They were my treasures! Carefully purchased, collected, and preserved—a collection of cassette tapes on which I spent every spare coin. Of course, there were tapes featuring foreign metal bands, but the core of my collection consisted of Polish artists.

I remember eagerly awaiting every new album by the band “Wilki.” When their debut album appeared in 1992 and achieved platinum status, I became almost obsessed with the band. I bought every subsequent release and attended their concerts. Naturally, I also purchased tapes by other iconic Polish bands: “Hey,” “T.Love,” “Kult,” and “Myslovitz.” Whenever there was an occasion—birthdays, holidays—I would usually ask my loved ones to give me a cassette as a gift. Over time, my musical taste evolved, and I increasingly listened to Polish rock music—primarily, I believe, because I identified with the lyrics, rooted in the realities familiar to me at the time.

Daria, born 1976