After a run of riveting releases these last few years, Slovakian-born artist TIMEA is back to her best once again with her shimmering new single ‘sick of playing pretend’.
Adopting more of that rich and hazy aesthetic she has been cultivating recently, ‘sick of playing pretend’ sees her deliver one of her more mesmerising efforts to date. So with the new single available now, we joined her to find out more about her background and influences over the years.
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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
My parents signed me up for piano lessons when I was five, and it evolved from there. No one in my family has a musical background, so I’m not sure how they decided on it, but it influenced my whole life. I started composing and writing lyrics around age 13. In high school, I began playing for my friends, and that’s when things really clicked for me—I realised this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I released my debut EP in my first year out of high school, and everything took off from there.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
My musical influences change all the time because I tend to go through phases of complete obsession. Some of the artists who have stayed with me over the past few years are Lizzy McAlpine, Mk.gee, Olivia Dean, Gracie Abrams, and Saya Gray.
Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?
I try to keep exploring new music all the time, and navigate the scene. So I have definitely been influenced by the artists I have mentioned earlier. But I try to not be influenced too much, to stay true to my sounds. Otherwise, I will just become another artist who is already out there. I want to be my own. Hope that makes sense.
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
There have been so many! Some that came to my mind right away are playing Colours of Ostrava (biggest music festival in Czechia) with my band who also happen to be some of my best friends. We were just all so happy, pure euphoria.
Then there is one acoustic show in particular, that I think will stay with me forever. I played this intimate gig, just me and the piano. It was just a couple of weeks after my breakup with a guy I was with for almost three years. I wrote a song about missing him and because it was so so so fresh, I started to cry mid-song, not just cry cry but like fully sob, you couldn’t understand a word I was singing. I finished the song with tears running down my face, when I looked at the crowd when I finished, everyone had tears in their eyes. I have never felt more vulnerable and supported in my whole life. It reminded me why I want to do all of this in the first place. Of course there are a lot of moments that I will remember forever, but we would be here for too long.
How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?
My music is me. I feel like my whole identity revolves around my music. It’s so tight together I cannot imagine us apart. I wouldn’t say I just express my personal experiences and identity through my music, my music is my personal experiences, my forever journal of life, my identity. I hope this makes sense.
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
I think women face challenges in general and being a female musician highlights some of them. I’ve been lucky to work with supportive and understanding people, but you definitely need to know how to stand your ground. Women in music often get judged more for their appearance than their sound. I haven’t entirely overcome this—I just try to remind myself that my art is what matters most. The rest is often out of my control.
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
I don’t have one overarching message; each song has its own. I write about my life, the people I meet, people/things that inspire me…
Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?
It really depends but I try to be a constant observer of my surroundings, feelings, everyday life to really be able to capture. I have this little notebook that I carry everywhere and where I sometimes write just a line or two…when someone says something, when something comes to my mind. I also came up with a lot of my songs in my car while driving so I usually have my phone recording and keep singing a melody, words, etc. Other times is when I just play and see what comes….it differs from song to song. After I have a rough idea of what I want it to sound like, feel like, what I want to say, I get to producing. But to be honest it usually kind of comes all together at the same time. When I start to write lyrics I usually know what I want them to sound like.
How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?
I hope my music makes people feel—the good, the bad, the vulnerable. As an artist, I believe it’s my responsibility to be raw and honest. I want to capture emotions that others might feel but can’t express and create a space where we can all feel them together. For aspiring female musicians, I hope my journey inspires them to be brave, to keep going, and to embrace their vulnerability and strength. We are many things, and it’s important to own all of them proudly.
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Listen to TIMEA’s new single ‘sick of playing pretend’ below.