I source inspiration from people, people, people says KÁJA in our INTERVIEW
Photos by Rony Thilakan
“I source inspiration from people people people! Culture - books - photography - poems - or even from nights of conversing over a few too many glasses of wine! ”
Kájo, how did you get to writing music?
Honestly, when I was 15 and wanted to make money to go see my then-boyfriend who lived in another country. I walked around Prague, going from bar-to-bar, handing out business cards I made using sparkles and glue guns with my information in hopes of getting a gig.
It was only after drum, guitar lessons and summer music camps in nature that I utterly fell for finding and writing my own sound. Now at 20 I can't imagine my life without it.
Do you write in English or other languages and how is writing in different languages different for you as a songwriter?
I would say my song writing process changes so much depending where I am currently based. I grew up in Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and now study between the UK & Spain… to put it shortly; where I live at the time of writing, I will write in that language and it just comes naturally!
My next stop is Portugal. I would love to learn the language, sing and write music in it.
Where do you source your inspiration from?
People people people! Culture - books - photography - poems - or even from nights of conversing over a few too many glasses of wine!
You performed ‘KOČIČÍ’ for us. Where and when did you write the song? What is the story behind it?
After a night of conversing over a few too many glasses of wine hahah - with the talented director/actor/poet/songwriter/writer Jane Scalabroni.
The song ‘KOČIČÍ’ is about the simple yet mysterious and adventurous life of a cat... From walking on sun-drenched rooftops to catching dust to being a secret agent of the shadows of the dark... That kind of spontaneous free life sounded more intriguing than the one in lockdown.
Also, Jane had a small crisis over the fact since she can’t have a cat, she would think what it’s like to BE a cat.
ACOUSTIC LIVE SESSION AT (A)VOID GALLERY:
How would you describe your music?
Still figuring out the sound I want to make ;) KOČIČÍ is more folky, but recently I also released an electro-style song and before that released some pop-style songs too. Right now I don't want to be limited to just one genre...So we will see…
Where do you perform more, in Czech Republic or abroad? What music scene do you prefer to perform in and why?
Any music scene – as long as the people are nice and willing to listen! But tipsy Czech people do have a soft spot in my heart to play to - especially hits like Včelka Mája or Hlídač Krav - the energy from that is something I miss…
Who are your musical heroes?
Changes depending on where I live. Because I live in Spain now, I listen to and get inspired by Spanish music/ bands. So right now, my musical heroes are Cesária Evora, Manu Chao, Devendra Banhart and a band I met at a flat party in Barcelona called The Zephyr Bones.
What do you do when you’re not playing music?
Dance like there's nobody watching me...
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
Never lonely if you’re surrounded by the right people!
Professionally, what’s your goal for 2021?
I have too many! But the pandemic taught me not to plan every detail of the future.. so for now enjoy anything that comes my way and keep writing music :)
And now 5 quickfire questions:
Photo Rony Thilakan
Name 5 top releases of 2020 you think are great songs to dance to.
Uff honestly I don’t tend to listen to poppydancy new releases-- but great groovy dance songs of all time: Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine (James Brown), Jump in the Line (Harry Belafonte), Makeba (Jain), Gettin’ Jiggy Wit it (Will Smith), El Cuarto de Tula (Buena Vista Social Club)
Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.
Frida Kahlo, Devendra Banhart, Zuzana Navarova
What superpower would you have and why?
Superpower that people can never lie to me so I can reaally know what they think of my music heheh
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Always try to make the best out of any situation & ask yourself ‘what is this experience trying to teach me?’
What wouldn’t you do without?
My mom
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