars. She also co-hosted the Polish version of Dancing on Ice in 2008.

She has been a coach on The Voice of Poland for several seasons, and two of her contestants won the show! Since 2024, she has been a judge on the Polish show Your Face Sounds Familiar. Justyna has also worked on advertising campaigns and designed her own clothing line for girls. She also helps with charity work.

Her Impact and Awards

Justyna Steczkowska is known for her amazing four-octave vocal range, which means she can sing very high and very low notes. She has won many music awards throughout her career. These include six Fryderyk awards, two Wiktor awards, and a Superjedynka. She also received the Bronze Gloria Artis Medal, which is a special award for artists in Poland. She has often been named one of the most valuable stars in Polish show business by Forbes Poland.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Justyna Steczkowska para niños

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