Hello Lucie! At the beginning of our chat please present us, Polish listeners and readers your music way.
I started in a band called 'Docuku' - we focused mainly on traditional music from our region -Walachia (in Czech Valašsko), Moravia, Slovakia etc. I played on mandolin and sung. Than I started to make my own songs and played it with guitar or mandolin - I would describe that as folk songwriting. Two years ago I established a band (called Garde), started to play electric guitar and moved more towards rock music. At shows I´m singing and switching between acoustic and electric guitar and mandolin which is not so commonly used so I hope it´s interesting for the listeners.
How do you call your music? I found in internet, in Youtube channel your track 'Lavicka'. Under this video somebody wrote, that this is Nirvana and Radiohead with folk costume. How would you comment on it?
I really liked this description, it pleased me! I would describe our music as folk-rock. It´s hard to talk about music, it´s better to listen.
Let’s talk about the newest stuff, 'Krizovatka'. When and where did you meet Tim Eriksen?
We met last year at the festival Folkove prazdniny (Folk holidays) in Namest nad Oslavou. He was playing there solo with his actual stuff which is mainly „Sacred Harp“ singing - american traditional songs. We talked a lot after the show, became friends, stayed in touch when he got back to USA (he lives in Massachusetts) and then, when I started to look up for a producer, it felt quite natural to ask him first if he didn´t want to produce it. I was very happy because Tim is very experienced and acknowledged musician and it was so great cooperation!
How was your work on this album going, where did you find the inspirations?
I have to say that I don´t write the lyrics much, I only have one at this album. I´m cooperating with 3 lyrics makers, the main is my friend Radka Bzonkova. Usualy I have the text first and then I try to find the right melody for it. Sometimes I invent the music ouside, the nature inspires me, but mainly I work at home with my guitar. I also have to say that if I have some deadline, I´m really more productive
Is this a concept album or a collection of free, non-connected songs?
Yes, there is a concept: Krizovatka means Crossroad and there is a story in the texts. It is a story of a woman that, being young, was busy with the problems like 'where to find the right boyfriend', 'how to spend as much time as possible with friends' etc. She is now becaming older and she considers more serious issues in her life: how to keep the relationship or the marriage, how to deal with a child, or more philosophically, where does she belong, where is her place/home. She kind of stands on the crossroad, leaving her teen-age girl troubles behind and becoming an adult woman.
Tell us please about your musical inspirations, especially folk ones. I know, that you played song 'Balkanska' with The Walls Brothers band. How does the folk music influence your art?
Well, I´m from Walachia, a region full of folk songs and traditions. My grandmother used to sing and dance in a folk group and though I didn´t, the music was and is all around me. We also did this kind of music with Docuku (I played with them 8,5 years) so I´m sure that there must be some influences. I also sing one traditional Slovak song on my new album (but I wrote the music myself). So I guess it´s something natural for me though I focus now more on my own songs.
You played, as a guest, on Traband’s album 'Neslychane' which was released last year. Please discover it for us.
I know Traband for many years, they are the top folk/rock band here so the offer to record few songs with my mandolin for their new album really pleased me. They play as four piece band (guitar, trumpet/keyboards, tuba and drums) and have very unique sound. Sometimes, when I´m around, I also play live shows with them as a guest, it´s great experience and fun!
Traband, The Walls Brothers, Tim Eriksen... You have been playing with the Garde group too. With whom also have you been working in the music field ?
Well, I think this is mainly all. I already mentioned my first real band Docuku.
Is Krizovatka a continuation of your earlier albums, especially the ones released with Docuku band - or is this different piece of your music world? I mean style, music and lyrics...
I think I already explained... With Docuku we released two albums and it was all about traditional/folk songs. But my first solo album 'Prvni, psledni' ('The First, The Last') included the songs that I wrote myself and the same with this Krizovatka.
Guitar, mandolina... Do you play any other instruments?
Yes this is all, I play both acoustic and electric guitar (telecaster). I always wanted to play the piano and now I finally have it at home so I wish I had the time to learn it!
What about your concerts plans for the nearest future? Are you going to come to Poland too?
There will be a four-day tour in May to promote the new album and I have great news - also Tim Eriksen will fly over again and join us at the shows! He´ll play some of his songs too and we´ll play all together, so I´m really exited about it. Then we have quite a lot of other shows till the summer so I´m happy to promote the album. I´d love to come to Poland, we used to play there with Docuku few years ago - do you have some tips where to go??
And at the end of intie - please tell some warm words for Polish fans of Czech folk music.
I´m really happy to hear that there are some Polish fans interested in Czech culture! I hope to play in Poland soon and to learn a bit of Polish - so far I can only say that I really "kocham gofry s truskawkami!"*
Thank you very much.
*) - I love waffles with strawberries
