The piece is about repetitive moments in our daily lives, which very often are taken for granted and are not appreciated. Such as waking up for a new day, seeing thousands of colours or having a refreshing sip of water when You’re thirsty. momentum II sets focus on the big value in these tiny things.
Dainis is an active member of well known crossover, instrumental band DAGAMBA. As a band they perform worldwide including several arena concerts in Baltics and Russia, their albums had won numerous awards. After their debut in Glastonbury festival DAGAMBA has headlined many world known festivals.
As a soloist Dainis has performed with many orchestras, including Sinfonietta Riga, who has been awarded the grammy award. He had won numerous competitions as a classical pianist and has performed in several classical festivals, including Piano aux Jacobins.
The original music of Dainis Tenis is permeated with the sounds of acoustic, prepared pianos and synths. In Dainis’ music, lyrical melodies are enlaced with unusual harmonic solutions that highlight a broad spectrum of emotions from tranquil meditation to technical eruptions of energy.
Hailing from the Latvian capital city of Riga, electronic brothers in arms Queer On Acid have been fervent dance music devotees since the 1990s. Born out of the LGBTQ community of which they belong to, the duo has had an impressive ascendency over the last couple of years that has included releases for Josh Wink’s Ovum Recordings, Shadow Child’s Takeout imprint, collaborating with original house vocalist & artist Robert Owens, and maintaining their burgeoning Queer On Acid record label.
The ‘Short Cut’ EP is the latest fruits of their labour, released on Dense & Pika’s ever consistent Kneaded Pains label. Lead track ‘Bob’ cuts up some gnarly lead lines with an ardent rhythm and drifting atmospherics, whilst ‘C Ex’ jacks out some crunchy funk over an industrious 909 beat as waves of elated pads wash in an old school flavour. A hypnotising percussive house rhythm, not too dissimilar to the classic ‘House Of God’ by DHS, build the foundations of ‘Not The Time’, as a raw Chi-town groove is shaped and pulverized with a seductive vocal loop.
‘Short Cut’ EP by Queer On Acid is released on Kneaded Pains from 3rd December 2021. Get it from major music platforms: https://fanlink.to/short_cut_ep.
Guitar player and music author Rihards Lībietis releases a new video for the composition “Miniature on Being”, which is the third single from the new album “Lines and Miniatures”, published at the end of October.
Composition “Miniature on Being” is a reflection on melancholy, search for inspiration, about impossibility of a true loneliness and finding strength within oneself. It’s composer and performer Rihards Lībietis reveals: “This is one of my favourite pieces of the new album – it’s quite a simple composition in its essence and instrumentation, but at the same time it’s a very fragile, emotional and sensitive work. It also includes sort of existential ruminations about someone always being there for us, even if we may not be aware of it. I sincerely hope that this composition will bring warmth, strength and self-acceptance to the listener.”
Video for the single was filmed at the end of the autumn in forests of Lilaste near the three lakes. It’s DOP and director is Janis Romanovskis, who says: “Music of Rihards Lībietis can take us on endless existential reflections and that is what directed our approach for the video – it’s filmed as a meditation in nature, reflecting in the music and catching the passing autumn in raindrops. A possibility to tune in on the artists’ soul through a combination of the music and eyes.”
“Miniature on Being” is an instrumental composition for the baritone guitar. It was recorded in “No Fuss Audio” studio in Tukums, its sound director is Valērijs Černejs. The composition can also be heard in the theatre performance “Upe” in Liepāja Theatre, directed by director and choreographer Kristīne Brīniņa. The performance was nominated for “Spēlmaņu Nakts 2020/2021” award.
“Lines and Miniatures” is the second original music album by Rihards Lībietis. It includes ten instrumental compositions, thematically dealing with feelings and events of the last year – especially loneliness, melancholy and uncertainty. At the same time, music is brimming with inspirational, energising and uplifting emotional charge. While originally intended as a solo-album, the album features various guest artists – Toms Kagainis (Drums, Percussion), Erna Daugaviete (Cello), Olga Bucinska (Violin), Ieva Rutentale (Flute), Matiss Repsis (Piano) and Beate Zviedre (Voice). Album was made with the support of AKKA/LAA Author Scholarship and is available on all music streaming platforms.
Author of the photos – Janis Romanovskis, Gribuvasaru.lv.
Waterflower says of the track: “I dream of a future where technology can co-exist with the natural world. But in reality, it is humankind that is the death of nature. Our world is in mourning for its future before it has even happened. An oasis is a self-contained eco-system, dramatically different from its surroundings. Humans need to change to accommodate nature, or else there won’t be anything to save and the oasis, if it exists, will cease to be.
Music Video Info
The music video is a short film that was directed by Ērika Daņiloviča. The music video’s concept explores the sadness and struggle of youth to want to live in the autumn of the world around them.
The production was supported by Sony Latvia and Master Photo.
“Quickstrike” continue their single trilogy, and have unveiled the fast and intense piece “Rebel Radio” for audiences worldwide.
“This one is a straight-forward old-school punk piece, and is the fastest one on “None of a Kind”. The song was basically born out of the chorus, which came first, and we combined it a wild and driving riff we had laying around, which fit perfectly. The lyrics are basically a recap of a pre-show preparation week, which we had a few of back in the day. It’s the fastest track on the album, and during live shows it’s our major energy discharge, where we make it as intense as possible” says the band.
The video was directed by Gunars Porietis, with location provided by Nikolajs Lukins. It was filmed on november 2020 at the “VR Audio” studio in Valmiera, Latvia.
The band continues: “The concept of the video was taking over a radio station and the airwaves in order to declare that “Quickstrike” have arrived, in case anyone missed the single and video release of “None of a Kind”. We’re going strong with our pre-album campaign, and plan to reach an even wider audience with this second single.”
“Quickstrike” have signed a record deal with “Rockshots Records” and their debut “None of a Kind” will be released on February 11, 2022.
The band “Very Cool People” will present their new album “50 Years of Influence + 30 Years of Cool Equals 13 Years of Music Hooliganism” with a special concert at the most famous live music club “Tamsta” in Vilnius, Lithuania. The concert will feature not only the compositions of the latest album, but also new compositions and special arrangements of already known compositions together with the young and talented singer Paula Saija.
As “Very Cool People” announced at their album presentation in Riga, the band’s plans for 2022 are to release new singles with Paula Saija, as well as a new album. The talented singer has been participating in “Very Cool People” concerts since 2018. At first, they were smaller concerts where Paula sang just a few songs, but now Paula Saija has become a great, powerful vocalist, who in 2020 and 2021 together with “Very Cool People” performed at festivals in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, including events such as “Ezīšfests”, “Šiauliai Jazz”, “Klaipėda Castle Jazz”, “Taurage Jazz” and “Augustibluus” & many others.
“We wanted to present our previous album “Koncertprogramma Pa Apli” in the legendary club “Tamsta”, but in 2020 due to epidemiological reasons it did not happen,” says the group’s leader Elvijs Grafcovs. “We then decided that immediately after our 2021 autumn-Balkan tour we would present our new album “50 Years of Influence” in Lithuania – Tamsta club, but we had to postpone those plans as well. Well, at last it looks like it’s happening!”
This will be the band’s only public concert in January, that’s why the band has also invited fans from Latvia to come to Vilnius and have a great party together with their beloved “braļukai”.
“A weekend in Vilnius with the opportunity to enjoy a cool concert in the great atmosphere of the Tamsta Club enjoying the good company of music lovers seems like a fantastic plan” adds Elvijs, who has also experienced the charm of nightlife in the Lithuanian capital during his studies there.
The album was recorded in the legendary basement studio of the Riga Reformed Church Mints Music Studio by no less than the legendary recording engineer Tālis Timrots. Andris Buiķis mixed the recorded material in Ciemupe & the whole group’s members relentlessly and pleasantly commented each step of the mixing process. The record is produced by Elvijs Grafcovs and mastered by the master legend Dave McNair at the Dave McNair Mastering Studio in North Carolina, USA.
Lineup:
Paula Saija – vocal; Oskars Ozoliņš – trumpet, vocal; Māris Jēkabsons – tenor sax, vocal; Laura Rozenberga – trombone, vocal; Kristaps Lubovs – baritone sax, vocal; Elvijs Grafcovs – guitar, banjo, vocal; Māris Vitkus – organ, synths, piano vocal; Jānis Olekšs – bass, vocal; Andris Buiķis- drums, percussions, synths, vocal
On the 6th of January, in collaboration with ALCE (Alise Diure) rapper E.V. releases a new video for a song from his upcoming album “The Smoke & Mirrors LP”, which is set to release on the 28th of January. The song as well as the video for “The Magic” thematically revolves around music. In the video for the song, the viewer gets a tour of significantly important locations for Latvian hip-hop where either music is created or inspiration gets picked up for the creation of music. Locations include Kreisais Krasts recording studio, Dirty Deal Audio’s studio, the recording studio of rolands če, as well as Latvian hip-hop legend Ozols’ clothing store Hoodshop, which is full of iconic hip-hop memorabilia and items. In the song, the saxophone is played by Ernests Aļļis.
“This very song and video is a crucial element for understanding the upcoming album. It depicts the relentless creative energy of an artist and the energy for the album itself. It’s all about the magic of music and the unmatched feeling of mysticism that comes with it. That’s why the song is called “The Magic”. ”
E.V. is a 22-year-old hip-hop artist from Ikšķile / Ogre who writes and performs songs in both Latvian and English. He is a member of two hip-hop groups – Kreisais Krasts and Brīvrunu Projekts. The start of his musical career dates back to 2016 but his debut album titled “Imperfect World” was released in 2017 (recorded in Dirty Deal Audio). His next big project was titled “2018” (recorded by rolands če) although E.V. himself defines this project as more of a “song collection” than a conceptually formed album. The rapper’s upcoming and most ambitious album yet “The Smoke & Mirrors LP” is set to release on the 28th of January, 2022.
E.V. has performed at multiple events as a solo artist and with the aforementioned hip-hop groups. Concerts have taken place in small clubs as well as some of the biggest festivals in Latvia, such as “Positivus”, “SummerSound”, “Baldones Waterfest” and many more.
With three released singles, Quickstrike has prepared their audience for the culmination – the release of the debut album “None of a Kind” on February 11 this year.
“Cheats n’ Liars” takes inspiration from the various situations and encounters with people that we experienced both before and during the writing of the album. Mostly during the latter – situations with different characters in showbusiness, their attitudes, work ethic and intentions. Their impressive offers with the fine print that says none of it is true, and their dishonest nature. We’re quite sure that everyone has had a run-in with these type, so anyone will be able to relate’’, says the band.
This is the second collaboration with director Gunārs Porietis, and this time the location used was the club “Live Art” in Valmiera. Chronologically, this is the first video filmed and, like the other two, was made in November 2020.
“We would like to thank the owner of “Live Art”, Māris Kalniņš, who has supported us from the very beginning, providing space for rehearsals, and making us the house band. With this video, we wanted to show ourselves on stage, and “Live Art” was the perfect place for it” – the band concludes.
Last year “Quickstrike” signed a record deal with Rockshots Records to release the band’s debut album, None of a Kind, on February 11, 2022.
Latvian heavy metal group “Iron Wings” releases the song “Apathy”. The song is the band’s second release from the new album, which will be released this year. The first track on the new album, Devils Lullaby, was released a year ago as the album’s cover.
This year, the band releases a second song – “Apathy”. Band about the song: “It’s about people and how they are affected by their own decisions and attitudes towards the world. What if the apathetic indifference of modern man to others, the diversity of opinion, and the right of every human being to be himself creates this situation when the only God to be betred by is yourself? What if you are the God and the Devil? And is it our decisions, choices and attitudes that either create our paradise or hell? ”
Iron Wings is a latvian heavy / thrash metal band from Riga founded in 2016. The band is three piece members who combine the features of the classic heavy metal genre with thrash metal elements to create a play with harmonies and sound colours. Iron Wings is not afraid to use a melodic chords between some heavy riffs.
The new song can be listened to on the band’s Bandcamp profile as well as on all music streaming sites and the group’s YouTube channel. Songs artwork is made by artist Gundega Bārzdaine.
After a one-year break, Riga DJ, songwriter and producer Rodion Gordin returns to music with his first single from 2021. Previously known due to his musical collaboration with popular Latvian artists, as well as last year’s collaboration with Ukrainian superstar Max Barskih.
Rodion’s latest song “Falling” was recorded in collaboration with a singer Jana, who was born in Latvia, but at the age of 15 moved to England with her parents, where she now graduated with a Music degree. Jana’s songs were also played on the well-known BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio. Jana wants to break the stereotypes in the music industry and represent more female producers and songwriters.
“We worked remotely, that is now relevant and even stylish. I wrote the music and lyrics for this song several months ago, but I couldn’t figure out which of the Latvian artists it might suit. Then, I was contacted on Instagram by Jana, who wanted me to listen to her new release. We had never communicated before. I immediately liked the timbre of her voice and I offered to record this song together, ”said Gordins.
The song was made in three countries: “Jana added lyrics and recorded the vocals at home, in her home-studio in England, I entrusted the guitar solo to a friend in Moscow and then mixed and sampled everything in my studio in Latvia,” says Rodion.
The new song “Falling” is available on all major streaming platforms around the world.
