Rafał Stanisław Kamiński (born November 8, 1990), known professionally as Ralph Kaminski, is a Polish singer-songwriter experimenting with musical styles, including alternative pop and chamber music. Recipient of the Grzegorz Ciechowski Artistic Award of the City of Toruń (2020) and two nominations during 26th Fryderyk Awards Gala.
Ralph Kaminski | |
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![]() Kaminski in 2019 | |
Born | Rafał Stanisław Kamiński (1990-11-08)November 8, 1990 Jasło, Poland |
Alma mater | The Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Codarts University for the Arts |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2010–present |
Website | ralphkaminski |
Kaminski was born and raised in Jasło. His mother is a teacher. He has a younger brother, Wiktor. His cousin is a fellow singer Michał Szpak, although Ralph himself has never confirmed this.[1]
He developed an interest in music as a child. At the age of 11, Kaminski started attending vocal classes at the Jasło Cultural Centre. He studied art and music before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 2010. Kaminski graduated from the Jazz and Popular Music Department at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk. He also studied at the Pop Department of Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam.[2][3]
In 2009, he appeared in one of the episodes of TVP2 programme Szansa na Sukces, performing a song by Perfect "Objazdowe nieme kino".In 2012 he took part in the second edition of the TVN talent show X Factor; he performed Norah Jones' song "Don't Know Why" during the auditions. He was eliminated at the bootcamp stage.[4]
On June 6, 2016, he performed at the "Alternative Stage" concert during the 53rd National Festival of Polish Songs in Opole. On November 14, he released his debut studio album entitled "Morze". The album was promoted with the singles: "Podobno", "Zawsze", and "Meybick Song". In 2017, he performed at the Open'er Festival, and in June 2018, he performed at the Orange Warsaw Festival.[5]
In 2019, he won the final of the 40th Actor Song Review (Polish: pl:Przegląd Piosenki Aktorskiej) in Wrocław, thanks to his "Welcome To Our Fairytale" performance from the musical based on Academy of Mr. Kleks, and "On the Corner" written by Agnieszka Osiecka.[6] In August that year, he performed at the Pol'and'Rock Festival. On November 22, he released his second studio album entitled "Youth", which reached number 17 on the official sales list in Poland.[7]
In the spring of 2017, he fell ill with depression.[8] He talked about the illness and two years of psychotherapy in the song "D Club" from his album Młodość.[9] He is a vegetarian.[10]