Author: macha

How Town is a Belgian-Latvian band led by bass player/composer Lennart Heyndels. Their music is not easily classified, jumping from the more experimental corner of improvisation to a spontaneity and flexibility clearly rooted in jazz, they bring well worked out compositions taking inspiration from a pop, folk and singer-songwriter tradition. Since its beginnings in 2012, the band has released three albums: How Town (2013), a suite based on the E.E. Cummings poem ‘Anyone lived in a pretty how town’, No marvel (that I mistake my view) (2014) and I dare you sea (2016).

“I want to watch a tree grow” (2018) is How Town’s fourth album and definitely their most eclectic one. Consisting of compositions by all members of the band, the album has lyrics in four different languages (Russian, English, Latvian and French). Choral harmonies meet twisted bass grooves and sharp guitar sounds, before unnoticeably transforming into folk songs you might as well be whistling on your bike. Before you know it you find yourself in the middle of a compelling ballad with the rhythmic pulse of a ping pong ball and you may ask yourself: “How did I get here?”. A question which will become more and more irrelevant as you join How Town in watching their tree grow.

How Town has performed all over Europe including The Netherlands, France, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Belgium. They played at major festivals like Jazz International Rotterdam, Match & Fuse London and Theater Aan Zee and at concert venues like Bimhuis, Porgy & Bess and Stadtgarten. The band has won several prizes among which the Keep An Eye ‘The Records’ award (2017) and the Jong Muziek prize at Theater Aan Zee (2014).

Latvian blues rock, indie and alternative jazz band The Coco’nuts has released their second studio album No Other Way Out. Album is available for streaming on Spotify, ITunes, SoundCloud, Bandcamp and Google Play Music.

“No Other Way Out is about the journey of learning to find the beauty in everyday life. It’s about the little things we might not notice in the daily routine. About the highs and lows of life that make it worth living. Because after all the bruises, laughs, tears, experiences, and failures, in the end there is indeed No Other Way Out. So we might as well enjoy it”.

The eight songs of the album have been recorded in a greenhouse located in the suburbs of Valmiera, in collaboration with Latvian Radio Big Band musicians trumpeter Oskars Ozoliņš, trombonist Laura Rozenberga, saxophonist Kristaps Lubovs and other musical talents such as Melo M cellist Miķelis Dobičins and percussionist Migel Hernandez Giraldi from Chile.  The visual artist of the album is Aigars Opincāns.

No Other Way Out album livestream concert for friends and family can be found in HD quality on The Coco’nuts Facebook page. The band also invites everybody to the big album presentation concert on the 14th of June, club ONE ONE. The tickets to the concert are available on www.residentadvisor.net/.

The Coco’nuts consists of eight creative and vibrant personalities: Marija Broča as leadvocal, Monta Kurme backvocal, Inese Bērziņa backvocal and piano, Pēteris Narubins vocal and guitar, Jāzeps Podnieks flute, Artūrs Strautmanis drums, Toms Valmiers contrabass and Reinis Puriņš trumpet.

The music created by the band varies with funk, indie, blues rock and alternative jazz elements. The Coco’nuts started their musical journey in 2012 and so far they have recorded an EP Appetizer in 2014 and a studio album Amid Opposites in 2016. The band has played in many local and foreign festivals and events, including Positivus, Riga Funk Fest and International Jazz Day, Riga Rhythm Festival and Tartu Indie Music Festival.

This year’s Summer Sound festival’s line-up is now further expanded by rapper Gacho, this moment’s hottest artist from Lithuania Daddy Was a Milkman, as well as by Radio SWH Priekšnams stage.

In this year’s Summer Sound festival, you’ll be able to take part in one of the biggest shows this year for rapper Gacho. Attendants will also be entertained by a musician who has gained popularity in Latvia and Lithuania Daddy Was A Milkman, as well as bands Laika Suns and Polifauna, Belorussian band Super Besse and Liepājas Poprok skola (Liepāja’s pop-rock school).

This year the festival’s long time partner’s Radio SWH stage Priekšnams has transformed and become the second biggest beach stage, and will host previously announced Singapūras Satīns, Fakts, Edavārdi, Colours of Bubbles and Andis Grīva is WWMM. These artists will be joined by rapper Ozols with the band Tehnikums, as well as Priekšnams’ new bands ATOM, Patrisha, Aivo Oskis, Gandreiž 10-nīkā and Rock’n’berries.

Communications manager of Radio SWH Vladis Goldbergs comments on Priekšnams’ stage: “This year Radio SWH stage and Priekšnams have a new challenge – to showcase new bands, as well as popular and experienced musicians on their stage. For the new artists, to play at one of the biggest festivals in Latvia is a huge happening, especially, if it’s also the first time at a festival altogether. It is no doubt that everybody that sets foot on Priekšnams’s tage hopes that it is also going to be a great event for the listeners, as well, because in some years’ time the listeners might remember with pride being present at a now-popular bands’ first ever onstage performance. See you in Liepāja! See you at Summer Sound!”

Up until now these artists have been announced for this years’ Summer Sound festival – American rockband Goo Goo Dolls, the British rockband Coasts, German DJ Alle Farben, the local Musiqq, Aija Andrejeva, Labvēlīgais Tips, Dzelzs Vilks, Pienvedēja Piedzīvojumi, Rīgas Modes, Igo, Justs, Sudden Lights, Marta Ritova, Astra The 22’s, Rigga Reggae, Singapūras Satīns, rappers Ansis, Edavārdi and Fakts, DJs Toms Grēviņš and Makree, bands Čipsis un Dullais, Inokentijs Mārpls, Soundarcade, Židrūns, The Bongo Club, The Bad Tones, Múr, Buchares, PODRUGA, DJ Uldis Rudaks.

Lithuania-based musician Andis Grīva with his band – Andis Grīva is WWMM, Lithuanian Colours of Bubbles, Garbanotas Bosistas and Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys.

Right now the special Liepājnieku biļetes tickets are on sale. These tickets allow the local city inhabitants and their guests to buy entrance tickets for a lower price in all of Biļešu Serviss ticket offices in Liepāja. Every ISIC card holder is also eligible for purchasing a ticket at a lowered fee.

In year 2018, Summer Sound will take place for the 8th time, and has undoubtedly become one of the most improtant music events of the Baltic summer. That is confirmed by the thousands of attendees that come each year to the wonderful beach of Liepāja to enjoy musical entertainment and relaxation by the seaside for two whole days. Each year, the festival offers more than 50 artists, as well as providing a menu of various entertaining activities.

“Wow, you are really looking quite fabulous” – conveys Franco Franco’s newest song and video “You Look So Good”, which is the first single from the upcoming full-length album.

Band leader Elizabete Vētra explains: “The aim of the song is to encourage people to be brave. It is about freedom of choice, daring to look in the mirror and believing that you’re awesome – with all your quirks and peculiarities. Even if you don’t fit into the stereotypes dictated by society.”

“At the end of the long road that we call life, we’re all equal regardless of our skin color, looks, or the people we love,” Vētra adds.

The new single is the forerunner of the band’s first full-length album, which is to be released at the end of the year. “Does this song characterize the sound of the album? Possibly. And yet we do not believe in boundaries. That’s why the new album will be quite eclectic — featuring sounds characteristic to different genres like pop, electronic music, even post-rock,” says Reinis Kārkliņš, guitarist and producer of the song.

Franco Franco’s previous single “Vadugunis”, written in their native Latvian and created together with rapper Ipstens Kūns and producer Arstarulsmirus, received positive reviews from the public and Latvian radio stations.

“Franco Franco” has performed in some of the most popular local festivals – “Summer Sound”, ”Positivus”, “Fono Cēsis” etc., as well as opened for Tom Odell and Jessie Ware. The band has recorded two EPs — “Color Me” (2013) and “Moon + Light” (2016), produced by Reinis Sējāns (“Instrumenti”) and named among the best alternative or indie-pop music albums in Latvia in 2016.

This summer “Franco Franco” will perform at “Playground Festival” (July 14), as well as other concerts throughout Latvia.

A rockband from Latvia “CanZone” – after recently releasing their first LP “High Time” in CD format – offers now a video for one of the album’s songs “Kliedz bez skanas”. It’s a quite unusual and surprising visual material!

 A song video, that might be called also a short film, is fully handmade – in a technique apparently absent in nowadays music videos. This was accomplished thanks to two creative people from “machinaLID”. The music video is a filmed shadow play, insipred by Hans Christian Andersen’s immortal tale of the steadfast tin soldier, the fragile paper dancer and their ardent unspoken love. Andersen’s lesser-known passion for paper cutting is another source of inspiration.

“High Time” is a music album representing creative expressions from several passionate people, who dare to believe – it’s what the world needs to hear. Coming straight out from the underground rock scene, “CanZone” debut album contains ten original songs – half of them sung in band’s native language and the other half in world’s rockmusic language.

Rockband “CanZone” creates and performs music (fusion of rock, pop and folk) by focusing on the epic synthesis of electric guitar and accordion. Most of the songs were recorded, mixed and mastered in studio “Lauska” (in Riga, Latvia) under the supervision of sound engineer Kaspars Barbals. Though a couple of songs were recorded working with studio “GEM” and studio Reinis Brigis.

“Very Cool People” is an instrumental jazz-funk band originated in Riga, Latvia. With a backbone in jazz and funk, incorporating influences from rock and hip-hop, “Very Cool People” is creating modern and listenable music for a wide audience. While using contemporary tools, the band is trying to bring jazz & funk back to the dance floor and make it more accessible to ordinary, nowadays people. “Very Cool People” is an active-gigging band in which all the members love & enjoy performing live shows more than anything.

“Very Cool People” starting from June, each month, will release a new live video with tunes from band’s latest album “Heya Some Kind Of Fish …” – Camel’s Desert Party, Cats Do not Speak, Squash Express and Conde De Pimientos.

The video was created in cooperation with director Valdis Krumins and one of the hip Riga venue “One One”. “These videos have captured the essence of the album” emphasizes VCP’s leader and guitarist Elvijs Grafcovs. “These are our favourite four tunes from the album & they perfectly represents spirit of the album.”

“Heya Some Kind of Fish! We Don’t Know The Name Of This Fish In English, But In Latvian It Is Vimbas” released in 2017 is VCP’s fourth album so far represents pieces of a symbiosis between the different allied music styles – funk, soul, jazz, klezmer, Balkan & Latvian folk music. In 2015 they released their third album “Funkology” which also features guest artists – fantastic soul & jazz singers from Latvia. In 2012 the group released their second instrumental album “Cruising In The Trolley”. In June 2009 the band released their self-titled debut album. All of the band’s albums have been nominated in different Latvian Music Awards categories such as Best Jazz, Jazz & Blues, Instrumental, Best Debut, and the band’s stop-motion video for the song Hugo was nominated as best Latvian Music video of 2010.

Twin sisters duo DVINES, partnered up with a talented, rising producer RA (Reinis Ašmanis), present their new summer collaboration “Falling 4 U”.

“The song has got a modern, electronic sound, it’s definitely not hardcore dance music, but most certainly will fit perfectly into any music playlist of this summer” – say DVINES.

DVINES is a twin sister duo, songwriters and performers, who are mostly recognised in Latvia for their appearances on various TV shows, right now DVINES are working with electronic pop genre and actively collaborate with dance music producers.

RA, who’s real name is Reinis Ašmanis, just recently started his path as an electronic music producer, plays as a drummer for Jelgavas BigBand and other Latvian artists.

An artist Jānis Romanovskis has created a dynamic music video to the song «No Wine» from the debut album of Katrina Gupalo & the Black Birds «Gentle & Done» — the action takes place in New York, and the video features Michael Douglas.

This is a story about the first encounter with New York, the music and arts mecca where everything is possible. Meeting the famous Hollywood actor Michael Douglas right before midnight at «Grand Central», as well. That is a story about overwhelming feelings, when one meets the big city lights, rhythms and unstoppable nights for the first time.

In the making-of process the artist Jānis Romanovskis has been inspired by «Vinyl», the TV collaboration of Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese. Alternation of quick and slow shots is dizzy and ecstatic. Million faces and impressions bring one into a united mind chaos. Documental fixation of the moment ends up in a musically fulfilled visualised videoframe. «You can press pause for almost every moment of the video to sneak peek into New York sights or some colorful character» — Jānis Romanovskis characterises his work.

«New York is a feeling, that’s an art, that’s an opportunity, that’s a miracle. «No Wine» in New York is a stepping stone for the creative flight: the next stop is mine, no phonogram, no wine, I’ll tell you everything, all dreams in one line.» — tells the author of the song Katrina Gupalo.

 «No Wine» song recording featured Miķelis Vanags on guitar, Gatis Gorkuša on drums, Kristiāns Kosītis on bass, Elvijs Endelis on drums, as well as sound engineers Artūrs Sedriks Sinkevičs and Pauls Dāvis Megi.

The second single from the upcoming album is recorded in Latvian language. So far, VCP has released song in latvian just once in 2008, which makes it easy to calculate the regularity of the group’s “Latvian” singles – once every ten years.

The first single “We Should Dance” from upcoming new album, was released in the in summer 2019 and was a success in local radio stations. Kristina Prauliņa also was participated in this song. VCP is not at all alien to regular collaborations with other musicians, so more guest artists will be heard in the upcoming album. Including Evilena Protectore, Ralfs Eilands and Maija Sējāne.

Participants in the single “Pa Apli”: Elvijs Grafcovs (guitar), Maris Jekabsons (tenor sax), Kristaps Lubovs (baritone sax), Laura Rozenberga (trombone), Oskars Ozolins (trumpet), Maris Vitkus (keyboard), Andris Kaulins (Moog Synthesizer), Valter Sprūdžs (bass) and Andris Buiķis (drums).

Single recorded by Ivars Ozols and Edgars Skraģis, mix and master by Janis Kalve. Video by Valdis Krumins. Photo by Mārcis Baltskars.

At the end of this summer Madara (Múr) introduced everyone with a nostalgic preview of the album – first single “Confirmations”, but today Múr is releasing a song with a completely different vibe – “One weak breath away”.

Both songs let listeners understand that the upcoming album “Under allure”, which is coming out soon, is filled with different sounds and emotions.