Misha Chylkova is a Londoner of Czech origin. Always drawn to darkness and repetition, her artistic perspective offers a highly personal view of reality and romantic relationships. In her music, elegance meets simplicity, as she gradually layers melodic threads into a crescendo of complexity. This melodic minimalism, enriched with a touch of sharp humour, was forged in London, where Misha fell in love with music and began playing within the anti-folk scene alongside artists such as The Awkward Silences, David Cronenberg’s Wife, and Extradition Order. In 2020, she began a fruitful collaboration with Darren Hayman (Hefner), Ian Button (Death in Vegas, Thrashing Doves), and Jonathan Clayton (Hurtling, Jim Bob), which led her to release several singles between 2021 and 2022 with the independent label Gare Du Nord Records. The same artistic partnership is the foundation of her debut album, Dancing the Same Dance (Gare Du Nord), set for release in November 2024. Dancing the Same Dance is a collection of songs that Misha Chylkova has written over the past few years, revealing her fascination with the concept of repetition. The album was mainly recorded in London. The work is driven by a passion for melody and for pulsating, looping rhythms, with influences ranging from Low, Angel Olsen, Black Heart Procession, to Suicide.

What She Says: “I’ll start with Sparrows, the track I chose as the first single from my upcoming album. It’s been with me, in its various forms, for a long time, and I reworked it with a fuller, and more expansive sound for this release. While most of my songs are deeply personal – writing being my way of processing – I can’t quite claim the clarity or certainty that comes with the line ‘this song is about…’, so I won’t use it. In fact, I feel a bit guilty for making the listener a witness to my internal battles. So, rather than define it, I’ll leave this one to your imagination. All I will say is that jealousy is an ugly thing, love is complex and music, much like coffee, is always the answer. So let yourself be carried on the sea of melodies.“

“The Loop is the second single from the album. And, while I’m a huge fan of wordplay and crypticity, I decided to take a more literal approach with naming this one (even if, as one of my friends recently pointed out to me that Morrissey did it first). The song follows a loop structure, much like most of the tracks on the album. It revolves around a repeated 16-bar section, relying on pulsating dynamics and multilayered, dizzying vocals. I’ve always been fascinated by this way of working, and I’m naturally drawn to music built around repetition – a fact that will probably be evident in my mixtape choices. Lyrically, you could say the song also deals with a loop, one rooted in fear. It’s about the fear of commitment, the fear of confronting yourself,  the fear of making a decision because you’re terrified it might be the wrong one…only to end up making that wrong decision anyway and breaking the loop.“

Her Mixtape:

Michelle Gurevich – Party Girl

The brooding, dirge-like guitar on Party Girl always hits me hard. Lyrically, it’s far more complex than the title suggests – thanks to the brilliance of Michelle Gurevich. I first came across her work in 2010 when she still called herself Chinawoman, and her track I’ll Be Your Woman blew me away. Her writing, her sharp wit, her sense for melodies and simplicity have been a huge inspiration in my own music-making. I still hope that one day, when I ‘grow up,’ I can write even half as well as she does.

Smog – To Be of Use

This song carries an immense power in its melancholy and minimalism, but even more so in its subtle, yet bold, wordplay. Bill Callahan is a masterful writer who floors me every time. The need to be needed. The need to be used. The need to be.

Hefner – The Greedy Ugly People

“Love don’t stop no war, don’t stop no cancer, it stops my heart.”  This song nearly did stop my heart the first time I heard it years ago. Hefner, and Darren Hayman in particular, are a true gift to the world of music. And I feel incredibly fortunate to have gotten to know and collaborate with him personally.

Songs: Ohia – Lioness

I once saw Jason Molina live in London, back in 2010, in a small venue in Kilburn called The Luminaire—one of many places in the city that no longer exist. He played alongside Chris Brokaw from Codeine, and that show really left a mark on me. Little did I know it that would be his final performance. Is there anything more crushing, devastating, beautiful and powerful than these words?
“I will swim to you
Whether you save me
Whether you savage me
Want my last look to be the moon in your eyes
Want my heart to break if it must break in your jaws.”

Low – I Started a Joke

I don’t find making choices an easy task. If I could, I’d include all three of my favourite versions of this song in the mixtape—Faith No More’s, Low’s, and of course, the original by The Bee Gees. But since I can only pick one, I went with Low. Anyone who knows me is well aware of my deep love for Low. I could talk about them endlessly, but I’ll save that for another time. As for the Bee Gees, they never explicitly revealed the meaning behind the lyrics, and honestly, I’m glad. It allowed me to interpret it in my own way. For me, this song speaks to the agony of feeling perpetually misunderstood.

Wilco – How To Fight Loneliness

A manual in a song. It’s all in there. It works. (No, it doesn’t.) But the sheer existence of the song does. It makes you not feel alone. It grabs onto your heartstrings and doesn’t let go of them. A sorrowful, but warm blanket of genius.

Piano Magic – Love & Music

“All I need is love and music
Love and music gets me by
All I need is love and music
Love and music ‘til I die.”
Amen.

Radiohead – Ful Stop

I won’t talk about Radiohead. There is nothing to be said about Radiohead that hasn’t been said before. Just listen to this track. But buckle up first.

Huge Molasses Tank Explodes – Indeterminate

I discovered HMTE almost two years ago while feeling a bit lost in Milan. I first saw them live at Arci Bellezza, a venue I now call my ‘second home,’ and this song immediately took a hold of me. It became embedded in my mind and has never left it. It perfectly captures my love for repetition and epic climaxes that just make you want to let go off everything that may weigh on your mind. If you’re a fan of Can, Beak, or Goat, this is your new favourite band.

Rival Consoles – Dreamer’s Wake

Ryan Lee West, the mastermind behind Rival Consoles, is astonishingly talented. I love a lot of electronic music, even if it’s a more of an abstract thing for me that I can only sort of observe from a distance. This one is one hell of a trip. Close your eyes, and let it take you somewhere indescribably beautiful.

Ólafur Arnalds  – 3055

If you’ve never been in love and want to know what falling in love sounds like, this is it.

Dancing the Same Dance will be out now via Gare Du Nord Records. Look HERE for more information on Misha Chylkova.