Surma

SURMA

Interview conducted October 15, 2020

SURMA is the new metal project/band of Viktorie Surmová (Bohemian Metal Rhapsody (CZ)) and Heri Joensen (Týr (FO)). Our goal is to lift your spirits out of your everyday humdrum and high into the sky with our epic music.

What is your upbringing?

Viktorie Surmová : I grew up in the forest with my parents. I spent my childhood among the animals we had and among trees. We moved away when I was 13. My childhood was very lovely. I was a very lucky kid. Nice parents, nice older sister, and animals. And my dad is a big rock/metal fan, so he educated me in this area from my birth.

How did you discover music?

My parents are/were listening to music all the time! My mum even said that I was singing first and then I learn how to talk. Also, my granddad who tragically died when I was young was a professional violin player so he is my „angel of music “.

How was it to play Popelka in the play Zdeněk Zahradnik?

Oh, it was lovely! My first main role ever! I met Zdeněk a few years ago and he helped me to get into the conservatory in Prague. He saw something in me and mentored me. The mentoring began with Popelka (Cinderella) opera.

How did you start to write music?

I am not the kind of writer that sits down and starts to write sheets of music. But I come up with melodies quite randomly. I think it began with my very first band when I was 14yo.

How did you get your start playing cello?

I was studying cello for 11 years from when I was 6yo. My parents saw I have a thing for music and the cello was the option back then.

How did your first band Dejection of Angels start?

 Oh, you did some serious digging! I grew up in the forest with my parents until I was 13. Then we moved away into the village and I started to get to know local people. One family, Podroužkovi, had a rock/metal band and they were looking for a singer, so I tried.

Was Martin Beck (Induction) the first symphonic metal band in which you played cello?

I think so, yes.

How did you start Surma?

My previous band, Surmata, was not active anymore. The band members started to have other priorities and everything took a long time. I wanted to have a band and do it for real, not just to fill the time after the job or school. When I met Heri in 2016 he suggested me to make my own band. Later he said he is going to help me with the song recording and writing, so he did.

How did your band form?

I met Heri in 2016 when he had a tour with Týr. I was helping with a concert organization in Prague so I met the whole band. When the band left Heri started to chat with me and later he came to visit me in Prague and that’s how it all began. Because we both love music and Heri wanted to help me with my ideas and my dream to have a band, we simply started to work together on the debut album. While we lived in the Netherlands for some time, we asked Rens Bourgourdien to record bass for us and drummer, Aleksandr Zhukov, joined us this summer during the video shooting.

How would define Surma in 5 words?

Epic, melodic, hopeful, straight-forward, and… bioluminescent! (Ok, not literally, but we kinda own that word now)

What was the goal of the band at the start?

The goal was to make an album, get signed by a record label, and start touring. Also, to make some people happy with our music.

Has that goal changed?

It did, we made the first two so now we are waiting for the touring part. We hope that we made some people happy with our music already. I would add one goal and that is to grow as a band. To get better and bigger.

What was your first performance at like?

I actually do not remember. My memory is not the best. I guess I was nervous and not that the performance was not really good. I was around 15yo and I had no experience with anything, really!

What makes a good songwriter?

Well, that’s a really good question. The most important part of songwriting is to come with a good melody. Catchy one. It is huge plus to know, how harmonies work of course, and to have some structure. Some bands like messy sound. A lot of instruments and noises and other original things, but I am not sure this is what resonates with most of the listeners.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

The very first song I remember I made completely is „Desire “and i tis actually on our upcoming Surma album! I used to play this one with my previous band, but it was never recorded so I wanted to do that now. It is song about my heart being broken when I fell in love with one musician during my teenage years.

Tell me about your latest single “Until it Rains Again”?

It is along with „Desire “the only song on the album, that is not inspired by sculptures.
I wanted to make a song about depression or about bad times in general. I wanted to point out that no matter who you are, everyone goes through bad and good times. Life is about being on the rollercoaster. But the important thing is to do not let the bad moments get you down for good. Things will improve and you should never lose hope.

Why did you do the video for the song in an open field?

Because our two original plans failed! We found interesting locations for the video shooting, but it was logistically impossible to make it with the drums. So, we used the first place we were at.

What is your favorite track on the album?

It used to be Until it Rains Again, but now it is Downfall!

Why would you like to have been in the Kobra and the Lotus video Velvet Roses?

Ha! Because I love video effects and this is full of them! Also, it looks like they had a great time together!

How do you stay healthy while performing?

I try to dress warm when I am cold. I drink a lot of tea and doing warm-up of my body and of my vocal chords.

What is Bohemian Metal Rhapsody?

It is project of Radim Pařízek, drummer of legendary Czech metal band Citron. There are 7 singers and a metal band with 2 cellos, so it has something like a rock opera “concept. The whole performance is quite big. Fire, big screens, and scenario.

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

I mean, I personally love it because I am addicted to music and streaming makes it much easier to reach all the music anytime. But on the other hand, the deal streaming platforms have with musicians or the publishing companies that represent artists is just horrible. It honestly doesn’t pay artists enough for all the work they do. We work months for free to create music and when we finish it, almost no-one wants to pay for it.

Digital vs. vinyl?

Vinyl for the look and digital for the availability.

As of today, Oct. 14. How do you feel the Czech government is handling the virus? With 129,747 cases of the Covid-19, 1,106 died, and with only 59,901 recoveries. And the first wave ending on Sept. with the second wave starting. Do you think it is a good time for kids to be going to school?

I honestly don’t know. I am tired of the whole situation and I am not an expert. I had Covid-19 a few days ago and it was not nice but also not dramatic. I also understand that this virus can do worse things to others. The virus is not going to disappear any time soon, so I don’t think this drama is going to help the situation. I am just waiting for what’s going to happen next.

Studies are showing that because of COVID-19 many students who were ready for college have decided to hold off because many schools are doing virtual school and changing the same amount for school as they would for on-campus classes. Do you think colleges should give some type of discount for these students?

I think they should. I am not a fan of virtual teaching. Some people just can’t get the information from this style. I would lose my concentration after 10min. Teachers do not get the full amount of money from schools here for virtual teaching. I am not sure how it works abroad.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

Like my song or any song? I am just listening to Iron Maiden, so that is literally a song in my mind – 2 Minutes to Midnight. Iron Maiden was the first concert I’ve been to, btw.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

Well, touring will be difficult maybe for years to come. Live streaming will become more common, but I don’t think it can replace touring. It is not the same experience. Musicians will put more emphasis on other ways of making money. When touring returns to normal, maybe it will have improved our circumstances overall.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

Watching Netflix and YouTube, cleaning the flat, and taking care of Heri.

How was it to do Reveal the Light Within acoustically at home?

It was a lot of fun, and good to make something creative with the band, for once. And we are very hopeful to promote the album by creating more content for YouTube. Maybe an acoustic version gives people a different understanding of the song and our songwriting process.

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

Not really. I love fitness, gym. But it is closed now so I am doing some exercises at home at least.

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

I guess Netflix.

Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. 
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?

We have not really done any live streaming, but if we were to do that, I think it would be on YouTube. Since it is our own music that we would play, maybe we would look into getting the proper licenses. But honestly, I think it is good that the music is being protected from being monetized by third parties. It is hard enough already to make a living as a musician, and any money made on the music should be made by the artist, even if it is through the record label. I hope that this is what motivated Facebook. If so, I think they are on the right track and I hope other platforms follow.

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?

 

Well, there is selling merch online and generally staying in contact through social media. The need for music and musicians will not disappear just because touring is impossible at the moment. So far, our fans have been very true to us, and we hope that will continue.

In the United States we are talking about voting by  mail or in person? What is your view of it?

Well, this is not a thing for me since I am from Czechia, is it? So, I have no clue. I usually vote in person in our country. I was even in election committee this year

What about Holographic concerts in our living room?

Holographic concerts are a bit out of our price range.

If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?

Taking care of animals, and Heri.

I see your band did kind of the something that the Goo Goo Dolls did with Metal Blade. They were originally harder and then they release “Name” And after that they got bigger and bigger. I can see that happen to your band also. How do you see yourself in 5 years?

It would be nice to have another album and keep touring as much as possible. We do not have a precise plan. It would be nice to get on a similar line with bands like Delain, Lacuna Coil, etc.

Anything you would like to say in closing.

Thank you for the interview. I hope more and more people are going to discover and like our music and please support the music business if you can because these times are not good and it is unfortunately not getting better. Take care and see you on the road soon!

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