interview with zofka
What´s the name of your band? zofka
Can you tell about your band?
Zofka – This is the name of the musical project created by Michael Ricar, composer and producer of music. The voice and the lyrics of Zofka are given from the sublime vocalist Myriam Russo.
The sound of their songs is new and fresh, futuristic and retro at the same time, a wonderful melange of electronic chanson and acid-folk- and trance-elements as they appear on their latest album MELANCHOLIA. Zofkas remarkable art is to make electronic music sound warm, expressive and full of emotions.
Michael Ricar, the head of Zofka, has been born in the Czech Republic and emigrated to Switzerland when he was a child. In the ‘80s, he has been playing keyboards in different groups such as The Balloons, Johnny Starr & The Starrfire, Ritual, Cyberia and many others – that’s where he developed his joy to experiment on electronic music. In 1989, Michael founded his own production company, „Pink Pepper Musicproduction“ and built up his own music studio, where his successful career as composer and producer of music and sounddesign for commercials and movies started – and where Zofka has beedn born.
Myriam Russo, vocalist, lyric-writer and co-composer, has been born in Italy and lives actually in Switzerland, too. She plays piano and guitar and has given her voice with her ever-soulful approach to such diverse famous artists as the genious Godfather of Dub, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry or DJ Bobo or Udo Jürgens and many more. In the ‘90s, she has been the wonderful leadsinger of the group “GiveGive“ and created other remarkables musical projects. Since 2002, she is the voice of Zofka.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band?
michael ricar czech republic / composer / producer / keyboardist / thereminist / founder
myriam russo italy / composer / lyricist / singer
goran kovacevic serbia / accordionist
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? none - just doing an album, a own music project since i’m a professional composer and i’m worked just for others only.
Where was your first gig? st petersburg russia
Where was the latest gig? zurich
Who writes your songs?
michael ricar: all instrumentals
michael ricar/myriam russo/ all songs
who writes the music who writes lyrics? myriam russ all lyrics
Who has the best since of humor in the band? mi, of course! ;)
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? zofka is unique! theres no genre zofka would fits in it.
Why did you pick that particular style? thats just me
What are your songs about? life
Do you write your own material or mainly covers 2 covers in 5 albums
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? bad girls, nice, bikini, chocolat, melancholia
Do you have any clips on YouTube?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt-DJomtViA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bptzO9g8dGA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4i8Z9CmMeM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHOS1_TtcjI
What year was the band started? 2000
What are your sources of inspiration? life
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums?
bad
its the end of independent music
especially for no-live-projects
What do you hold most dear? uniqueness
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? i’m a professional composer for films and events www.ricar.ch
What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? producing a 200 copies doubble vinyl with best of zofka
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment?
divan
a la folie
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? hope, insanity
Do you have any webpages? http://www.zofka.tv
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? be you
How do you view the musicindurty of today? like a snake that eats his own tail
How would you describe your sound in one sentence Finest electronic Chanson with a psychedelic approach
What is your favorite crappy instrument? theremin vox
Do you have anything to add? THANK YOU FOR DOING WAT YOU DOING!
