Ewa Farna – vocals
Kateřina Marie Tichá – vocals
Mirai Navrátil – vocals
Bandjeez
Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava
Stanislav Vavřínek – conductor

David Stypka, a native of Dobrá near Frýdek-Místek, was a Czech singer, guitarist, and songwriter best known for performing with the band Bandjeez. The band was formed in 2011 to bring to life Stypka’s Wakeup Songs project — songs he invented, recorded, and published immediately after waking up. Their debut album was released in 2014. Stypka went on to receive numerous music awards, including the Anděl Award for New Artist of the Year in 2016, and a year later the Anděl Award for Male Singer of the Year and Song of the Year for his duet with Ewa Farna, Dobré ráno, milá. He was also nominated for Album of the Year.

Over the years, he collaborated with artists such as Kateřina Marie Tichá and the band Mirai. Even in his saddest songs, Stypka always found hope. About his 2017 album Neboj. he said: “What makes me happiest is that, by some twist of fate, we managed to create a record that is both joyful and sad, and that the sadness and despair anchored in the songs do not overwhelm the album, which in the end holds so much hope.”

Stypka passed away prematurely in January 2021. In his honor, Gong will come alive with his songs, performed by his closest friends and musical colleagues — Bandjeez, Mirai Navrátil, and singers Ewa Farna and Kateřina Marie Tichá.