Mikolas Josef
Josef in 2020
Born
Mikoláš Josef

(1995-10-04) 4 October 1995
Prague, Czech Republic
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2013–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Websitemikolasjosef.com

Mikoláš Josef (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmɪkolaːʃ ˈjozɛf]; born 4 October 1995)[1] is a Czech singer-songwriter and former model.[2] He represented the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal with the song "Lie to Me", and finished in sixth place, the best result for the Czech Republic in Eurovision history.

Early life and career

Josef was born on 4 October 1995 in Prague into a musical family.[3] He is of Czech, Moravian, Austrian, German and Italian descent.[2] He has a brother named Karel and an older half-sister called Martina. He has been playing guitar since he was five years old.[4] He grew up in Znojmo and in a small village in south Bohemia.[5]

Between 2006 and 2008 he studied at an art school, majoring in playing the guitar, which he was not able to finish. He continued his studies at a grammar school where he received an E in a music class.[6][7]

In 2015, he graduated from the English College in Prague.[8] At the age of 17, he was awarded a gold medal for solo acting by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.[9] While studying, he was involved in many fashion shows and photoshoots for major brands, including Diesel, Replay or Prada.[10] However, he later left modeling as he did not agree with its industry practices.[11]

After his modelling experience he made a living by busking in large European cities, such as Prague, Oslo, Zurich, Hamburg, and Vienna.[12][13] During this period, he was also cleaning a recording studio during the week – so that he could produce his own music there once a month whenever it was empty.[14]

Music career

2015–2018: Beginnings and Eurovision Song Contest

Josef decided to pursue music professionally. He independently released his debut single "Hands Bloody" in 2015.[15] The following year, he released the single "Free", which became a top 15 hit in the Czech Republic.[16][17] That same year, he also released the single "Believe (Hey Hey)".[18][19][20] After this, he moved to Vienna following an invitation by Nikodem Milewski.[2]

Josef was approached to represent the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "My Turn", but rejected the offer as he did not believe the song suited him.[21] In November 2017, Josef released the single "Lie to Me",[22] and later confirmed that the song would be competing in the Czech national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon.[23][24][25] "Lie to Me" later won the national selection, and represented the Czech Republic in the 2018 contest. It finished in sixth place with 66 points from the juries and 215 points from the audience, giving the Czech Republic its best result so far in the competition.[26][27] In May 2020, "Lie to Me" reached 30 million streams on Spotify, becoming the most-streamed Czech song on the platform.[28]

2018–present: Post-Eurovision projects

In April 2018, in Munich, Josef signed an international deal with Sony Music and RCA Records.[29] In October 2018, he released the single "Me Gusta".[30] He later appeared in the selection of “18 inspiring people of 2018” for Forbes.[14] "Abu Dhabi", released in February 2019, was his final release for Sony Music. He was featured in an advertisement campaign for Tezenis underwear and Huawei in the same month.[31] In April 2019, Josef performed his first headlining show, My Name Is Mikolas, in a sold-out Forum Karlin in Prague, where alongside his released songs, he performed a range of unreleased singles accompanied by six African vocalists.[32]

Josef and his family later established their own independent record label, Vivienne Records.[33] "Acapella", released in May 2019, was his first release under this label, which achieved success in Czech Republic (his first chart-topper in the country) and in Poland, where it was certified gold in February 2021.[34] In November 2019, he released "Colorado".[35] In December 2019, he embarked on his Closer to You Tour in the Czech Republic.[36] In October 2020, he released "Lalalalalalalalalala".[37] In March 2023, he released "Boys Don't Cry".[38]

Discography

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
CZE
[39]		 CZE (Dig.)
[40]		 AUT
[41]		 FRA
[42]		 GER
[43]		 POL
[44]		 SCO
[45]		 SPA
[46]		 SWE
[47]
"Hands Bloody" 2015 —————————
"Free" 2016 15————————
"Believe (Hey Hey)" —————————
"Lie to Me" 2017 522912229—563921
"Me Gusta" 2018 710———————
"Abu Dhabi" 2019 —22———————
"Acapella"
(featuring Fito Blanko and Frankie J)		 120———2———
"Colorado" 4664———5———
"Lalalalalalalalalala" 2020 1829———21———
"Boys Don't Cry" 2023 9855———————
"Delilah"
(with Mark Neve)		 —10———30———
"Never Get Over You" 98————————
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

Other songs

Title Year Album
"Used to This"[49]
(Lukas Rieger featuring Mikolas Josef)		 2019 Justice

Tours

  • Closer to You[50] (2019)

References

  1. ↑ "Official webpage of Mikolas Josef". Mikolas Josef. Vivienner Records s.r.o. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mikolas Josef – Lidé — Česká televize". ceskatelevize.cz (in Czech). Česká televize. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Mikolas Josef je novou tváří návrháře Lukáše Macháčka" (in Czech). ČTK. 14 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Coufalová, Veronika Angelina (10 July 2016). "ROZHOVOR: Zpěvák Mikolas Josef, sám sobě producentem" (in Czech). Krásná.cz. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Bio". Mikolas Josef. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Jít svou cestou bylo nejlepší rozhodnutí, říká Mikolas Josef". Forbes. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Mikolas Josef: Rodiče se mnou měli svatou trpělivost". Youtube.com. Radiožurnál. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Watch 2015 ECP graduate, Mikulas Josef, give his first interview, on Óčko today at 15.35!". Facebook. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Soutěžící > Mikolas Josef". Česká televize.
  10. ↑ "Mikolas Josef interview: Do školy už nikdy v životě nevlezu, leda ji podpálit". iREPORT (in Czech). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Mikolas Josef: český model, který zběhl k muzice". iDNES.cz. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "Mikolas Josef je novou tváří návrháře Lukáše Macháčka". Protext. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Mikolas Josef vydává osmý single "Colorado"". tv.nova.cz (in Czech). 25 November 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Mikolas Josef mezi 18 inspirativními roku 2018". 18 inspirativních - Forbes speciál (in Czech). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Herrmannová, Nela (17 September 2015). "Připadal jsem si jako hadr, říká český model, který zběhl k muzice". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech).
  16. ↑ "Mikolas Josef na Apríla odpremiéruje nový videoklip k písničce "Free"" (in Czech). Musicserver.cz. 31 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Talentu Mikolase Josefa nelze nevěřit. Potvrzuje to i v novince "Believe"" (in Czech). Musicserver.cz. 30 September 2016.
  18. ↑ Martínek, Josef (29 September 2016). "PREMIÉRA: Mikolas Josef singlem Believe potvrzuje mezinárodní ambice. Žánrové hranice nemá" (in Czech). iREPORT.cz.
  19. ↑ Balušek, Honza (5 December 2016). "Mikolas Josef do "Believe" obsadil Island a krásnou holku" (in Czech). Musicserver.cz.
  20. ↑ "VIDEOPREMIÉRA: Mikolas Josef, kandidát na účast v Eurovizi, natočil klip Believe (Hey Hey) na Islandu" (in Czech). iREPORT.cz. 8 November 2016.
  21. ↑ Adams, William Lee (14 January 2018). "Mikolas Josef: "Lie to Me" is about not getting swallowed by negativity during tough times". Wiwibloggs.
  22. ↑ "Mikolas Josef v Kompotu: o Eurovizi, budoucnosti v Los Angeles a španělských fanoušcích". Radio Wave (in Czech). 12 March 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  23. ↑ "CZECH REPUBLIC: SIX ACTS TO CONTEST EUROVISION 2018 NATIONAL SELECTION". wiwibloggs.com. 7 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "CZECH REPUBLIC: JAKUB ONDRA AND MIKOLAS JOSEF SET FOR SIX-ACT NATIONAL FINAL". wiwibloggs.com. 9 December 2017.
  25. ↑ "CZECH REPUBLIC: CT REVEALS PHOTOS OF THE SIX FINALISTS… BUT ONLY SHOWS THEIR LEGS". wiwibloggs.com. 15 December 2017.
  26. ↑ Halpin, Chris (29 January 2018). "Czech Republic: Mikolas Josef wins Eurovision Song CZ with "Lie to Me"". Wiwibloggs.
  27. ↑ Weaver, Jessica (29 January 2018). "Czech Republic: Mikolas Josef to Lisbon with Lie To Me!". ESCToday.
  28. ↑ Lie to Me, 6 April 2018, retrieved 28 July 2020
  29. ↑ Granger, Anthony (4 April 2018). "Czech Republic: Mikolas Josef Signs Worldwide Record Deal". Eurovoix.
  30. ↑ Witek, Jan. "Nový song Mikolase Josefa je venku: "Je to zatím má nejlepší práce, tak doufám, že se bude líbit"". lui.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  31. ↑ "Tezenis: Mikolas Josef ve spodním prádle (2019)". TVspoty.cz (in Czech). 25 February 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  32. ↑ "NAžIVO: Mikolas Josef ve Foru Karlín - ambiciózní koncertní debut s výpravou z říše snů". musicserver.cz. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  33. ↑ Lukeš, Filip (3 May 2020). "Zpěvák Mikolas Josef: Fanynky někdy reagují dost drsně, píší o sebevraždě". Deník.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  34. ↑ "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2021" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  35. ↑ "REPORTÁŽ: Najpočúvanejší spevák v Čechách a na Slovensku Mikolas Josef: V Čechách mnohí netušia, že som Čech". Netky.sk. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  36. ↑ "Mikolas Josef: vánoční turné Closer To You - Ostrava". Informuji.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  37. ↑ "Zkrvavený Mikolas Josef se po roce ticha vrací se silným prohlášením a singlem "Lalalalalalalalalala"".
  38. ↑ "VIDEO: Mikolas Josef se vrací. Klip ke světově znějícímu singlu "Boys Don't Cry" láká na dlouho očekávané album". musicserver.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  39. ↑ "CZ – Radio – Top 100 Mikolas Josef" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  40. ↑ "CZ – Singles Digital – Top 100 Mikolas Josef" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
    "CZ – Singles Digital – Top 100 Mikolas Josef & Mark Neve" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  41. ↑ "Discographie Mikolas Josef". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  42. ↑ "Discographie Mikolas Josef". lescharts.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  43. ↑ "Mikolas Josef – German Charts". GfK. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  44. ↑ Peak positions for singles in Poland:
  45. ↑ Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
  46. ↑ "Discography Mikolas Josef". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  47. ↑ "Discography Mikolas Josef". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  48. ↑ "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2021" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  49. ↑ Rieger, Lukas (16 May 2019). Used to This (YouTube.com). Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  50. ↑ "Mikolas Josef v úterý vyráží na krátké předvánoční turné" (in Czech). Musicserver.cz. 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020.
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