Category: News

The most popular Latvian jazz-funk group “Very Cool People” will celebrate Baltic Unity Day with a concert in Vilnius. It will take place on September 22 at the legendary music club “Tamsta”, where the group will offer its Lithuanian fans a new concert program together with the charming singer Paula Saija.

For almost five years, the Latvian band “Very Cool People” has been a frequent guest in Lithuania, regularly performing at various festivals, such as “Vilnius Mama Jazz”, “Klaipedos pilies jazz festival”, “Šiauliai Jazz”, “Big Band Festival Šiauliai”, “Taurage Jazz ”, “What’s Next in Music?” and in others. Also this year, the group performed at several Lithuanian festivals, as well as performed at concerts together with the attractive Lithuanian group “Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys”

“Since I studied in Vilnius in 2004, Lithuania is always close to me,” says the leader of the band “Very Cool People”, guitarist Elvijs Graftsovs. “I feel there as with real brothers, I speak to the audience in Lithuanian as well. It is often not very grammatically correct, applying Latvian inflections to Lithuanian words, but the listeners understand and sometimes corect me!”

No less important fact for the group is that it is not only the Baltic Unity Day, but also Maris celebrates their name day. For “Very Cool People”, this means a three-fold celebration – Baltic Unit Day, the premiere of the new concert program in Lithuania and the worldwide celebration of Māris Day, as the group is proud have two Māris in their collective.

“I also feel at home at concerts in Vilnius, because this will be the third time I will be on the stage of the Tamsta club together with Very Cool People,” says singer Paula Saija. “But this time will be very special for me, because we will play a concert program of original music created together.”

The new program has just been polished to shine in several concerts in the Czech Republic and Germany, from where the Latvian group will come to their brothers in Lithuania. During the summer, “Very Cool People” actively gave concerts both in Latvia and Lithuania, playing around 50 concerts in total.

Very Cool People:  Paula Saija – vocal;  Elvijs Grafcovs – guitar;  Māris Jēkabsons – tenor sax; Kristaps Lubovs – bariton sax;  Laura Rozenberga – trombone, vocal;  Oskars Ozoliņš – Trumpet;  Māris Vitkus – keyboards;  Jānis Olekšs – bass;  Andris Buiķis – drums.

Tickets

We met “Taurud” with songs like “I Keep Loving You”, “I’ve Been Carrying My Past Lives With Me” and “Night Sky”. After a creative break, the artist is back with a new track “Without Your Light”. It is available today on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and all major streaming services.

This time the overall sound is a little different, folkier, and seemingly more positive. Nevertheless, the dreamy feel and heartfelt vocal delivery are still there. The song is about the feeling of drifting apart, bittersweet sadness, and yet true togetherness, love, and care. “Taurud” is working with talented musicians from Manchester, and an up-and-coming producer Sean Rogan (Spotify Sean Rogan). This collaboration is set to continue to record an EP and later a whole album. The song is written by “Taurud”.

Artist says that the last year has been a road of discovery of who he really is, why he is on the current path, and now is ready for a creative leap forward. “I was hiding for quite some time. I still wrote songs and met people I wanted to collaborate with but wasn’t going out there to show any of my work to anyone. I needed to redefine what my purpose in music was. Now I simply want to do it to give something beautiful to everyone and to make this world a better place. No attachments to money, success, attention, or anything like that. Just pure creativity. This song is about my love for every human on the earth.”

The musicians plans to release another single in spring, followed by an EP, album, and concerts in Riga and Jurmala. “Taurud” is actively participating in Manchester’s music scene. He’s hoping to return to his home country in spring with a new song and video.

Latvian singer-songwriter Chris Noah releases his new single, ‘Only Yours’ via Sony Music Finland & Baltics. It is the second offering from Chris’ sophomore EP ‘Red Light’ set for release on November 4th. ‘Only Yours’ follows the success of Noah’s first single under the label – ‘Sunboy’ – which peaked at #21 in radio airplay charts in his home country, Latvia. Along with some blistering post-lockdown live performances, the release sees Noah reconnecting with a dedicated fanbase.

The new single ‘Only Yours’, produced by Kristofer Harris (Bears Den, Belle and Sebastian, etc), is an up-tempo and immediate indie-pop track laced with bubbling guitars and synth textures, neatly arranged to showcase Chris Noah’s assertive vocals.

“I think all of us have gone through a phase in our life where we realise that we have to leave someone or something behind in order to start over. There’s a lot to say goodbye to, a lot of good, therefore we tend to romanticise the past,” Chris says. “We can get delusional, which can lead to us questioning our own decisions, harbouring feelings of jealousy or fostering discontent” tells Chris about the single.

Chris Noah has been described as one of the most exciting newcomers from Latvia. Coming from a musical family Chris wasn’t that into music until at the age of 17, when he re-discovered his interest in music and started making his own material together with his brother. His first single ‘Had It All’ became a huge hit in Latvia and a year later his sophomore single ‘You’ received an award from the Latvian Authors’ Association for one of the most played radio songs of 2017. Ever since Chris has been gaining attention for his distinctive vocals, relatable lyrics, and strong sense of melody. With his next self-released singles ‘River’ and ‘Fall Through’ in 2018, Chris received praise from a variety of blogs including Indie Air, AlexRainBirdMusic, Uranium Waves, Comeherefloyd, Aofd3, Mystic Sons, York Calling, Wolf in a Suit and many others. In 2020 Chris released his debut EP ‘Distance’, which received a nomination for the best debut at the Latvian Music Awards in 2021.

“Hypochondriac” is BAIBA’s second single from her upcoming mini-album or EP “Compulsive”.

The rhythmic and playful electro-pop song tells the story of BAIBA’s struggle with health issues and the resulting insecurity.

“It was the biggest motivation to create a slightly funny, satirical and self-healing song. To look back at these experiences with a smile,” says BAIBA.

At times, when mental and physical health are equally important, it is important to keep them both in balance, the artist believes. And that’s exactly what the song itself and the bright, 90’s pop music inspired video is about. Making of the video took place in the Tyrolean hospital. It was created in collaboration with Austrian video company DTW and Streetmotion dance studio.

“Hypochondriac” is the second single from BAIBA’s upcoming EP “Compulsive” which is due out next spring.

The intro and outro of the song is voiced by the TikTok content creator well know in Latvia by the name “Edza”. The sound of the song is slightly “heavier” than previously
released songs.

“We have been playing around with the thought of trying to compose something “heavier” The structure of the song “came together” effortlessly. The heavier breakdown of the song was something new to us as well, but without a doubt – enjoyable. “, comments lead guitarist and producer of the group Kārlis “Šīns” Pūle.

We are a part of the alternative rock genre because it allows us to combine different styles. “The song “Drown” is about leaving everything in your life behind you and expressing your attachment to others. Even though the lyrics of the song refer to sinking, its true meaning is completely the opposite”, says lead singer and rhythm guitarist Jānis Klāsons.

The song is available on all of the popular music streaming platforms – Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music etc. We wish you a pleasant listen and hope to see you at our concerts!

Latvian band “The Coco’nuts” have released their third full length album “Forward Back”, which includes 10 songs. An ear, a prominent figure for the album, symbolizes the act of listening – to the music itself, the echoes of the world, and the voice of the band’s audience.

EZIA, an up-an-coming Latvian singer from New York – on October 14th will release her
new single “Head High”. The song will be available on all music platforms.

The sound of the song combines pop, trap and R&B characteristic sound with influences from 2000s pop songs creating a nostalgic and inspirational tune. “”Head High” talks about never giving up and keeping on keeping on even when we don’t feel like it. It came to me very quickly and I feel like I had had these emotions and unconsciously wrote it to myself,” says EZIA.

EZIA, a Latvian born singer and songwriter, moved to New York in 2018 and has been traveling around for the past years. Her debut album “Cycles” which was released in the end of March 2022 gained very positive music critic reviews and was featured on music blogs such as Stereofox and more.

Instrumental jazz fusion band “S&T Syndicate” introduces listeners with an animated music video for their composition “Afternoon Train”, which is included in the bands newly released album “Elevator Music 2.1”.

The musicians of “S&T Syndicate” describe their composition “Afternoon Train” as a scenic vision of a retro train ride through a mountainous area with many tunnels and with a plot worthy of a detective which maintains tension and intrigue. The “Afternoon Train” music video, created by Kaspars Bucs, is an animation that will allow the listener to take on the role of a passenger on an afternoon train.

“S&T Syndicate” is an instrumental fusion band from Riga, Latvia which, combining elements of jazz, rock and electronic music genres, has just released its second studio album “Elevator Music 2.1”. While ironizing about the concept of elevator music, “S&T Syndicate” describes the album as their elevator music version 2.1, where you can step into the elevator and meet the weirdest and most interesting types of creatures while the elevator itself will take you to the most unusual places.

DJ duo “SKRAPNESHI” (DJ Monsta & DJ PM2THEAM) release their brand new single “Feel That”, featuring Latvian musician, comedian and activist Ralfs Eilands. “Feel That” is a single from the “SKRAPNESHI” upcoming debut album, which will be available this winter.

“This tune is about our inner and external freedom. I think that freedom, especially in the country that we live in – Latvia – is a hot topic. One of the things that we can do is to exercise our freedom within on a daily basis. It is quite symbolic that the featured artist on this tune is Ralfs Eilands – a person who has actively shown his support for Ukraine and also has been awarded the Certificate of Merit by Latvia’s president Egils Levits,” says DJ Monsta.

DJ PM2THEAM adds, “Finding your inner freedom is an adventure! I think that this song represents the journey to your inner freedom. I hope that “Feel That” will inspire our listeners to never give up on their dreams.”

Ralfs Eilands, who also wrote the lyrics of the song, says, “The melody and lyrics came to me in a heart beat. Freedom, in my opinion, is the hottest topic right now. At least in Latvia. It is up to us how we choose to exercise our freedom.”

“SKRAPNESHI” is a group formed by 2 well known Latvian DJ’s and producers – DJ Monsta and DJ PM2THEAM. Their weapon of choice is turntables, with which they express the main idea of “SKRAPNESHI” – freedom and happiness. As fans of old school, they often quote hip hop legends, legendary speeches, movie quotes and more.

“Feel That” is available on all major streaming services.

Artwork by Zahars Ze – zaharsze.com

EZIA, an up-an-coming Latvian singer from New York – on October 14th will release her
new single “Head High”. The song will be available on all music platforms.
The sound of the song combines pop, trap and R&B characteristic sound with influences from 2000s pop songs creating a nostalgic and inspirational tune.

“”Head High” talks about never giving up and keeping on keeping on even when we don’t feel like it. It came to me very quickly and I feel like I had had these emotions and unconsciously wrote it to myself,” says EZIA.

EZIA, a Latvian born singer and songwriter, moved to New York in 2018 and has been traveling around for the past years. Her debut album “Cycles” which was released in the end of March 2022 gained very positive music critic reviews and was featured on music blogs such as Stereofox and more.