Łukasz Federkiewicz, performing under the stage name Kortez, is one of Poland’s most compelling singer-songwriters. His voice and lyrics have earned him four Fryderyk Awards and multiple platinum albums since bursting onto the scene in 2015. He perforned nearly 800 concerts across Poland and has a loyal fanbase drawn to his authentic storytelling. Mainly, Kortez built his career on emotional honesty rather than commercial trends.
Biography
Kortez was born on June 24, 1989, in Krosno, Poland, though he spent his childhood in the small village of Iwonicz in the Podkarpacie region. Growing up in an artistically nurturing household shaped his musical sensibilities from an early age. His father worked as a precision instruments mechanic but spent evenings playing guitar and singing from handwritten notebooks to young Łukasz and his sisters. His mother pursued pedagogy and art therapy while painting as a hobby, reportedly listening to classical music throughout her pregnancy.
The artistic environment extended to his siblings as well. His older sister Katarzyna became a visual artist, while younger sister Regina studied music, learning piano and cello. Despite financial constraints that delayed formal training, Kortez’s parents encouraged creative expression in all three children.
His musical education began at the music school in Krosno, where he studied piano and trombone. He later graduated from the University of Rzeszów with a degree in Art Education in Music. Interestingly, guitar came to him later in life. Inspired by American musician Citizen Cope, he taught himself guitar in 2013 at age 24.
Before music became his livelihood, Kortez worked various jobs to make ends meet. He taught rhythmics at a kindergarten, but when that salary proved insufficient, he took on physical labour. Construction sites, logging work in the Bieszczady mountains, and even security shifts at Biedronka discount stores filled his days while music filled his nights.
Career
Kortez’s musical recognition began with a bit of trickery. In late 2013, his sister convinced him to attend a casting for Must Be the Music in Rzeszów. Though he didn’t pass the eliminations, Paweł Jóźwicki, head of Jazzboy Records, recognized his raw talent and signed him in April 2014.
What followed was remarkable productivity. During his first two-week studio session in Warsaw, Kortez recorded 66 demo songs. His first public performance came in November 2014 at club Kontakt during the OPOLE Songwriters Festival.
In March 2015, he released the Jazzboy Session EP featuring “Zostań,” the breakthrough single that established his signature sound of poetic melancholy wrapped in stripped-back folk-rock arrangements. The song gained traction on Polish Radio Trójka, setting the stage for what came next.
His debut album “Bumerang” arrived on September 25, 2015, and exceeded all expectations. Produced with longtime collaborator Olek Świerkot and featuring lyrics co-written with Agata Trafalska and Roman Szczepanek, the album achieved triple platinum certification. It swept award season, earning Kortez the Fryderyk Award for Phonographic Debut of the Year 2016, along with the Mateusz Award from Polish Radio Three and the Anna Jantar Award at the 53rd Opole Festival.
His second album “Mój dom” dropped in November 2017 during a personally turbulent time, as his first marriage ended in divorce that same year. The nine-song collection processed relationship breakdown with unflinching honesty, its cover art inspired by Breakout’s legendary “Blues” album. Like its predecessor, it achieved triple platinum status. “Mini dom” followed in September 2018 with seven additional tracks from the same sessions, including “Stare drzewa” from the acclaimed film “Kamerdyner.”
The career-defining moment of 2018 came through Męskie Granie Orkiestra, where Kortez joined superstars Dawid Podsiadło and Krzysztof Zalewski to record “Początek.” Written by Zalewski, the song became the most successful Męskie Granie anthem ever, claiming number one on annual AirPlay charts and achieving diamond certification. It has amassed over 150 million YouTube views. At the 2019 Fryderyk Awards, “Początek” won both Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year.
After a five-year gap between studio albums, Kortez returned with “Naucz mnie tańczyć” on November 10, 2023. His most ambitious work features collaboration with the Polish Soloists chamber ensemble under Sebastian Czaja, expanding his sound with orchestral arrangements. The album debuted at number two on Poland’s OLiS sales chart and earned gold certification by January 2024. Critics hailed it as his most complete and mature work, with the track “Znikam” drawing comparisons to the emotional impact of debut hit “Zostań.”
The accompanying tours sold out immediately. All 28 shows of the fall 2023 tour were gone before the album even released, with spring, summer, and fall 2024 tours continuing the streak.
In 2025, Kortez launched the “Bumerang ’25/’26 Tour” to celebrate a decade since his debut album. The tour features complete performances of “Bumerang” alongside his first EP material, offering fans a nostalgic journey through his origins.
Throughout his career, Kortez has performed at major festivals like Open’er and sold out venues across Poland. His musical style blends folk intimacy with rock depth, too introspective for mainstream pop yet too accessible for underground experimentation. His deep, slightly rough voice carries lyrics exploring loneliness, failed relationships, and life’s transience.
Personal Life
Kortez guards his personal life carefully. He married young and had his first son, Jonatan, in 2012, dedicating the tender song “Joe” to him. Following his 2017 divorce, he remarried and now has three sons total, including two children from his second marriage.
He protects his family’s privacy zealously. His current wife’s identity remains undisclosed, and family photos never appear on his social media. In a 2024 interview, he simply stated “Mam trzech synów” (I have three sons).
His Instagram (@kortez_z) features approximately 118,000 followers but only professional content like tour announcements and artistic photography. His official Facebook (facebook.com/kortezjazzboy) and YouTube channel maintain similar professional boundaries, with over 190,000 subscribers and 485 million total views. On Spotify, he draws approximately 600,000 monthly listeners, with “Hej Wy” alone exceeding 55 million YouTube views.
Net Worth
While no verified net worth figures exist publicly, Kortez’s commercial achievements are substantial. His estimated net worth stands at approximately $3 million USD, derived primarily from album sales, sold-out concerts, and projects within the Polish music scene.
His three multi-platinum albums, one platinum, one gold, and diamond certification for “Początek” represent significant sales in Poland’s music market. His concert-focused business model generates primary income through ticket sales rather than streaming alone, with sold-out performances at theaters and amphitheaters across Poland year-round.
He remains signed to Jazzboy Records, the independent label that discovered him in 2013, suggesting loyalty over maximum commercial exploitation. Film soundtrack work, including “Stare drzewa” from “Kamerdyner” (which won the 2019 Fryderyk for Illustrative Music), provides additional revenue streams.
