Alia Tempora
Interview conducted March 5, 2021
By Dan Locke
Alia Tempora is a female-fronted modern metal band based in the Czech Republic. Their sound can be described as a combination of strong metal riffs, dancing beats and dubstep grooves. The band is simply the must hear for everybody who likes lighter melodic metal in a modern package!
Markie, What is your upbringing?
Hi, thank you for having me!! 🙂
My upbringing is…Complicated, haha! 😀 But I assume you are asking me about music, so If we would talk about it, I had some great musicians in a family, including my father who played the guitar and his father who was a piano virtuoso.
How did you discover music?
Music was part of my life since I was a baby, but my contribution to the music world started when I was 6 years old. I was a part of a personal child choir of internationally known singer, violinist and actress Iva Bittová. I remember my first concert where I got a huge teddy bear for being the youngest kid in the choir, it was really cute, but I was scared and didn’t like the attention much. 😀 It was also my first experience with how the rivalry between children can look like in an industry like this, so I’ve left the choir kinda soon.
How did you start to write music?
I started to write the first songs in our band Alia Tempora together with other members, but it wasn’t really good. So, I am not the composer of our band anymore, I am only contributing to vocals and lyrics and my husband Filip is the composer.
How did you become the brand face of Metal makeup Spark TV?
I was contacted by the former project manager, who approached me with an offer to start this project with him. It didn’t go as we expected after time, so the project is currently sleeping, but it was a very exciting experience and I’ve met some amazing people thanks to Metal Makeup! 🙂
How did you put together the Czech modern metal band Alia Tempora?
Alia Tempora was formed by me and our guitarist and growler Štěpán Řezníček in 2012 🙂 We were passionate music and metal fans and wanted to contribute to the music world with our music as well! 🙂
What was your first performance at like?
It was very nice because many of our friends (and family members) came to support us that evening! We were of course very nervous and the show itself was very poor and ridiculous, but it is beautiful to remember that we were not alone there! 🙂
How was Masters of Rock in 2019?
It was really great! Playing at the legendary Ronnie James Dio Stage was a huge highlight of our career because Masters of Rock is one of those dreamy festivals every musician wants to play at! We really enjoyed it, the audience was amazing and so was the organizing team! 🙂
What makes a good songwriter?
I think it requires a feeling for music and details, which can’t be really learned. You can learn the theory like a pro but you still need to feel If it’s right or wrong.
Back in Feb. you posted on Facebook a photo of Matt Pollard who get the first ever Alia Tempora tattoo. Has anyone else done this yet?
Yes! It is absolutely amazing how supportive our fans are, we are very honored by such love and support! So far, I know about 3 fans from Mexico, UK and Czech Republic, who proudly wear our logos or pictures and I am always very shocked and happy!
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I am not really sure which one was it, but we never recorded it. I think it was maybe No Heaven, No Hell or At The Close of the Day. Very old and very lame songs 😀 I once shared it on my Patreon (the live footage from a concert) and my Patrons didn’t laugh that much though! 😀
What is your favorite track on the album?
I am really enjoying Bark on Me and Looser like Me for the energy, especially live, but I also like the gentle love song Asking and its Spanish version Por Siempre feat. Mario Del Rio Escobedo. I usually have the same favourite songs as our fans have, that’s funny! 😀
How do you stay healthy while touring?
To be honest, I don’t 😀 I think I am the worse person to give advice about this topic because I am always fighting with some kind of cold while being on tour. Especially when we tour by plane, I seem to be very sensitive to dry air and air conditioning… 😀 But next time I will wear some face mask as we learned during the pandemic and maybe it will help! 😀
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I love it! Time is moving forward and so is music! 🙂
Digital vs. vinyl?
For my personal everyday use – digital. But for the memory – vinyl.
What are fans of Sweet Unicorn princess?
Sweet as cotton candy! *unicorn emoji* I love my fans unconditionally, they are just amazing, unique, strong and passionate! We would be nothing without our fans, we are creating our magical world together! 🙂
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
I am listening to my morning playlist on Spotify while writing the answers, so at this moment it is Warriors from Imagine Dragons! 😀 My memories of this song are very nice because I was a guest singer in a project of my friend who covered this song and I really enjoyed it! 🙂
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think we can only guess at the moment, nothing is given, but I am afraid that some venues and bands will not get up and stand after this, which is an incredible pity 🙁
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Changing my life – literally. Thanks to my Patrons, my husband, and my supportive friends I was able to leave my office job and dedicate my life to music only. It was my dream for a very long time and I didn’t really expect it would come so soon, but the pandemic changed my priorities and point of view. I realized that the time that is given to us is not infinite and the “Oooops” is better than “What If”! 🙂
During the Self-quarantine you released My Quarantine. Tell me about the making of the video and what was your mind set at the time of the making of the video?
We wanted to give our fans something funny to cheer them up, so we were in a really good mood while creating the video, making jokes and trying to come with the funniest ideas possible! 😀 That’s where the wild toilet paper dreams came from! 😀
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Netflix and chill! 😀
I started to bake a bit during quarantine, I discovered Netflix and HBO GO, Clubhouse and HIMYM! 😀
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?
Netflix for series and movies and Spotify for music 🙂 I am currently watching Brave New World on Netflix, because I love anti-utopistic movies (I think I saw them all! :D) and Joseph Morgan who is playing in that series. 😀
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?
I prefer to ask myself a question “How to keep our fans sane and happy during hard times” because we are a family and should take care of each other <3 🙂
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music, and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
I think it’s amazing how artists still try everything to make their fans entertained and happy, I really like it! 🙂 I am not sure about the financial part though, because I still believe that real concerts will be back soon! 🙂
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?
The situation is getting better in many countries for touring, but I think that festivals will be the last to take place, unfortunately, for the number of people visiting.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I’m in, where can I sign it? 😀
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Touring the world, I hope! *fingers crossed*
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you again for having me, I would like to send all our fans and all musicians positive energy and strength to overcome all obstacles that are occurring these times. We’re in this together and together we are stronger!
