"Some things you carry inside for a long time - and then you need to let them out." Actor Vojtěch Babišta releases debut single
Vojta, you say that music has been with you since childhood. What was the impulse to finally give it space now?
Music has always been there, but for a long time I kept it in the background. I've been doing other things - acting, travelling, gaining experience. Only over time did I find the courage and the need to give it a voice and express something really personal through it.
Everything but the Rain is your debut single - what made you release such a personal song first?
It was more about a feeling than a plan. Some things you carry around for a long time and then there just comes a moment when you need to let them out. And "Everything but the Rain" is kind of my first step out.
What was the biggest change in your perception of the story you're telling during the creation of the song?
It all started when Jakub Moulis and I sat down and started talking about life. About things that happened to us. We had a few sessions together where we tweaked and rewrote the story until it started to make sense. And even though the lyrics changed a few times, the original emotion was still there.
The music and lyrics feel very raw and authentic. What was it like for you to reveal your emotions like that?
Surprisingly, it wasn't difficult. When you have people around you that you trust, opening up is natural. It was actually quite a cathartic experience for me, and it stayed with me throughout the whole process.
How would you describe Jacob Moulis' role in the whole process of creating Everything but the Rain?
It was great. Jacob composed the music and brought a tremendous feeling to the whole process. He gave me the space to be myself and never pushed me into anything I wasn't feeling. We trusted each other a lot.
Why did you choose English as the language for your debut?
English was a natural choice for me. Actually, we never decided whether to sing in Czech or English - it just came out that way. And I would like to continue with it. I lived abroad for a while and I often work with English in acting as well.
The artistic name VOYTEN - what all does it carry?
It came from various nicknames that people started giving me abroad, because my Czech civilian name was hard to pronounce. Voyten was repeated most often, so I just appropriated it.
Musically, you don't limit yourself - what does genre freedom mean to you and what musical influences meet in you?
Music gives me the space to be myself. Whether it's pop, alternative or rock, it's always the emotion the song conveys that's important to me.
You've been acting for years. How does that experience influence you in creating your own music?
Acting has taught me how to work with emotion and story. But while in front of the camera I speak through the character, in music it's purely me. That's the big challenge - and the freedom.
What are you up to in the near future?
Musically, I'm working on another single that I'll share with you soon. As for acting, I've done a film called Manipulation and I also have a new project in the works - but I can't reveal more yet.
