Combining the beauty of nature and the power of darkness is Czechian duo Ánni. Haunting and expressive it is the perfect balance of atmosphere and black metal. Part raging seas and gentle breeze in equal measure, their music is a presence that at times combines the traditional with the modern.
Neira (Vocals): In a way, yes. I love working with my voice in various styles, and I’m deeply inspired by traditional Nordic vocal techniques, such as kulning. However, our music itself is purely modern—we don’t use traditional historical instruments, as some bands do. Instead, we stay rooted in a raw, black-metal-inspired sound. It’s not polished in the way modern production often is; it’s intentionally rough around the edges, giving it a darker, more organic feel. Still, there’s a subtle connection to folklore and tradition in the inspiration behind some of the vocal and thematic elements.
The creation of Echoes and its evocative video
Neira: Echoes came from my desire to create something a bit softer while still retaining Ánni’s dark vibe. From the very beginning, I had a clear vision for the video, which I wanted to shoot in Iceland—of course, in a completely DIY way. The footage was captured in various locations across the entire island. Through these scenes, I wanted to convey a sense of melancholy as well as the breath-taking beauty of nature, which, for me, is like a balm for the soul.
!Neira:’’ That’s what I wanted. Thank you.’’
How do you find your place of calm?
Neira: A place of calm can take many forms. If we can't always find it within ourselves, we can search for it elsewhere. For me, it’s often in nature, music, art, or creative expression. When I immerse myself in creating something, it’s like everything else fades away, and I can focus entirely on that one thing.
The combination of ambience and aggression..
Neira: I think this combination can work really well together, but it needs to be handled delicately. In our music, I believe we’ve managed to blend these elements in a way that feels natural and balanced.
And its demanding vocal pattern? at points a classical interpretation?
Neira: I create all the vocal parts myself, letting the music guide me. Each song requires something slightly different. Personally, I’ve trained in classical singing for about nine years, so I suppose you can hear traces of that in my vocal style, although it’s not something I consciously aim for.
The combination of combining beauty with heavy? Is it the continual battle of darkness vs light?
Václav: It's not a fight... It's a beautiful symbiosis that opens up new possibilities.
The importance of mood and texture…
Neira: Everything in Ánni seems to flow naturally, often surprising even us. Just like in the beginning, when we didn’t know where our music would take us, it’s the same during the creative process today. Both of us bring something unique to the songs, and it’s that combination that creates Ánni. A track that starts as pure darkness might end up sounding gentle, while a song that begins sweet as sugar can ultimately have the rawest black metal vocals. You never know what will emerge, and that’s what we love about it. We don’t follow any set rules—we prefer to break them.
The inspiration to create music and its evolution...
Václav: For me, the greatest inspiration is our collaboration, when we complement each other, open up new worlds, and form an intertwined musical couple. Neira is my inspiration. I try to write music for her that best highlights her beautiful voice, talent and personality.
And how do you define uncompromising?
Václav: That we ignore stupid trends. We pursue our goal without making any compromises. We are genuine.
Plans for new releases? Will there be an album?
Václav: We have so much we want to finish. Right now, we are working on an unplugged version of Ánni for special concerts. At the same time, we want to record another single, which will be more black metal in style. After that, we’ll work on a full album, and in 2026, we plan to have our first metal concerts. Keep your fingers crossed!
Final thoughts
Václav: We greatly appreciate your support and hope you will continue to follow us. Thank you very much!
Top 6 albums of all time
Václav: Just one… the greatest of the greatest: Abbey Road by The Beatles (smile).
Neira: I’m not the kind of person who sticks to specific albums—it’s more about the artists for me. So, it would be hard to pick just six. Some of my biggest inspirations and favourite bands include Insomnium, Shireen, Eivør, Cellar Darling, and Sirenia (especially At Sixes and Sevens), along with many, many other artists across various genres.
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