There Was Always No One Singing Only One
- Petr Janda, the frontman of the Czech rock band Olympic, recently discussed the band's new album, "Bombarďák," and his approach to songwriting.
- Janda explained the title "Bombarďák" as a metaphor. "A 'bombarďák' could be an Olympian returning home from war," Janda said.
- While Janda strives for innovation, he acknowledges a consistent thread in his work.
Olympic‘s Petr Janda Reflects on New Album, Songwriting Process
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Petr Janda, the frontman of the Czech rock band Olympic, recently discussed the band’s new album, “Bombarďák,” and his approach to songwriting. in a candid interview, Janda shared insights into the album’s themes, his collaborative process with lyricists, and his personal songwriting principles.
The Meaning Behind “Bombarďák”
Janda explained the title “Bombarďák” as a metaphor. “A ‘bombarďák’ could be an Olympian returning home from war,” Janda said. “He’s been shot,he’s running on fumes,the captain is weary,and so is the team. But it’s the team that keeps the captain from giving up,that keeps him in the air. that’s the parable of the new album.”
Evolving Sound, enduring Style
While Janda strives for innovation, he acknowledges a consistent thread in his work. ”I always try to do something different,” he stated. “But no matter how hard I try, I always revert to my customary style. I guess I’ll never escape it.” He noted that while some songs on “Bombarďák,” such as “Dwarf,” “Spring,” and “Has,” represent conscious efforts to change, he still recognizes his signature sound within them.
Themes of reflection and Experience
The songs on the album explore various themes. Janda described “Dwarf” as a reflection on resisting change,while “Spring” symbolizes the cycle of seasons and the approaching end of life. He also revealed the personal inspiration behind “Has,” a song about his first love. “I was fourteen, she was three years older,” Janda recounted. “It’s an authentic experience.”
Collaboration and Creative Control
Janda discussed his approach to working with lyricists. “I immerse myself in their work,” he said. “And than I’m sometimes horrified by what the lyrics are about. If the lyricist doesn’t resonate with me, they’ll ruin the song.” He emphasized the importance of the lyrics aligning with the music’s emotional core.
He cited the song ”Before It gets Dark” as an example, where he returned the text to three authors multiple times before settling on Lukáš Koranda’s version. The song depicts a boy breaking up with a girl and choosing to do it in the dark to avoid seeing her tears.
Band Dynamics and Songwriting Contributions
Other members of Olympic, including Milan Broum and Jiří Valgl, weighed in on Janda’s dominant role in composing the music for “Bombarďák.” Broum admitted feeling “paralyzed” by the prospect of writing a song for Janda,while Vajgl acknowledged Janda’s “immense desire to compose” as a driving force behind the album.
Janda expressed a desire for his bandmates to contribute more songs in the future. Broum, however, stated he prefers focusing on bass lines and arrangements, rather than full authorship. “It’s not easy for me,” Broum said. “The feeling that I compose a song for Petr Janda almost paralyzes me.”
Evolution of Songwriting Within Olympic
broum recalled a time when multiple members sang lead vocals. “Such as, I sang ‘Perilous Figure,'” he said, referencing a song from 1966. Janda added that in the band’s early days, members woudl agree on who would sing which song, regardless of who wrote it. However, he acknowledged that he has become the primary vocalist over time, a situation he hopes to change to introduce more vocal variety.
Janda described his distinct songwriting principles, including ending songs with a stanza rather than a refrain. He recounted an instance where Karel Gott requested a song written with a traditional refrain, but Janda was unable to accommodate the request. He also mentioned his aversion to common pop music chord progressions, modulations, and the twelve-bar blues style.
Pavel Březina, the youngest member of the band, noted that he was initially surprised by Janda’s tendency to end songs with a stanza. He said that he is learning to incorporate this approach into his own songwriting.
Olympic’s Petr Janda: A Q&A on “Bombarďák” and Songwriting
What is “Bombarďák” about,and what does the title mean?
“Bombarďák” is the name of the new album by the Czech rock band Olympic. The title, as explained by frontman Petr Janda, is a metaphor. He described it as representing an Olympian returning home from war, wounded and weary, but kept going by his team. This concept reflects themes of perseverance and the importance of camaraderie.
How does Petr Janda describe his approach to songwriting?
Petr Janda shared his songwriting process, focusing on immersion and collaboration. he stated that he immerses himself in the lyricists’ work