Many people in Czechia still associate Slovak singer, songwriter, and guitarist Katarína Knechtová with the band Peha and its major hit Môj Bože. Yet that chapter came to an end eighteen years ago, and since then she has released five solo albums. This summer, she will be performing not only in Slovakia but also in the Czech Republic.
What is your relationship with the Czech Republic?
I love the Czech Republic. I really enjoy Czech audiences, your hospitality, your love of music, your beautiful countryside, and your beer. (laughs) I feel at home there, and I am always happy to perform in Czechia.
Do you have any favourite places here?
I come to the Czech Republic often and always enjoy my time here. Every region, city, and area has something special to offer. But if I had to choose my favourites, they would be Český Krumlov, which has an incredible atmosphere for me. I have been there several times, including once on a rafting trip down the Vltava River, which was a wonderful experience. Then there are Mikulov and Valtice – amazing cycling routes, vineyards, and above all, wonderful people.
Last winter you performed in Prague with the Šarišan Folk Ensemble. What did you present to the Czech audience?
It was a special production called RO©K NA DZEDZINE, combining folklore with modern rock elements. It was a performance full of energy and temperament, involving eighty artists – dancers, singers, and performers. The audience had a unique opportunity to experience traditions and customs from eastern Slovakia throughout the entire year, all presented with a modern twist.
Do you enjoy traditions?
If I look at that question through the lens of music, I have to say that I love old folk songs. They have stories, depth, honesty, and never pretend to be anything they are not. They reflect everything people experienced at the time. They are also closely connected with nature and the changing seasons. There is a certain humility towards life in them.
You have also collaborated with Šarišan on the music and dance project PUTO. What was that project about?
PUTO was a unique music and theatre project that brought together me, the Šarišan Folk Ensemble, and my band. “Love, and the bonds that unite us will never be broken” was the motto and central idea of the entire tour and its story. It was about our bond with the land, our homeland, our friends, our family, other people, and our traditions.
During a performance with the Šarišan Folk Ensemble.
Will you be performing in the Czech Republic this summer?
This summer, my band and I will perform at numerous music festivals in Slovakia as well as in the Czech Republic. We also have several exciting concerts scheduled at Slovak castles. During the summer, we mostly perform festival sets with my band, but there will also be concerts accompanied by a symphony orchestra, as well as purely acoustic performances. It will be a very diverse season.
How is your new album coming along?
I am gradually putting the material together. Sometimes it comes more easily, and at other times the process is slower. I do not want to release anything without careful thought because I care deeply about everything I put out into the world. So I am not announcing a release date yet. At the moment, I have a new single out called Diaľky, co-produced by Christian Eigner, the drummer of Depeche Mode.
You often wear beautiful dresses on stage. Who designs them?
I dress according to the type of event. For concert tours, I have dresses custom-made by fashion designers. On my most recent tour, I worked with Fero Mikloško. Festival performances are different because they involve a more energetic set and usually take place outdoors in hot weather, so the outfit has to combine originality with comfort. In everyday life, I prefer simple and comfortable clothes.
You have never hidden the fact that you are a believer. Is faith important to you?
Faith is something deeply personal to me. It is not tied to any particular form or set of rules. I see it more as trust in something greater than ourselves. Sometimes that faith is stronger, sometimes weaker, but it is always there. During difficult times, I naturally turn to it. It can mean something different to every person, but I believe it is very important to have faith in something – for example, in the meaning of our existence. Life is something I see as very fragile. Birth and death are natural parts of it, and although we cannot always understand them, we gradually learn to accept them. As the years go by, I appreciate the value of the present moment more and more. I try to live more in the here and now, and perhaps worry less about things I cannot influence. It is a lifelong learning process.
How do you perceive love, which you sing about so often?
I see it as the fundamental essence of life from which everything else flows. It is not something that can be defined by a single definition. It constantly changes, yet it always teaches us something. It is an energy that transforms us.
Katarína during her pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Katarína and music
“I cannot remember a specific moment when I decided to become a singer,” says Katarína. “Music had always been part of me, so it happened very naturally. Rather, I felt that I simply could not exist without it. Looking back, I think it was a form of manifestation. I sang, imagined myself performing concerts, tried writing songs and my first lyrics, and experimented with different musical instruments. I never dreamed that one day it would become my real profession and that I would be able to make a living from music. My parents influenced me the most, especially my father, who played bass guitar in a band. I remember him taking me to rehearsals. We had a microphone, sound equipment, and various musical instruments at home, and I loved exploring them all. At primary school, it was my mother who patiently practised the piano with me. In the end, what my parents gave me most was the freedom to be myself.”
CV BOX
Katarína Knechtová (born March 14, 1981, in Prešov) is a Slovak singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Until 1997, she was a vocalist with the Prešov-based band IMT Smile. She then founded the band Peha together with drummer Martin Migaš and guitarist Karol Sivák. In 1999, the band released its debut album, Niečo sa chystá.
That same year, Peha won the Discovery of the Year award. Two years later, Katarína received the Aurel Award for Best Female Singer.
In 2005, she won another Aurel Award for Best Female Singer, and in 2007 she received the OTO Award for Best Female Singer of 2006.
She left Peha in 2008 to pursue a solo career.
reklama
