Neboj

Don’t worry. Face your fears. Prejudices of your own and around you. Don’t be scared to stand for freedom, imagination, love of thy neighbour.

Poet, director and songwriter, Jakub Čermák aka Cermaque, presents his eighth album called Neboj (i.e. Don’t Worry). The recording pulses from independent folk to alternative hip hop. The album features many guest musicians and producers such as Aid Kid, Jan Kratochvíl (DVA), Ondřej Ježek or Israeli guitarist Shlomi Mor. The lyrics are a reaction to the social development in the Czech Republic and abroad in the last few years and Cermaque talks through them about fear, confusion of languages, divided society, but in the background also - about hope.

The album Neboj features several exceptional both local and international guests, such as electro producers Aid Kid, Jan Kratochvíl (DVA) and Néro Scratch; Swedish multi-instrumentalist and co-author of most arranges, Chris Strandh; singers, Iamme Candlewick and Beata Bocek; world renowned Israeli pianist, Guy Mintus; and others. “Over the last three years, I’ve gathered many songs, which are responding to the current events,” Cermaque admits. “And when I started to work on the album, I contacted people from the music scene I respect. Most immediately agreed and joined in.” The diverse songs and different approach of the individual producers were knocked into an amazing album by the sound master, Ondřej Ježek.

Cermaque admits that this album is not only an appeal but also a very personal testimony. “Three years ago, when my daughter Agatha was born, I wrote her a song. It closes our last album Gravitace with a chorus: ‘já mám jen přání jediný / ať se ti vyhnou dějiny’ (i.e. I have only one desire / may history avoid you). Unfortunately,  history seems rather to be getting closer. So my new solo album is quite topical. The result of my vision of society and a challenge, which is also the title of the album: NEBOJ. Don’t worry. Face your fears. Prejudices of your own and around you. Don’t be scared to stand for freedom, imagination, love of thy neighbour. I repeat this for myself over and over again.

Through this record, we try to speak out.