Ich Troje

Ich Troje (the name translates to “The Three of Them”) is a Polish pop band known for their catchy songs, theatrical performances, and vibrant style. Formed in 1995 by vocalist Michał Wiśniewski and composer Jacek Łągwa in Łódź, the group rose to national fame in the early 2000s. They achieved massive commercial success in Poland, including representing the country twice at the Eurovision Song Contest, and remain active nearly three decades later. Despite numerous lineup changes over the years, Ich Troje continues to tour, record music, and captivate an intergenerational fanbas.

Formation and Early Years (1995–1999)

Ich Troje was founded in 1995 under the leadership of frontman Michał Wiśniewski and musician Jacek Łągwa. The initial trio was completed by female vocalist Magdalena “Magda Femme” Pokora, who joined as the band’s first lead singer. In 1996, Ich Troje released their debut album Intro, followed by the sophomore album ITI Cd. in 1997. These early releases helped the band build a loyal fanbase with melodic pop tunes and heartfelt lyrics. By the late 1990s, Ich Troje’s romantic ballads and upbeat dance-pop songs were gaining traction on the Polish music scene.

Rise to National Fame (2000–2002)

Around 2000, a major lineup change set the stage for Ich Troje’s explosion in popularity. Magda Femme departed the group, and Justyna Majkowska joined as the new female lead vocalist. With Majkowska’s powerful voice, the band’s sound gained new appeal and quickly skyrocketed in popularity.

Ich Troje’s fourth studio album, Ad. 4, was released in 2001 and became a cultural phenomenon in Poland. The album debuted at #1 on the Polish sales chart and stayed at the top for a remarkable 18 consecutive weeks. Ad. 4 eventually sold over half a million copies, earning a Diamond certification in Poland. This album produced hit singles that dominated radio charts. The emotional pop ballad “Powiedz” (“Tell Me”) became one of 2001’s biggest Polish hits. “A wszystko to… (bo Ciebie kocham)” (“And All of This… Because I Love You”) also gained massive popularity. Ich Troje suddenly found themselves at the forefront of Polish pop music, drawing comparisons to earlier national pop icons.

Superstar status in Poland

The year 2001 cemented Ich Troje’s superstar status in Poland. Riding on their chart success, the band embarked on an extensive nationwide tour. Their concerts drew huge crowds (in some cases up to 200,000 people) as fans flocked to see the sensational live act.

Ich Troje became known for flashy, theatrical performances and melodramatic flair on stage, which earned them passionate fan support as well as some criticism. Wiśniewski’s penchant for outrageous costumes and brightly colored hair made the band visually iconic; during one 2006 show he even dyed his hair green as part of a sponsorship gimmick. Some music critics dismissed the group’s style as kitsch, even while acknowledging the phenomenon of their popularity. In one notable episode, Wiśniewski asked popular station Radio Zet to stop playing “Powiedz” after the station’s DJs made disparaging on-air remarks about the band. This made Ich Troje the first Polish artist to refuse national radio airplay of their own hit song. Despite such controversies, the group’s popularity only grew.

In 2001 they won the Audience Award at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole for “Powiedz,” and also took home the Grand Prix at that year’s Baltic States Song Festival.

Eurovision Song Contest Appearances (2003 & 2006)

Ich Troje gained international exposure when they represented Poland twice at the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2003, the band (still fronted by Justyna Majkowska) won Poland’s televised national selection and went on to perform the song “Keine Grenzen – Żadnych granic” in the Eurovision 2003 final. This dramatic ballad, sung in three languages (Polish, German, and Russian), carried a message of unity and peace. It earned Poland a strong 7th-place finish out of 26 entries.

Ich Troje returned to Eurovision in 2006 with a new lineup and another ambitious entry. By this time, vocalist Ania Świątczak (Wiśniewski’s wife as of 2006) had become the lead female singer, and the group brought in German rapper Olaf “O-Jay” Jeglitza (from the Eurodance act Real McCoy) to expand their onstage team. They performed “Follow My Heart” at the Eurovision 2006 contest in Athens, Greece. A high-energy pop song featuring lyrics in four languages (Polish, English, German, and Russian). Ultimately, however, Poland did not advance to the Eurovision finals that year. Ich Troje finished 11th in the semifinal, just one spot shy of qualification. 

Lineup Changes and Continued Activity (2003–2010)

Frequent lineup changes, especially in the role of the female vocalist, became a hallmark of Ich Troje’s story in the years following their Eurovision fame. Shortly after the 2003 Eurovision success, Justyna Majkowska left the group. She was succeeded by Anna Świątczak (also known as Ania Wiśniewska after marrying Michał) in late 2003. Świątczak fronted the band through the mid-2000s, a period during which Ich Troje released two more studio albums (6-ty ostatni przystanek in 2004, meaning “The 6th – The Last Stop,” and 7 grzechów głównych in 2006, meaning “7 Deadly Sins”). These records did not quite reach the multi-platinum heights of Ad. 4.

The band continued to score radio hits and remain a fixture in Polish pop culture. Notably, Anna Świątczak was not only the lead singer but also Wiśniewski’s spouse during her time in Ich Troje (much like Magda Femme had been earlier in the band’s history). By 2010, after several successful years with the group, Świątczak decided to part ways with Ich Troje.

After 2011

Following Anna Świątczak’s departure in 2010, Michał Wiśniewski and Jacek Łągwa forged ahead with a rotating cast of new vocalists. For a brief period in 2010, Norwegian singer Jeanette Vik joined as the lead female voice. She was succeeded by Justyna “Jazztna” Panfilewicz, who sang with Ich Troje from 2011 until 2013. Later in 2013, vocalist Marta Milan took over singing duties for a short time. Despite these rapid changes in lineup, the core duo of Wiśniewski and Łągwa never ceased their musical activities.

Throughout the 2010s, Ich Troje focused primarily on live performances and touring rather than new studio albums. Michał Wiśniewski also pursued a few solo projects during this era, but he always kept the band active. Ich Troje continued to draw crowds at concerts across Poland, proving that their theatrical pop show still had enduring appeal even as musical trends evolved around them.

Recent Years (2017–2025)

In 2017, Ich Troje embarked on a new chapter with yet another lineup change. A young vocalist named Agata Buczkowska joined Wiśniewski and Łągwa as the group’s latest female singer. That year, the refreshed trio released the album Pierwiastek z dziewięciu (translated as “Element of Nine”). Notably, this was Ich Troje’s ninth studio album and their first new studio release in nearly a decade. The record showed that the band’s trademark blend of pop, rock, and dance music remained intact, and it introduced Ich Troje’s music to a new generation of listeners. Buczkowska’s tenure with the band lasted until 2020, when an unexpected yet welcome change occurred: longtime vocalist Anna Świątczak returned to the lineup.

With Anna back on board, the band went into the studio once again and recorded Projekt X, released in 2022. The album’s title (with “X” as the Roman numeral for ten) signaled a milestone – it became Ich Troje’s tenth studio album. Even after so many years, the group continued to generate media buzz and draw audiences, demonstrating a rare longevity in the pop world.

Woodstock Poland

Ich Troje remains a popular live act in the 2020s, and their legacy in Polish pop music is firmly established. In mid-2024, the band was a featured performer at the 30th Pol’and’Rock Festival (formerly Woodstock Poland), one of the country’s largest open-air music festivals. Their set at the festival was a nostalgic highlight, drawing an intergenerational crowd of fans who sang along to the band’s numerous hits. A live album from that 2024 festival performance was released in 2025, underscoring Ich Troje’s enduring appeal on stage.

As of 2025, the group’s lineup consists of the two original founders, Michał Wiśniewski and Jacek Łągwa, together again with Anna Świątczak on vocals. After nearly 30 years since their debut, Ich Troje shows no signs of stopping: they continue to tour Poland and occasionally abroad, delivering the same flamboyant, high-energy shows that first made them famous.