Smuk Zvuk

Smuk Zvuk is a Danish-Czech duo consisting of vibraphonist Viktorie Søndergaard and double bassist Klára Pudláková. The musicians met while studying at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Although this challenging time prevented them from exploring the Paris music scene, it also created the space for a unique musical partnership to form.

Klára and Viktorie spent their time together playing jazz standards, sharing their own compositions, and improvising. It was during this period that the foundation of their shared sound was laid. The combination of vibraphone and double bass is an unusual pairing that offers broad possibilities for experimentation, yet also places high demands on composition and mutual communication between the musicians.

The friendship and musical connection that began in Paris continued even after they returned to their home countries. Both artists regularly collaborate on other projects and are prominent figures on the contemporary Czech and Danish jazz scenes. Viktorie is active in projects such as Baryl and Viktoria’s Music of Secrets, while Klára leads the groups Uthando, Pudlax, Maomah, and Toša.

In 2024, both musicians were accepted into the Erasmus master’s program at the academy in Oslo. It was precisely the long, dark Norwegian winter days that allowed them to continue their intensive collaboration and provided the impetus for the creation and recording of their debut album, Call Me a Princess.