Rick Feds x March releases a fresh sounding boom bap with summery music video

This juicy blend of ear pleasing sounds and a fluent jammy flow looks on the classic boom bap through a fresh lens. The glitchy, unpredictable beat arrangement of Rick Feds keeps you locked in guessing what’s going to happen next and is followed by simple, clean rhyme schemes of an 18 year old rap prodigy March. Definitely displaying also great video talent of the 23 year old visual artist Mark Landman. The music video has been filmed using the green screen and so the two leading characters travel through different environments creating positive energy and almost a humerus feel at times. The funky, vibrant selection of colours sync well with the music and leaves you with a good summery vibe.

Rick Feds is considered to be one of the greatest finger-drummers in the world today, but if you ever catch him live it will be something that you’ve never experienced before. The former jazz drums and classical piano background makes a key difference in Rick’s playing abilities on the sample pad and allows him to perform all elements of beat arrangement live in a way that’s never been done before. And it goes on.. All of his pads are synced to visuals and lights matching the sounds and telling the visual story alongside music. Basically he is playing God controlling your entire reality with his fingertips. In Rick’s eyes he is an ambassador of a new art form and striving to do his part extending future technology dimensions that a man can use to express impulsive emotions.

Rick has opened shows for James Arthur, Jungle and AraabMuzik.

He has done solo shows at venues like The Cutting Room (NYC), SXSW (Austin) and has been included in Ableton’s TOP 5 performers list for two years in turn. Also included in SCENES Media ”7 musicians to watch in 2019”. But don’t get too drawn away only by the performance side. His production/sound design skills are like ear vitamins that are easy to be consumed while listening to his tracks.

“Very Cool People” release a new video titled “Alone in Biksti”

The unstoppable Latvian band Very Cool People has produced a new video for a music piece that is already the fourth single of the  upcoming group’s new album, “50 Years of Influence + 30 Years of Cool Equals 13 Years of Music Hooliganism”, expected in October.

When “Very Cool People” goes to play concerts to Liepāja and drives through Biksti, the band members have a tradition of poking each other (‘bikstīt’ in Latvian means ‘to poke’, so the town ‘Biksti’ would be ‘Poketown’ in English), thereby waking up those who sleep and annoy those with weaker nerves.

“Tradition needs to be respected,” say the group’s spiritual leader and guitarist, Elvijs Grafcovs, confidently. “When going back to Riga after playing a concert or the next day after the after-party, we all poke each other while passing through Biksti.”

In “Alone in Biksti”, the video portrays a musician who has ended up alone in Biksti and has no one to poke. The song’s sweet-hearted subject, therefore, is about the harsh reality, when you are already completely alone, and then it turns out to be in Biksti. However, the encouraging end of the piece makes it possible to realise that nothing is over yet, and it gives hope that the protagonist will return to Biksti with his friends whom he can poke.

“According to an old Latvian belief, if you walk in Liepāja on Riga street or if you walk in Riga on Liepāja street and a crow poops on you, you’ll be crossing Biksti alone for the next two years…”, Elvijs summarizes the idealistic analysis of the new composition.

The video version of the single has been created by the group’s trumpetist and kebab business magnate, Oskars Ozoliņš, and Elvijs Grafcovs who is also the author of the new tune and has provided his help adding a spaghetti western twist to it. “This composition is like a mix of different musical influences of my own — Ennio Morricone mixed with Dire Straits & some Gypsy jazz with Too Many Zooz on top. It is an instrumental song which would be perfect for a Tarantino movie & mixes a variety of musical genres, crossing all imaginable borders.” – says Elvijs.

Written & arranged by Elvijs Grafcovs; Mixed by Andris Buiķis at Ciemupes Production, Ogre, Latvia; Mastered by Dave McNair at Dave McNair Mastering, NC, USA; Released by SIA VERY COOL PEOPLE.

The new music also continues to include all the “coolest”musicians: Oskars Ozoliņš – trumpet, Māris Jēkabsons – tenor saxophone, Laura Rozenberga – trombone, Kristaps Lubovs – baritone saxophone, Elvijs Grafcovs – guitar, Māris Vitkus – keyboard, Jānis Olekšs – bass, Andris Buiķis – drums and percussion.

Makree returns to Wh0’s Wh0 plays label for new single „Heading South“

Following his recent release on Tom & Collins’ Terms & Conditions label, rising producer now returns to Wh0’s Wh0 Plays imprint for new single Heading South.

Swiftly making waves with his grooving house flavours, Makree is the latest talent to rise from the Baltic scene with tracks like his breakthrough single Never Been In Love with Secondcity on Danny Howard’s Nothing Else Matters imprint that surpassed over 3M streams.

Sending him soaring, Makree has now garnered support from BBC Radio 1, Annie Mac, Disclosure, Claptone and more whilst landing his own solo originals on the likes of Eton Messy, Too Many Rules, Let There Be House, Brook Gee Records, Terms & Conditions and of course Wh0 Plays.

Speaking on the release Makree shares: “When I first heard the sample I knew I had to flip it. After testing out first versions of it live, I knew this track had good energy and needed to be released ASAP. Feels great to have another release coming on Wh0 Plays Records with a banging remix from DIAL9 added to the package.”

Making for an uplifting acid-tinged dancefloor sizzler with tribal tones plus a hefty remix from DIAL9 on the flip side, Makree’s Heading South is destined to propel the one to watch to skyrocketing new heights.

Makree – Heading South is out now via Wh0 Plays.

Chris Noah, Very Cool People, The Bad Tones and Kasetes will represent Latvia at the Lithuanian showcase festival “What’s Next in Music”

According to the Latvian Music Development Association / Latvian Music Export Office, the annual music showcase festival and conference “What’s Next in Music?” will take place in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius from September 9 to 11, organized by the Lithuanian Music Business Association. During the showcase festival, Latvia will be represented by Chris Noah, Very Cool People, The Bad Tones and Kasetes.

Chris Noah, best known for his guitar-driven sound, authentic voice and gripping melodies, is a Riga-based artist and songwriter gracefully combining indie rock with catchy pop. Noah’s first EP “What About Tomorrow?” received a nomination for the best debut at the Latvian Music Awards and his latest EP “Distance Deluxe” received a “Best Pop Album of The Year” nomination at the 2021 Latvian Music Awards.

With a solid backbone in jazz, funk and soul, incorporating influences from surf, klezmer, rock and hip-hop, Very Cool People have been putting jazz & funk back on the dancefloor since 2007. Hailing from Riga, the band has lit up clubs and festivals from Estonia to Romania, from Spain to South Korea.

The Bad Tones is nature and blues-driven psychedelic rock quartet from Riga characterised by dreamy guitars and wavy vocals. In their social presence and musical outcry, the band accentuates the problems of art consumerism in the modern age and concentrates on getting the audience involved in the music listening process as it was done in the early days of sound recordings.

Kasetes is a synthpop/indie pop band from Vaidava. Imagine the reminiscing sound of 80’s pop music with a modern twist, dreamy guitar riffs and the sound of synthesizers blasting through your car stereo as you drive into the night. The latest record “Dialogue” has been awarded with a Golden Microphone as the best Latvian electronic music album of 2020.

In the conference section of the event, representatives of the European music industry will take part in various discussions on topics such as the economic impact of the music industry, mental health and others. On September 10, alongside industry representatives from various European countries, Guna Zučika, the founder and head of the music management and consulting agency “Every Little Thing”, will participate in the panel discussion “Foreign Markets – What’s Next?”.

Latvian music industry participation in “What’s Next in Music?” is supported by the Latvian Ministry of Culture, LaIPA and Latvijas Balzams.

Music project “MUUD” releases a new song and video “Nedienas” (eng. “Bad days”)

Music project “MUUD” releases a new song and video “Nedienas” (eng. “Bad days”) to bring attention to socially relevant but yet highly ignored themes of suicide, addiction, and mental health issues. With this video, MUUD attempts to highlight the necessity to talk openly about mental health problems and suffering in order to be able to establish an effective dialogue and cultivate tolerance for those who go through such pain.According to the World Health Organization, Latvia is one of the leading countries in terms of the completed suicides per 100 thousand inhabitants, currently ranking 15th in the world and 2nd in the European Union. The song “Nedienas” is part of the third musical release of “MUUD”, the theme of which is mental health and factors that influence its complications. The creators of the project “MUUD” are the members of Latvia’s largest hip-hop association “Kreisais Krasts”  – artists Punkts uz I (Ingus Šusts), Cepums (Mārtiņš Mednis), Jānis Krūmiņš, as well as the cinematographer and director Toms Rings.

Singer-Songwriter Patrick Tabaks To Release Debut Album ‘Lost My Mind’ In September 17th

Patrick Tabaks is busy readying his debut album Lost My Mind for release in September. The 17-year-old singer-songwriter spent much of 2020 writing and recording the nine-song collection in studios in the U.K., Sweden, Canada, the United States as well as his native Latvia.

Lyrically, Lost My Mind finds the singer contemplating existential questions and exploring his own emotional psyche. “The album is really about what has been growing inside of me all my life,” Patrick explains. “It’s about what I’ve grown up to experience or what I’ve wondered about. So, a lot of the songs are kind of about, I wouldn’t like to say philosophical questions, but questions you don’t really want to think about daily. But those questions stay in your head. And the other half of the album is the romantic half. It’s about my emotions.”

Link to the album

The album’s first single “From Time to Time,” was inspired by the bittersweet nature of grief. “[It’s] a song about the people you’ve lost in your life. The song is about my grandma and my grandpa. I really didn’t get to spend that much time with them [growing up]. Now that I think back, I wish I could’ve spent more time with them. It’s a song that gives you the feeling of loss but at the same time the feeling of happiness that you had when you spent all those moments with those people.”

Another single, “Are You Even Real,” marks a left turn both sonically and in content. “[It’s] a little bit of an outlier,” Patrick says. “The music itself is a bit different than the rest of the songs. But I thought it was an interesting song with an interesting concept… “Are You Even Real” is [about] my fear of what happens after death. I just think that talking about your fears is just as important as talking about the rest of your emotions.”

While Lost My Mind has an undeniable pop sensibility, its influences range from jazz and flamenco to lo-fi rock. Such versatility is unsurprising for an artist who’s been a musician almost as long as he’s been alive.

“I started doing music when I was six years old,” Patrick says. “I remember my sister teaching me how to sing at our home piano. And I really started to enjoy it a lot. And when I was seven years old I started going to a music school where I got my inspiration from working with these teachers. All these people who were also into music…it gave [me] a sense of what it is to be a musician and what joy you can get out of it. I think that’s really where my inspiration came from.”

Under the tutelage of his teacher Valda Tracuma, Patrick began singing opera at the age of 11, performing at the Latvian National Opera and becoming known as “the boy with the golden voice.” Over the next four years, he performed duets with famous opera singers such as Sonora Vaice and Elina Shimkus and performed in productions of different operas both in Latvia and abroad.

Even with his own album complete, Patrick has no plans to slow down. He is currently cowriting and co- producing new songs with singer Elizabeth Luka, as well as collaborating with producer Tim Lars on an electronic pop single called “Countryside” that will be released in the fall. He has also started rehearsals for the leading role in a new musical written by Janis Lusens that will debut in November. Patrick will also be a part of the cast of Rent when the production resumes at the end of 2021.

New Pop singer Elisija Releases New Single “Non-Productivity

The song is a reminder that no one is a superhuman, and it’s totally okay that from time to time, we find ourselves on a day when there is a whole list of work that needs to be done, but somehow nothing goes according to the plan. There are countless excuses, other less important or even not important things are done first.

The singer says: “From my experience, I can say that unproductive days will come from time to time, it should be considered, but there is no point in feeling infinitely bad about it. We just have to assume that it is perfectly normal to go one day without feeling guilty, that absolutely nothing has been done, because you know internally that there will be a new day and new possibilities tomorrow, but a break is needed today!” The song is in English, and it is available on various music streaming platforms. (Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music, Amazon Music, iTunes, Pandora, Tidal etc.)

Rihards Lībietis releases new single and music video from upcoming album

Guitar player and composer Rihards Lībietis has released a new single “Transcending Parallels” from upcoming album “Lines & Miniatures” due to be released at the end of October. A music video for the single directed by Jānis Romanovskis has also been released.

The new composition “Transcending Parallels” is a story of transcending various borders – real, imaginary, either created inside ourselves or established outside – and achieving a next level.

The single was recorded under guidance of sound designer Valērijs Černejs in “No Fuss Audio”, Tukums and “AMFO Music” studio in Riga. Drummer Toms Kagainis is also featured on the record not only recording drums, but also percussion elements by using various objects found in the studio in a stroke of inspiration – kitchenware, knives, metal water bottle among many others.

Rihards Lībietis says: “At the beginning the idea behind the project was to create a guitar album – by using various playing techniques, looping etc, but strictly keeping the focus on one instrument – but, as the writing process started, music evolved and it was clear that more sound layers should be added with different instruments. This track “Transcending Parallels” actually was the first demo for the album. It’s still possible to perform this song by using just one guitar and a loop station. Of course, the sound is now on a completely another level thanks to the inspired effort of Toms Kagainis and phenomenal support from Valērijs Černejs with his insight on achieving a great studio sound.”

Its director and DOP Jānis Romanovskis: “Rihards sent me the music and let me roam free with ideas. After listening to the song many times, this video came together – a little bit about rush, about getting lost in labyrinths. We filmed using timelapse, technique which is usually used in breathtaking nature videos, but this time let us play with time – allowing us to press long filming episodes in a few seconds.” The new album “Lines & Miniatures” is set for release on October 26th, being the second original music solo album by Rihards Lībietis. It can be considered an ideological successor to musicians first solo album “RL Elektronix”, released in 2015. “Lines & Miniatures” will feature 10 compositions and appearances from Toms Kagainis and other guest artists. Album was created with the support of AKKA/LAA Author Scholarship.

“Transcending Parallels” can be heard on music streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Rihards Lībietis is a musician and music author, regularly performing with various Latvian musicians and bands, mainly in “Rihards Lībietis Orchestra”. Rihards also composes and performs music for theatre plays and contemporary dance performances, such as “Upe” (2020) in Liepāja Theatre, “Bannija Manro nāve” (2017) and “Izraidītie” (2014) in Dailes Theatre and others.

Carnival Youth release “Good Luck Remixes” EP with a visualiser for the remix of “Baby”

Carnival Youth release “Good Luck Remixes” EP which features alternate versions of 6 tracks from their 2019 album “Good Luck”. This eclectic mix of different genres and styles is no short of surprises. The EP includes already released singles “Only the Moon Can See the Sun (Bel Tempo Remix)”, “Boys Do Cry (Kasetes Remix)” as well as remixes by such Latvian electronic masterminds as Elvi, Kashuks, Platon Buravicky and Carnival Youth long term collaborator and producer Gatis Zakis.

Carnival Youth came up with the idea of “Good Luck Remixes” about a year ago. Emils Kaupers from Carnival Youth explains: “We called up a few of our friends – artists and eventually came to a very colourful bunch. We gave them absolute freedom; they could choose the song themselves and do with it whatever comes to mind. Add new musical structures, use only the voice tracks (as Elvi did with “Desktop”), or remake songs beyond recognition. The results are very different and interesting. We believe that “Good Luck” has gained a new parallel life!”

To coincide with the EP release, the band shares a visualiser for one of the remixes – “Baby”, courtesy of Gatis Zakis. The video is done by Creators 22 team, who also remade the previously released – “Only the Moon Can See the Sun” and “Boys Do Cry” – remix videos. Gatis Zakis comments on his remix of “Baby”: “Creating a remix is like taking a baton and continuing on a map that has not yet been drawn. Fortunately, the song itself contains an inexhaustible amount of both sound and content, hence the journey turned out to be easy and exciting.

Listen to “Good Luck Remixes” EP here

The Latvian indie band Carnival Youth is one of the most successful new generation bands from the Baltic region. Carnival Youth fuse neat melodic lines with the energy of alternative rock and indie music, while their emotional range varies from youthful melancholia to pure, bright joy. Since the formation of the band, Carnival Youth have released five records, from which the latest one – “Good Luck” came out in August 2019