Emerging from Warsaw’s underground music scene, Mastak is more than just an independent vinyl label or event space. It is a cultural platform built around music, community, and genuine exchange between artists and people.
Founded two years ago by two individuals who wanted to create a more accessible entry point into the scene, Mastak has grown into a space that brings together a vinyl store, music education, events, and label activity. Through its first vinyl release, upcoming projects, and connections with artists across Poland and Europe, Mastak continues to create opportunities for both emerging and established artists. For newcomers, it serves as a gateway into the scene, while for experienced artists, it provides a place for collaboration and cultural exchange.
At the core of Mastak’s philosophy is a simple idea: music matters more than connections, and quality matters more than trends. Rather than focusing on networks or exclusivity, Mastak believes that a real scene is built through a strong community where artists and listeners can learn, experiment, and grow together.
In this interview, Mastak shares the story behind its creation, its perspective on vinyl culture, the values they look for in new artists, and their vision for building a more open and meaningful music community in the future.
Why did you create Mastak Records?
Mastak came into existence because we experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find a clear entry point into the industry. When you’re just starting out, it often feels as if everything happens behind closed doors: you don’t know how to get on stage, who to send your music to, or how the system actually works.
At some point, we realised it would be easier to build that environment ourselves. Not only for us, but for other artists who find themselves in the same situation.
We wanted to create a space where artists aren’t simply given an opportunity to perform, but are supported in their growth: developing their material, shaping their own perspective, and understanding how the scene functions.
What sets Mastak apart from others?
Probably the absence of a fixed formula.
Mastak is not just a label, not just a space, and not just a series of events. Above all, it’s an approach.
We grow alongside the people around us. We learn how to work with artists, what quality really means, how a scene is built, and what role a community plays within it.
And there’s one more important thing: connections don’t determine opportunities here. We don’t ask who you know. We ask what kind of music you make.
Vinyl in 2026 — why is it still important?
Because vinyl forces you to slow down.
Today, music is consumed incredibly fast: endless releases, algorithms, and a constant stream of new material. Vinyl demands a different relationship with music. You have to be certain that this is the music you truly want to preserve in physical form.
For us, it’s not about nostalgia. It’s about responsibility and paying close attention to what you choose to release.
What is the scene lacking today?
Accessible entry points.
There are countless talented people. What is missing is an environment where they can learn, make mistakes, gain experience, and grow without having the right connections behind them.
More often than not, people don’t lack ability — they lack opportunity.
What was the biggest lesson from your first release?
That from the outside, everything looks much simpler than it actually is.
Our first release taught us just how many processes are hidden behind a single record: manufacturing, communication, deadlines, and responsibility for every decision made.
It also taught us something else: most things cannot be understood in theory. You have to experience them yourself.
What do you look for in new artists?
Honesty and a distinctive voice.
Technical skills matter, but curiosity, the desire to evolve, an obsession with music, and the ability to avoid copying other people’s solutions matter even more.
We’re interested in people who genuinely have something to say through their music.
How do you discover new names?
Very simply — we listen.
People send us demos, we follow the local scene, and we pay attention to recommendations from people we trust.
But our answer is always the same: “Send us your SoundCloud.”
The music should speak for itself.
What makes an underground event truly powerful?
A sense of authenticity.
It’s when people don’t feel like consumers of a product, but part of a shared experience.
Good sound, thoughtful programming, and attention to detail all matter, but the most important thing is an atmosphere of trust and the feeling that what’s happening exists not because it’s trendy, but because there is a genuine need for it.
Where would you like to see Mastak in five years?
We would love to see Mastak establish its own intimate spaces in different cities and countries.
Not as expansion for the sake of growth, and not as a chain of identical venues, but as small points of connection for local communities — places where people can meet, learn from one another, experiment, and feel part of something bigger.
We want to create environments that preserve closeness and a human scale, regardless of whether they exist in Warsaw or somewhere else.
If, in five years, Mastak can bring people together across different countries while maintaining its openness, honesty, and genuine care for artists, that, for us, would be real growth.
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