What is your location?
I live in Karlovy Vary, small town in Czech Republic in Middle of
Europe.
What instrument(s) do you play?
Guitars, vocals, keyboards
For how long?
Guitars and vocals for 15 years, keyboards for 11 years.
Band/Solo artist?
I am solo artist because I cannot find suitable people for band.
What style/styles of music do you play?
It is mix of heavy metal, hard rock and new age. You can call it
progressive metal.
Band name? (and how you came up with the name)
Zdenek Valecko. It is my own name.
Signed/ Unsigned? (If signed, include the label and information
about how you got signed please)
Unfortunately still unsigned.
What is your WebPage address?
www.mp3.com/valecko
Are there MP3's available for download?
Yes.
Why do you play music? (what are your motives)
Simply I must. I want to express my ideas and feelings.
What is the single most important thing you have learnt from
playing music?
If you want to sell your music you will hate it.
What in your opinion is the most important factor for a successful
band?
Promotion, money, good manager, contacts for influental music business
people. It is only BUSINESS.
Do you have a specific formulation for song composition?
Yes. First I create some story. Then I assign music pieces to some
story events and write lyrics. Finaly I get all these parts together.
Where do you get your inspirations?
In past of my life, in my mind and feelings.
What kind of vibe do you try to capture in your music?
Everything what man can feel.
How do you communicate with your audience?
Via e-mail. But I do not have much audience.
How important is it to you to be successful? (In it for the music/meditation/
fun/ fame?)
Very much. It is for the feeling that my music has a sence and people
listen to it and like it. I would like some money too.
How do you feel about any type of drugs? (Some musicians feel
it helps enhance their creativity)
It is very thin ice. Drugs are very dangerous. But they can bring
very unknown experiences. Musician can find many new ideas, lyrics,
sounds and melodies with them.
What is your philosophical take on music?
Sorry, I did not understand to this question.
Where do you see the future of music?
My visions are obviosly quite different from all other people. I
think, musicians will combine many music styles together. You can
see it now. For example pop-ethnic-new age, 60s-metal-punk. I like
classic-speed metal-hard rock or my own mixture hard rock-heavy
metal-new age.
How do you promote your music?
I have uploaded my music on many MP3 sites. I am sending CDs to
labels, attorneys, radios and magazines for review.
Do you have a manager? (If so, what tasks does your manager perform?)
No.
What do you think about the music industry?(Major and Indie record
labels?)
I did not understand it. I would cancel it. Money and music are
not friends. I hate pop music produced by Major labels. It is shit.
Indie record labels have better chance to produce quality music.
Where do you see the future of the music industry?
I wish music industry would dissapear from the Universe. I wish
these changes: less money for promotion, no mainstream, better access
to music I like, cheaper manufactured CD, centralized music placement
(just like MP3.COM, but with ALL music, not only indie music demos.).
How could the industry be improved and how would you implement
this improvement?
See answer above. If I want for example good new age music, I must
find it and get it immediately, for little money (for example $2).
No seeking thru many music stories, MP3 servers and labels.
What is your opinion on recording technologies used in association
with music? (digital/analogue/editing capabilities)
I am digital maniac. Digital is the best. Sound quality, editing
and effecting capabilities. It is much cheaper too. Simpler work
and service than analog.
Do you think these technologies are being used appropriately?
(or are musicians cheating with performances)
I think musicians still cannot utilize full potential of these technologies.
Do you have any ideas as to how these technologies could be improved?
They are already perfect. But could be more reliable.
How do you think these improvements could be implemented?
Do not know.
Do you think artists are misrepresented or affected by the Media?
Yes.
What do you think about internet radio and what is your opinion
on current attempts to disable these stations by imposing royalties?
(most of which the performers will never receive)
Internet Radio could be great medium, because it is reachable all
over the globe. Money (and royalties) destroys all.
What about MP3's?
MP3s are great way to find new unknown music. But I take them only
as temporary medium. I do not like to listen to MP3s from computer.
I like to listen to CDs from quality hifi set. I thing MP3s could
work as demonstartion and promotion of music. Then people could
buy original CD. If CD would cost $2, I would never burn CDs from
MP3s. CDs have better sound than MP3s, and what about booklet, cover,
artwork? So no payments for MP3, lets sell CDs for $2! MP3 is another
thing than CD.
What would you like to learn more about, or what unanswered questions
do you have in regards to music or the industry?
How to get my music to the world? How to sell thounsands CDs, how
can I be popular? How to make my music live?
What kind of aspects would you like to see covered in detail
in this book?
How to be more succesful artist?
Is there anything else you would like to elaborate on, or are
there any interesting stories you would like to share?
No idea.
Interview with Sergio Vilar (Nucleus Prog site)
To begin Zdenek, I would like you to count us your musical trajectory
and the projects in which you have intervened.
My music roots lie in legendary rock band Beatles, followed by home
bands Olympic and Turbo. At the age of fourteen I began to sing
and play Spanish guitar. During these years I started to long for
electric guitar.
Couple of years later my interest moved from rock to metal. My favorite
bands were Europe, Helloween, Manowar, Candlemass, King Diamond,
Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple.
I got my first guitar at the age of eighteen. It was copy of legendary
Gibson Les Paul. During next five years I decided to build some
guitar apparatuses and effects because I loved superb guitar sound.
Many times I tried to play in some bands with many people but I
was not satisfied with quality of co-players and style of work.
So, still wanting to realize my own songs I decided to build my
own recording studio. There I can record any music project I want,
independently on any other people.
Originally I wanted to create only guitar works but I love great
metal bands with singers like Eric Adams, Bruce Dickinson, Ian Gillan,
Mike Kiske, etc. So I tried to sing like these masters.
My recording studio was finished in 1997. I created here some commercial
spots, demos and masterings.
In 1999 the gothic rock demo EP "Soma" was produced with female
vocal.
In 2000 I have recorded CD "Chart of Yore". It is one of three intended
parts of trilogy "Introspection" about Muddy´s journey through life.
In 2002 I have experimented with improvisations on guitar and synthesizer.
The psychedelic CD "Shiver of the Mind" is the result of this.
Could you describe your influences and why were you devoted to
play the guitar?
I always loved great guitarists. My first very favorite rock guitarist
was Petr Janda from Czech rock band Olympic. His sound, solos and
rhythms contained everything what I had loved in rock music - strength,
power, philosophy, story, etc. Than I have discovered many other
great guitarists for example Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest), David
Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore (Deep
Purple), Joe Satriani, etc. Their music mission was so powerful
to me that I had to play guitar. It was very important part of my
life.
Inside that am used you would locate your music? Could you describe
it?
I thing my music could be classified as "progressive metal" or "art
rock". These styles of music feature combination of many other styles.
For example "progressive metal" combines together heavy metal, power/speed
metal, symphonic/classic pieces. Art rock is a fusion of hard rock,
pop, opera, folk and maybe everything possible. I love these styles
because of its great variability and unlimitness.
In your opinion, how so important it is the technique and the
domain of the instrument? Do you consider it something fundamental
to compose this music type?
Yes. I had never composed my music without my specific guitar feeling
and technique. The same I can tell about my vocals or keyboards.
My music would be totally different if I had play another instruments
or with another feeling.
Toward where do they aim your musical ideas? How would you describe
yourself musically?
It is hard to say. Deep inside me I feel something like metalmaniac
and rocker. Guitar playing and metal screaming are some of my expression
instruments. So if I feel sadness you can feel it in my music. And
if I feel anger then my music rages. The root of my music lies deep
in my soul. But guitar, vocals and keyboards give it some unique
form.
Your last CD, "Chart Of Yore", is a quite varied disk
in it referred to its structure, this something was premeditated
or did it arise spontaneously?
All music parts came spontaneously within many years. Then the album
was pasted together from these parts and over "Muddy's journey"
story. So every music part expresses some chapter in Muddy's journey.
What are you making at the moment in the musical land?
Unfortunately - nothing. There is no time for music now.
A last question. Some future plans that you can reveal us?
Sometimes I would like to continue with Muddy's journey with next
CD. The music style will be similar to "Chart of Yore".
Thank you for your kindness. Do you mean something by way of
closing?
My little desire: "Let every composed music is an expression of
some deep soul or idea. No more breathless and soulless commercial
music!!!
