Wrexham's well-known Polish translator releases debut album

AN INTERPRETER well known throughout Wrexham's Polish community has released her debut CD.
Monika Thomas, who works as a translator for the police and the Caia Park Partnership, has, in the past, turned down the opportunity to sign for EMI in Poland to continue working in the UK.

Now she has released her debut set of songs, all performed and written by herself.

Partner Paul Evans, who Monika met through the Caia Park Partnership, said: "It is pop music really, but all the tracks are in Polish. She wrote and performed everything on it."

Mark believes the album, which is available to buy at Wrexham's People's Market, could be a big hit among the native Polish population.

"She's very well known in Wrexham – everyone who's Polish knows her because she gives advice to Caia Park migrant workers and also does work for the police.

"We're talking to retailers like Tesco and HMV in Wrexham at the moment to ask them to stock it."

Although not signed to a label yet, Monika has already turned down the opportunity to sign with a company in her homeland in order to stay on in the UK.

Paul said: "Whenever she goes back to Krakow she performs in cafes – she's got her own fanbase there.

"She's been writing her own music since she was 16 and it has always been a dream of hers to have career in it. She was actually offered a contract by EMI in Poland but it would have meant going back over there so rather than wait for a label here we have decided to put it out ourselves."

Monika's debut album Teraz Albo Nigdy, which translates as Now or Never, is out now and is available from her website, at monikathomas.co.uk, from online retailer CD Baby or from Alun Hughes at Wrexham People's Market.