From cleaning recording studios to making Eurovision history
In short: Before he was a chart-topping singer, Mikolas Josef was busking across Europe and cleaning studios just to gain access to music equipment. His journey from a rejected art student to the Czech Republic's most successful Eurovision representative is a masterclass in persistence and creative independence.
Born in Prague on 4 October 1995, Mikolas Josef’s path to musical stardom was far from linear. Although he began playing guitar at age five, his formal musical education was inconsistent; he was unable to finish an art school program focused on guitar between 2006 and 2008, and later received an E in a music class at grammar school. Even his stint in the fashion industry, where he modeled for brands like Prada and Diesel, ended when he chose to leave due to disagreements with industry practices.
To fund his musical ambitions, Josef spent time busking in cities including Oslo, Zurich, and Vienna. He famously worked as a studio cleaner during the week, a job that allowed him the rare opportunity to use the recording facilities for his own music once a month when the studios were empty. This period of grit preceded his professional breakthrough, which included the 2016 hit "Free" and his decision to reject a Eurovision offer in 2017 because the song did not suit his style.
His persistence culminated in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. Performing "Lie to Me," Josef secured sixth place—the highest score in the Czech Republic's history—earning 66 points from juries and 215 from the audience. By May 2020, the track had become the most-streamed Czech song on Spotify with 30 million streams. Today, Josef operates with greater autonomy through his family-established independent label, Vivienne Records, which saw success with the single "Acapella."
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