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Moving abroad to start over or look for better opportunities is among the most daring journeys a person can take in life. Most of the time, that path is not easy but quite challenging. It can turn people off or change their minds when it comes to pursuing their dreams. And we all know - don’t we? - that sometimes we must put our passions aside or on hold, and instead of doing what we love, we do what we must to make ends meet. However, life has always a bright side.

Sebastian Mackowiak’s journey abroad had a bumpy start 15 years ago when he moved to London. At that time, he was a young DJ already playing music in several big clubs from Poland. He came to the United Kingdom for a short visit, but he soon decided to try his luck in the capital city. Sebastian had little knowledge of English, but he was endowed with huge ambition, patience, and a lot of optimism.

“It was very difficult because my beginning here was terrible. I started my first job here in the Turkish warehouse, a fast-food distribution company, and it was tough. I had to work during the night for over a half of year.”

He succeeded in gaining good financial stability by building a business in plumbing.

“I think I’m most proud of the fact that I didn’t run in the beginning when it was so hard and tough. And I’m proud that I managed in 15 years of being here to invest my hard work and the money I earned from it, and that I managed to open my own company.”

Despite of life struggles, his passion for music remained as strong as ever, being influenced and inspired by famous DJs such as David Guetta and Boris Brejcha. The desire to play and make music grew even higher.

“The best moment is every time I’m performing, and I see that people are dancing and are happy. They are grooving with me; they are feeling the energy.”

During the lockdown, while the world’s pace slowed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions, Sebastian started to focus more on his passion.

“The real journey started last year when we got in lockdown, and then so many people went out as livestreaming, so I’ve done music streaming. Also, I decided to carry on lessons of mixing, music production lessons, and piano lessons.”

Moreover, after so many years of long hours spent to build up a safe future for himself and his family, Sebastian, now 38 years old, made up a plan: to produce and launch his extended play record (EP) of house and tech-house music, with some tribal sounds and beats, under his own label.

“I felt that I’m financially all right, so I can reduce the quantity of work I do and then carry on my passion for music. This is what I love; this is what I feel. This is what fills up my mind and my soul! So, till now, I have done all of that. I have my private teachers and, yeah, through one year, I managed to finish 6 of my own tracks.”

His first beat launch is right around the corner.

“My first single Martini, made after one of my EP tracks, is a combination of house and piano and afro percussion, and it will be played during a boat party on 23^rd of July. And soon, my beats will be played on the radio here, in the UK, and Ibiza, as well. I don’t know if I will ever earn from it, I can’t say that I will. I don’t care and I don’t mind, because I’m not doing this only for money. I’m doing this mainly because it’s worth it to fill up my soul.”

And if one man’s passion can bring joy and positive energy to the house and dance loving crowds, then we can say that at least one mission is accomplished.

The biggest supporters in carrying on his dream to produce music are his family members. Nadia, his wife, makes sure he has plenty of room to express his creativity and that every stream and gig is promoted.

“I’m really proud of my family that I managed to get at some point, the fact that I have a family and I can support them, and obviously that I found a way to carry on my passion. My wife helps by sharing my streams and does whatever is necessary to promote me.”

His 7 years daughter Samanta enjoys playing the piano with him, while his son Patryk, only 3 years old, is amazed by techno beats.

Maybe the most important lesson to learn during all these years for Sebastian, but also a big reminder for all of us, is...

“Do not lose yourself in sort of work subject! Do not push everything to the limit. Everything that matters is your health, and everything that matters is your family. Everything that matters is also your passion because that is going to give you satisfaction in life. And this is what I’m going to do till the end of my life: I want to do music!”

Fingers crossed for you, Sebastian, from all of us at Opal Transfer. We cannot wait to move to your beats! Thank you for sharing your passion and your life story with us!

We are always happy to promote our hard-working customers and their achievements, and we hope that those will serve as inspiration to other people.

Opal Transfer supports the community of expats since 2003 by transferring money to and from 41 countries in Europe and Asia. Moreover, our multicultural team can offer friendly advice and support to people who come for the first time in a new country and look for a shoulder to lean on. So far, Opal Transfer has succeeded in bringing joy to more than 930,000 people.

Life is our inspiration. Join us. Feel inspired.