Steph & BB (aka Steph Kretowicz and Ben Babbitt) drop single ‘Lulajże, Jezuniu’, premiering on AQNB today. An excerpt of the karaoke-style rendition of a popular Polish Christmas carol appears on the respective writer and producer’s I hate it here sound piece, co-released by AQNB and CURL last month.
The audio-narrative—also featuring music and composition by felicita—follows a protagonist’s journey through the people and memories of the past that shape a person in the present. Dispersed across London, Los Angeles and, of course, Poland, it touches on folk traditions throughout eras, and religious and spiritual practices across regions. This particular song, translating to ‘Sleep Baby Jesus’ in English, is covered by Babbitt and Kretowicz, and dates back at least to the early 18th century. It has been referenced by countless artists throughout history, and was used as a motif in the middle of Chopin’s ‘Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20‘.**