Category: News

Aivo Oskis publishes his debut album called “Suvenīrs” along with the title single. Ten songs total on the album, including both romantic ballads and rhythmic pop tunes, to sing and dance along to. The song “Suvenīrs” is about treasured memories we will always hold close to our hearts. Several songwriters, including Kaspars Ansons, Liene Atvara, Oskars Deigelis, and Jānis Driksna, worked together to write this song.

Aivo has also released a music video for the single, which illustrates a romance between two people who are no longer together. The events and memories made, however, cannot be taken away. The focus is not on the pain and goodbyes, but rather on the necessity of learning how to obtain these mementos.

On October 20, rock trio B OPTIMIST release their third single „Tie būsim mēs”. It is a song from their upcoming fifth studio album which is planned to be released this late autumn. A music video for the song „Tie būsim mēs” is also out now – it is the 15th video in the band’s history.

The main idea of the song and video is the passage of time – about the way that life is rapidly passing before our eyes, and only by stopping for a moment and looking back, we can appreciate how much time, the world, and ourselves are changing. The video alternates between shots of the band members today and many years ago. The oldest shot used in this music video is from 2004. “Tie bijām mēs, tie būsim mēs” is another reminder to appreciate what we have and where we are going.

Song: https://open.spotify.com/album/5nY4sBHUj0tW3jVlXw3s3h

Music and lyrics: B OPTIMIST. Video: Valters Levins, Kristaps Bērziņš, Gatis Levins, Roberts Levins. Special thanks to Rihards Vecvagars. The song is available on music streaming platforms from October 20. The band is planning to play concerts at the beginning of next year, which will also coincide with the group’s 10th anniversary.

B OPTIMIST play energetic and emotional rock music in Latvian since 2013. So far B OPTIMIST have released two singles – “Akvareļos” and “Mēles” – from their upcoming fifth studio album. Before that the band released their album “Visur skan”, an acoustic album “Turpinies!” with Latvian folk song lyrics. The debut album “B OPTIMIST” was released seven years ago. It was then followed by the EP “KOPĀ”. B OPTIMIST is Valters Levins, Roberts Levins, Linards Liepa. Their music is available on Spotify, Bandcamp, iTunes, Youtube, etc.

Contemporary psychedelic blues rock band So Lucid Electric Feel has released its second album Social Mindscream.

As the title of the new longplayer suggests, the album conjures up scenes in which a mind hungry for love and society manifests itself in different ways and characteristics.

“The album includes both sides – fantasy and reality, without giving up the opportunity to create your own artistic signature,” says the band’s vocalist and guitarist Uvis Gailis. “The story of the pieces winds through the labyrinths of motivation and routine, yet it is able to reproduce several emotions. Our songs give free rein to everyone’s imagination and provide the opportunity to find multiple identities.”

The album was made in Siguldas Skaņu Studija in cooperation with Latvian Blues Band bassist Mārcis Kalniņš, who is also the sound engineer of the new musical material, as well as the creator of the final mix and master version.

So Lucid Electric Feel is a trio founded in Sigulda, Latvia, in 2015, in which vocalist and guitarist Uvis Gailis, bassist Kristaps Sproģis and drummer Raitis Kalniņš have combined their musical skills. A couple of years ago, the band released their debut album We’re All Connected.

The new album Social Mindscream can be heard on major music streaming platforms.

Album in YouTube

The annual Latvian music record award “Zelta Mikrofons’ 23” take place on February 18, 2023 at the Ķīpsala International Exhibition Center, Rīga. The winner of each category receives two prizes – physical statuette and digital NFT, designed by world known Latvian artist KIWIE.

“Zelta Mikrofons” is one of the oldest and most important awards of Latvian music industry, summing up the excellence of Latvian music industry for 27 years. The past years the ceremony was broadcasted in TV channel TV3. For the first time at “Zelta Mikrofons’ 23” the audience will have a chance to celebrate with the musicians and enjoy the red carpet event. A limited number of tickets are available to the ceremony.

Latvian artist KIWIE is best known for the colorful street art, design and his secret, witty “grand dad” identity. KIWIE gained international recognition for his “Fat Monster” graffities. He comments on the collaboration with “Zelta Mikrofons”: “The time is changing and so does “Zelta Mikrofons ”. It might be the first time in Europe and even the world when a music award will gratify the winners with two prizes. One is the traditional physical statuette the other one – NFT that certifies the ownership of the microphone by the particular prize winner. Each nomination’s NFT will look slightly different, based on the specific style of the nomination. ”

“Zelta Mikrofons 23 ” will open a nomination for the most streamed Latvian recording in 2022. The data collection will be provided by “Ranger computers” (UK) and supported by Association of Latvian Sound Recording Producers, Publishers and Distributors (LaMPA), Association of Latvian Performers and Producers (LaIPA). The nomination will be represented by the brand Elektrum.

More information: http://www.zeltamikrofons.lv/

MAASA or Paula Kristiana Pētersone, releases her new song “Vilcienos”, which is the first single from the artist’s upcoming EP.

“Riga – Melluži is a train route that I have traveled countless times. In winters, summers, mornings and evenings. And, both at the age of ten and in adulthood, whatever the circumstances and weather, I was always greeted at the end by the lights of my grandfather’s car. Until last October, when the lights went out. I put this pain and bittersweet feeling into the song and together with producer Edvards Broders we added more audial layers to it. I hope that the song will be like a warm and nostalgic hug in these times when there is so much sadness and beauty in this world at the same time”, says MAASA.

The recording and post-production of the song was done in cooperation with producer and sound engineer Edvards Broders. Drummer Artūrs Strautmanis also participated in the song recording.

The video of the song was filmed in the yard of the singer’s grandparents’ house in Melluži. “Vilcienos” is available on all major music streaming platforms.

Paula Pētersone works as a creative copywriter, and also participates in various creative projects, last year making her debut as a director of the music video for the song “Getting Dark” by the group “The Coco’nuts”.

Today, on June 1, Latvian band “The Bad Tones” published a new single “Sunny Side” from their homecoming EP “Back Together Forever”, which will see the light of day in late June.

The lyrics of the song speak about reflections that for a moment arise when we tend to be just so happy that various everyday obstacles seem insignificant and sometimes it’s even hard to believe in their existence. The message of the song is a wish to get into such moments more often and to find joy in simple everyday things. “Walking on the sunny side of the street, especially towards the sun, literally makes me smile. I narrow my eyelids and for some reason my teeth show and make a little weird smile. I wish having sunglasses would be more convenient for me, because I wear optics already,” Kalvis imaginatively shares his feeling about the single.

The first sketches for the single were captured during the band’s annual creative camp and was later recorded at the “Red House” studio in Riga, Latvia. Keyboardist Teodors Kerimovs also took part in the recording. The song was produced and mixed by Jaspers Ras and mastered by Rengert Eggink, who are the band’s friends and partners from their study time in the Netherlands.

“Sunny Side” is one of the five compositions included in the upcoming EP “Back Together Forever”, which will be out on June 29. “The EP’s title “Back Together Forever” speaks for itself. We see it as a turning point in the band’s history. Probably not in terms of sound or any other musical expression, but definitely in the dynamics of the band. This is the first recording made while all of us were in one country, one city, one studio. And here it is important to add that we met ten years ago,” tells Edvards.

Nature and blues inspired union was formed in 2012 and was named “The Bad Tones” in 2017. It is represented by Edvards Broders (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Rudolfs Ozols (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Alberts Levics (vocals, bass guitar) and Kalvis Slezis-Zalkalns (vocals, drums). Up until now “The Bad Tones” has released EP “Bad Tunes” (2018), studio album “Is It Good Enough?” (2019), live album “Ezera Skaņas” (2020), as well as the song “Nest”, which is also included in the upcoming EP.

Alternative pop band Podruga has just released the single “Don’t Let Me Down” from their upcoming album “Sextasy” coming out in September. 

The melancholic dance track is inspired by the 90’s indie electronica. Airy and liberating, it makes you tempted to follow the White Rabbit and find your own Wonderland. The first draft of the song was written by the band’s vocalist Alise, when she took all of her music equipment and went to a music writing camp in Lithuania all by herself, instinctively recording the feelings of the moment. “Then I realized I’m chasing my own White Rabbit and trusting it to lead me to a better place,” says Alise. 

The music video follows Alise’s journey to a kinky Wonderland. It features some of the brightest names in today’s Latvian art world, such as performance artist Evelīna Baha, audiovisual artist Marss The Person, and drag queen Vencheska Baltique. 

The single was recorded and produced by Edvards Broders (“The Bad Tones”) at the “Red House” studio in Riga, and mastered by Alberts Levics (“The Bad Tones”). 

“Podruga” is: Alise Stefanoviča (vocals, keyboards, flute), Ričards Dauksts (guitar, keyboards), Jana Petkus (bass guitar) and Kārlis Lazdovskis (drums). The band was formed in 2016. So far, Podruga has released five singles and EP “YPA!”, which was highly acclaimed by the Polish radio station Radio Centrum.

On June 10, rock trio B OPTIMIST release their second single „Mēles” from their upcoming fifth studio album which is set to be released this autumn. A music video for „Mēles” is also out now.

This time the music is based more on electronic sounds, with a light, nostalgic summer feeling. „Our longest conversations started with – I’m going to sleep” – this song is about carefree moments and great unplanned adventures.

Song in Spotify

Music and lyrics: B OPTIMIST. Video: B OPTIMIST. Special thanks to Velta Liepa, Laura Ozola, Jānis Grosbahs, Toms Bahs un Signe Rusiņa. The song is available on music streaming platforms from June 10.

B OPTIMIST will perform this summer:

July 9 – „Fontaine GypsyCamp”, Liepāja

July 30 – festival „Summer Sound”, Liepāja

August 5 – festival „Bauska TASTE”, Bauska

August 13 – festival „LIMBIZKVĪTS 3”, Limbaži

In April B OPTIMIST released the first single „Akvareļos” from their upcoming fifth studio album. Previously B OPTMIST have released their album “Visur skan”, an acoustic album “Turpinies!” with Latvian folk song lyrics. The debut album “B OPTIMIST” was released seven years ago. It was then followed by the EP “KOPĀ”. B OPTIMIST – energetic and emotional rock music in Latvian since 2013. B OPTIMIST is Valters Levins, Roberts Levins, Linards Liepa. Their music is available on Spotify, Bandcamp, iTunes, Youtube, etc.

Osokins’ Freedom Festvial for Ukraine took place in Riga from May 25 until June 8. As a reaction to Russia’s military aggression, this year’s festival was dedicated to Ukraine. Almost 80 musicians and actors well-known both in Latvia and globally came together to perform nine concerts at five different venues: the Black Heads House (Melngalvju nams), Hanzas perons, Piano salon @152, “Ola Foundation” and the Anglican Church. During the festival over 20 000 EUR were collected from ticket revenues and donations for Ukraine’s support.

During the festival many Ukrainian musicians and actors – war refugees, who were forced to leave their country because of Russian military aggression, had the opportunity to perform on stage in collaboration with a multitude of leading Latvian artists and get involved in the cultural life of Latvia. One of the goals of the festival was to enable Ukrainian artists to continue pursuing their profession, so that cooperations born during this time may develop and enrich Latvian and European culture.

It was symbolical that the opening act of the festival on May 25 was performed by Anna Nimayer an actress from Mariupol’s Drama Theatre – a place known all over the world because of cynical shelling by Russian military, despite knowing that hundreds of people from Mariupol including many children had sought asylum there. After the performance Anna Nimayer revealed that now she has no theatre, no home, which was also destroyed by military, and no city and that she is grateful to have the opportunity to express her feelings on stage which was immensely important for her and the audience in the hall.

The program of each concert included music by Ukrainian composers as well as Ukrainian folk music and poetry to popularize Ukrainian culture in Latvia and to invite audience to explore deep roots and colorful culture of Ukraine. More than 100 free invitations to the concerts were given to refugees from Ukraine currently living in Latvia. In cooperation with Viche, the confederation of associations of Ukrainians living in Latvia, special minivans were placed at the venues of the biggest festival concerts providing the opportunity to donate the necessary things and items to Ukrainians. All donated goods will be delivered to Ukraine.

The highlight of the festival was the closing Gala concert that took place on June 8 at Hanzas perons, where 50 Latvian and Ukrainian musicians and actors performed together on one stage in front of 600 spectators including the president of Latvia Egils Levits, Minister for Culture Nauris Puntulis, Deputy Chairman at Riga City Council and Ambassadors of Ukraine, Poland, United Kingdom, Estonia and Lithuania, as well as Deputy Chief of Mission of United States Embassy in Latvia. The final performance was the song “Resistance” by the united artists of “Latvia for Ukraine”. The concert ended with standing ovations.

Until Wednesday, June 15, it is possible to contribute to the donations on the Ziedot.lv website https://www.ziedot.lv/osokina-brivibas-festivals-ukrainai-4251.

 

On June 26, a special night concert by musicians Igo and Katrina Gupalo will take place at the St. Savior’s Anglican Church in the Old Town of Riga which will also be dedicated to Ukraine’s support. Tickets can be purchased here https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/event/118141.