"I create the way I feel. I couldn't do something that goes against me," says singer and actor Vojtěch Babišta, who is releasing a new single, Wanna Try
The actor, model and former professional squash player Vojtěch Babišta is expanding his activities into another field - music. Under the artistic name VOYTEN, he officially started it this spring with his debut single Everything but the Rain. Today, on 28 November, he follows it up with the new album Wanna Try, in which he delves into the more intimate layers of his own experience. Loss, uncertainty, determination and an unexpected level of sensitivity meet in the song, which carries hope despite its darker tones.
"Wanna Try doesn't come from certainty, but from honesty - from the moment when you admit that you don't know what to do next, but still want to try," Vojta explains. According to him, the song does not have a classical repetitive structure. Rather, it flows, evolves and leads the listener through a story that grows with each verse and change of mood. "It's not just about making the lyrics sound good. They have to have meaning and carry emotion," he adds.
Unlike the debut, which was written in collaboration with musician Jakub Moulis, producer HITMYDM, known mainly from the pop and rap scene, is behind the production of Wanna Try. It's the difference between the two worlds that has ultimately resulted in a sound that feels fresh and outside the established templates of alternative pop. The visual design was completed by director Prokop Slezák, while the cover was designed by photographer Mia Křižková.
But why would a successful actor and former squash representative venture into an unexplored musical landscape? "I have been attracted to music for years. But I needed time to figure out how to do it my own way," he says. The year 2023 was a turning point for him - that's when the decision was made to take the plunge into music. "Music is another way for me to tell a story. And the more I'm in it, the more I'm drawn to it."
While Wanna Try is the main focus for today, VOYTEN already has another track in store - this time edgier, more energetic and brash. He reportedly has the entire album written out on his phone. In addition, he is planning new acting projects. The career of Vojtěch Babišta, who was born in 1996 in Ostrava and grew up in Hlučín, is branching out again. After years in front of the camera, on theatre stages and on international catwalks, the next stage is coming - authorial, personal and purely his.
In the lyrics of the new song you mention the inner struggle between loss and determination. What does "determination" mean to you personally and in what situations has it been most evident in your life?
Determination for me means continuing on the path I have chosen. Standing up for what I believe in, even in the darkest and most difficult moments. That even when you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, you keep going. I've had a few situations like that, in my personal and professional life. And there will probably be more to come.
You say that Wanna Try is not based on certainty, but on honesty. Was it difficult for you to bring that uncertainty to your music - and still remain authentic?
Honestly, no. I'm singing a real experience and a real experience, so I don't feel the need to hide anything or play at anything.
Your songs are not just about "sounding good". How does your songwriting process work - do the words come first, or the musical idea?
The lyrics always come first. The fact that I like to write and I write the moment something comes to me, hits me or an idea hits me, I start writing it down. And then I look for a melody. Then gradually it all starts to take shape into a song. I wrote the lyrics to Wanna Try about a year and a half ago. The chorus was even completely different from the final version, but the basic idea remained the same.
The producer HITMYDM is known more for pop and rap. What was it like to join forces with someone who comes from a different musical background?
HITMYDM and I have known each other for a while. After a few years of not seeing each other much, we ran into each other by chance outside, talked for a while and after about a month we decided to make a song together. And I'm really glad we did. HITMYDM showed me a new way of making music and how to think about it. And at the same time it opened a door in me that I needed to open. It definitely won't be our last collaboration.
You're an actor, a model, a former professional athlete. Do these experiences bleed into how you approach music?
Absolutely. Each of those experiences has given me something, and in music it all connects. Of course, so does acting - that's a big part of how I feel and express music for me. Everything complements each other, and the older I get, the more I realize that and am grateful for it.
Your first single was released symbolically on April 23, a date that coincides with your birth. Does symbolism play a big role in your life in general?
Yes. I believe in symbols, numbers and things that are around us. The date was a way for me to say that I was adding another layer to my artistic journey - another profession, another way of expressing myself.
You collaborated with Prokop Slezak on the video for Wanna Try. How did you work together to find a visual for a song that has so many layers?
Prokop and I have known each other for quite a long time and we have similar tastes and sensibilities. Having worked together on other projects, we knew how each of us works. We said we wanted something "dreamy", something where I can express myself more. And that's exactly what we started to build on.
You describe music as a way of storytelling. What can a song say that's different from film or theatre?
In music, I can express myself exactly the way I want to and say what I feel. It's purely my vision. In a film, series or theatre, I am guided by the script and the director. It's a team effort where I try to carry the story along with others. That's where I see the biggest difference.
You're going for a more energetic and "cheeky" piece. Is your musical identity changing with it, or are you more revealing different positions of one personality?
It's more like I'm discovering other positions that people don't know me in yet. I want to show other sides and surprise myself at the same time.
You say that you don't want to create according to trends, but according to yourself. How hard is it to stay true to your own direction in a time when algorithms determine what's "cool"?
I create the way I feel. Yes, I feel what's hot and what the algorithm dictates - but I couldn't do something that goes against me. I think it would be immediately apparent.
