Outside The Academy

Outside The Academy is Pawel Cholewa (pronounced Pa-vell Ho-liv-er); a nomadic producer and multi-instrumentalist who has “the balance between experimental and euphonics just right” (Jae Salmon – 4ZZZ).

“Outside The Academy is about sustaining moments of suspense and euphoria. His echoey mix of rock/electronica embodies heavy breathing and minds expanding” (Sarah von Bock – Happy Music Blog).

After playing within the stream of indie rock, electronic and folk bands in and from his hometown of Melbourne since the mid 2000s, Cholewa, in 2014, decided to roll solo with the release of his debut self-titled EP “Outside The Academy”, which was written, recorded and produced independently in the anomalous seclusion of tropical Queensland.

“The paradox in his music is sublime, eerie compositions laced with electronics; it's music that is aching to be the married to a David Lynch flick” (Leona Devaz – Weekend Notes).

OTA spent much of 2014-16 touring the east coast circuit and performing at a number of music festivals across Australia. At the beginning of 2016 Cholewa teamed up with Canberra drummer Nicholas Peddle (Fun Machine, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens) in the construction of the sophomore EP “Second-Guessing” - released March 2017.

Meddling with the minimalist production of glitchy beats, loops, samples and layered melodic guitar Cholewa creates a full ensemble-like presence, whilst interlacing and intertwining experimental and ethereal elements to create his own ubiquitous school of sound.

Cholewa is currently based in Melbourne, producing much of his music together with Steve Tyssen (King of the North, Greenthief), whilst also teaching and attempting to finish his PhD in Creative Writing and Literary Studies.