Vendulka’s Next Move

Posted on 1 November, 2016

She chased her dream of singing onto the X Factor stage, and most recently around the Canberra region in a series of intimate shows.

Now, Vendulka Wichta is preparing to follow this dream on to the other side of the world. Vendulka, as she is professionally known, is a multi-talented Cooma native, but currently spends most of her time in Canberra. This young talent is a rising star with a busy future ahead of her — at least, that appears to be what is in store for the coming months.

Vendulka first appeared on the professional music scene in 2012, as the 14-year-old X Factor hopeful that auditioned with a cover of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and eventually crooned her way to the top twenty-four contestants.

While ultimately eliminated just shy of the top twelve, Vendulka persisted. She joined the competition and made it equally far the following year. In 2014, she released a 5-track EP, featuring three covers and two versions of an original song, ‘Restless’, the title track of the record.

After finishing school, Vendulka reached a crossroads in 2015. “The realisation that I really had to dive into my passion was dawning on me,” she says. “The problem was that I was terrified to dedicate everything I had into music…” To give herself some time, Vendulka pursued another interest, enrolling in a makeup course. She discovered a passion for the trade, and began working as a creative artist in makeup, henna and body painting. Vendulka believes these to paths ‘go hand in hand’ and hopes to build both careers. Recently though, she has returned to her musical passion in full force.

Now eighteen, Vendulka has come a long way from her first performances on Australian television. She has so far kept herself busy in 2016 with a smattering of intimate shows around Canberra, and over the winter completed a spate of gigs in the Perisher Valley as a part of her small ‘Snow Tour.’

Currently, Vendulka is collaborating with Canberra’s own Lucy Sugerman on a couple of upcoming events. Only fifteen herself, Sugerman is preparing to launch her first EP in late November at Smith’s Alternative, where Vendulka will be supporting. In turn, Vendulka will be launching her new album in December, also at Smiths, and Sugerman is supporting.

“I think the sense of community is extremely important, as it allows for artists to support each other and feed off each other’s creativity,” Vendulka says of the music culture in Australia, and of her collaboration with Lucy.

Personally, Vendulka admires Kristina Olsen, an Australian folk-festival veteran; while such artists inspired her to pursue her passion for music, Vendulka says the encouragement and support of her friends and family where what helped her turn this passion into a reality.

Vendulka’s album will be released on December 4, the same day as her launch event. Her first full-length record, produced by Abstract Studio and Josh Richens, is a collection of ten songs written over several years.

After the release, Vendulka is heading overseas. She booked a one-way ticket to Canada earlier in the year, and is intending to travel around the country—and elsewhere—performing and enjoying the snow sports. She’s keeping her options open, though, saying she’s eager to see the Northern Lights and Yellowknife National Park, or perhaps head to Europe.

“I need to experience other people’s stories and see the world. I feel like in order to write songs that resonate with the world, I need to see more than just Australia… I want to soul search and find some beautiful people to write about, in beautiful places.”

Catch Vendulka before she goes abroad. She will be launching her new album with a live performance at Smiths Alternative at 8pm on Tuesday, December 4.

Styling: One Hunted. Hair: Kate Lily Hairdressing. Photography: Samuel Broomby.