“The single” GREEN “is my current feeling about what is happening in the world. The depressing situation is dragging on for so long that it never seems to end. I think that is how many young people my age feel – at a time when we have reached the age of majority and our lives should be in full swing, we are forced to sit at home, become estranged from each other and live in more and more mental health problems. Composing music for me is like relaxation, which helps me to cope with myself in these difficult times. Thanks to my musical family and the time I was born, I have had the opportunity to play in various music genres from an early age. You can also listen to my different music experiences in the music I create, which is difficult to put into one specific genre. The single “GREEN”, in collaboration with video artist Rūdolfs Kuncītis, has also made a video. ” says Fabiass.
Latvian rock and metal music groups and other representatives of the industry express their support to the people of Ukraine in these difficult times! Musicians and industry condemn Russia’s aggression and demand an immediate end to the war! Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes!
On Friday, 18th of March at 6 o’clock in the morning, a pop-up event “Meeting point” will take place in the yard of the Latvian National Museum of Art. Everyone is welcome to experience the magic of the sunrise accompanied by a musical performance from the Latvian indie band “Carnival Youth”.
The organizers “Ezera skaņas”, emphasize the importance of creating shared events to encourage the inclusion of Ukrainian people in Riga’s cultural scene and providing a public space for people to meet and share their experiences and stories during these challenging times.
The event will have a pop-up nature with an improvised stage, coffee and cookies. Attendees are encouraged to bring breakfast, warm blankets and picnic chairs.
For the following month, similar events at this location will be held weekly on Saturday afternoons. During the events, cash donations will be collected to support Ukraine.
For more information, visit “Ezera skaņas” Facebook page and the “Meeting Point” Facebook event page – https://bit.ly/MP_1803
Musicians from Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine have united in a song called “Resistance”. The song calls on everyone to support Ukraine in its fight against the military aggression of Russia. It honours the bravery and strength of its defenders and stands firmly for European values and the right to freedom of every nation. The musicians appeal to everyone not to be ignorant and encourage to support Ukraine in any way possible. The singers also call on other artists to create projects that keep Ukraine and its people in the spotlight. All proceeds from the streaming and performing of “Resistance” will be donated to support Ukraine.
Katrina Gupalo reveals that her family from her father’s side – her brother, cousin, their families and friends – are in Ukraine. In the first days of the war, she and many others were overwhelmed with despair, anger, sadness, and terror. The musician decided to convert these emotions into strength and energy to keep going while doing everything possible to help Ukraine. Katrina’s love for Ukraine has been in her heart since her childhood, and now it shines through in the song “Resistance”. Its lyrics are in the Ukrainian, English and Russian languages to unite everyone in the fight against the aggressor and to remind how important it is to support Ukraine right now. The song begins with a Ukrainian folk song that is followed by the inspiring and fearless chorus of the late Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, former Head of the Latvian Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly and member of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council, and finishes with the words of Kostiantyn Gupalo—the outstanding Ukrainian archaeologist and historian, Katrina’s father—that symbolically reveal the moment when to bid farewell to your life and loved ones. “Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš and my father have been standing for freedom and European values all their lives, and I believe that now they are protecting Ukraine from heaven in its fight against the annihilation of the country. That is the reason why their poetry is part of the song “Resistance”, says Katrina Gupalo.
First responders to the call were the music producer Armands Varslavāns and musicians from the group “Tautumeitas”, who emphasize that everyone must find a way to support Ukraine because ignorance can cost dearly: “Our hearts go out to all those who are heroically fighting for their homeland and the freedom of all. May this song touch Ukrainians’ hearts; may they know that they are not alone in this fight.”
A number of popular Latvian musicians contributed to the song: Ingus Ulmanis, Kārlis Kazāks, Katrīna Dimanta, Miks Dukurs, Roberto Meloni, Atis Zviedris, Gunārs Gaumīgs, Loreta Reide, Evija Smagare, Karlīna, AnnaKrista, Anita Intaite, Ilze Rijniece, June River, violinist Rasa Pole, flautist Sniedze Prauliņa, cellist Erna Daugaviete, guitarists Rihards Lībietis and Gints Smukais, drummer Matīss Uškāns, bass guitarist Kristaps Strods, including members of the bands “Tautumeitas”, “Citi zēni”, “Dziļi violets”, “Sub Scriptum”, “Sudden Lights”, “Franco Franco”, “Four Minute Man”, “Audiokvartāls” and “Embark”. Lithuanian singer Kamilė Griušytė and band “Deeper Upper”, Russian singer Dmitry Lanskoy, and Ukrainian musician Edgars Vilcāns can also be heard on the song.
The video for the song was filmed at H2O 6, RISEBA Architecture and Media Center. It was created by creative agency “Ai Production”, whose filming operator Edgars Punculis offered his assistance the moment he learnt that Katrina Gupalo is doing this for Ukraine’s support. Aiga Baikova, Director of “Ai Production” reveals that the decision to participate in the project was immediate. “Planning and production of this kind of music video, which includes about 80 people, usually takes weeks if not months, so this was definitely a challenge and a test for the team – to plan everything in a few days, do all the filming in one, and then do the post-editing in a similar fashion. We are extremely grateful to all the contributors, because when a war is happening next door, it is important to take a strong stance and to be aware that with our work we can influence the public.”
The video’s creative team portrays the current events from different angles, focusing on the horrors of war in Ukraine and the relentless information and propaganda wars on the Internet amid countless events to support Ukraine, and emphasizing Ukrainians’ strength, dignity, cultural heritage, and people’s account of the events.
Most of the musicians heard in the song also participated in the video. The video also features folk dance group “Perlinka” and pupils of the Riga Ukrainian School, as well as Ukrainian artists Laura Vilcāne with her son Edgars Vilcāns and violinist Valērija Mustafina, who have found refuge in Latvia from the war.
Laura Vilcāne, who works in the the Kyiv State Drama and Comedy Theater on the Left Bank, tells: “A song is always a powerful weapon. “Resistance” masterfully touches your soul, capturing the mood of fighting and battling. I was very surprised to find myself in such a warm circle of like-minded people. It really was a feeling that me and my son are at home and everyone around us is our own blood. We were all UKRAINIANS on that day!”
The producer and director of the video is Aiga Baikova, script writer and director of editing – Ieva Sarmiņa, DOP – Edgars Punculis, producer’s assistants – Paula Brante, Elīna Zarecka. Laser projection artist – Gatis Lagzdiņš from “Artistic.lv”, video projection artist – Anna Dzērve, stylist – Liene Grīnberga (Public Makes Image), makeup artists and hair stylists – Vita Vītola, Egija Andersone, Santa Sandule, Viola Jakubane, Ineta Lesīte. Everyone participating in the recording of the song and the filming of the video worked for free.
Katrina Gupalo expresses her sincere gratitude to all the musicians who participated in this project: “Yes, maybe one voice is a small drop, but when many voices come together they create a pond, a river, a sea, and even an ocean. And I believe that this ocean of voices will help our society to hold the right values, make the right decisions in our lives and with its powerful, elemental stream wash away the darkness and madness that has set upon us.”
The creative team of the project invites all musicians, who would like to create their own versions of the “Resistance” and would like to receive score, lyrics and song’s minus track, to write to katrinagupalomanager@gmail.com.
The creative team thanks all the supporters who helped to carry out the project: Riga Ukrainian school, especially Egils Vilkaušs, Marija Semjonova for the authentic Ukrainian folk costumes from her personal collection, Boriss Larionovs and “Piano Salon @152”, “Best of Baltic Entertainment”, “Music Export Latvia”, LAIPA, AKKA/LAA, IdeaText, LIDO recreation centre, “Mangaļi”, “BBrental”, “Artistic.lv”, RISEBA, “Zaļā bāze”, “Dobeles sveces”, “Ābeļdārzs Burtnieki” and others.
Artis Dvarionas, the voice of R.A.P., returns to music after a 12-year break with the protest song “Tukšpauris” (Muttonhead). His new stage name is Lapsene.
“I had originally planned to present my new music project at the end of this year, but with the Russian aggression in Ukraine, I couldn’t delay any longer,” says Artis.
Lapsene’s debut song “Tukšpauris” was written by Artis Dvarionas in collaboration with lyricist Igo, who is no stranger to opposing the aggressive eastern neighbour since the times of the Awakening in the late 1980s.
“The song “Tukšpauris” can resonate in many different meanings, but above all it is a message of protest with a call to action to put an end to the totalitarian regime beyond our eastern border”, Artis adds.
Under the stage name Lapsene, Artis intends to compose, arrange and produce the music for this project himself, by involving various lyricists.
“This event is special for me because for the first time I will be realising myself in a solo project, composing, arranging and producing my own music, involving different lyricists. I should mention that this is not a one-song project and the protest song “Tukšpauris” is a starting application for a broader and more ambitious musical goal”, Artis continues.
Participated in the creation of the song: Reinis Briģis (studio co-producer), Reinis Kārkliņš (audio post-production), Eduards Zagainovs-Veinbrants (video version).
Artis Dvarionas used to sing in the bands R.A.P. and TāTāTā, whose best-known songs are “Dzīve bez apstājas” (Life without Stop) (feat. Igo), “Nekas vairs nav tā” (Nothing Is as It Used to Be), “Tu esi dinamīts” (You Are Dynamite), “Ja nu tā esi tu” (If It Is You) and others.
This spring, musician EZIA will release her debut album “Cycles”, which was made in collaboration with composer and producer Reinis Ašmanis. The album presentation concert will take place on March 31, 2022 at the Digital Art House at Skolas Street 2, Riga.
The album “Cycles” tells about the cycles a person goes through on a daily basis and during their
lifetime. The songs talk about love, divorce, self-seeking and the realization of dreams. “The music
was created by combining my Latvian mentality with life in Brooklyn, New York, which allowed me to
get to know American music – R&B, neo-soul and jazz – from its source. The main message of the
album is to cultivate love and respect towards oneself, which then greatly influences our attitude
towards the world around us, ”says EZIA.
At the concert, EZIA will perform the compositions of the album “Cycles”, and listeners will also
have an exclusive opportunity to hear music that is planned to be released in the future. The concert
program will be complemented by specially designed video projections, which will allow you to
experience the musical atmosphere and message even better.
Doors open at 7.30 pm, the concert starts at 8 pm, tickets available at digitalarthouse.eu.
EZIA has spent four years working and studying in New York, where she graduated from The New
School for Jazz and Contemporary Music last year. More info on EZIA, including tours, audio
samples, news, and reviews is available on Instagram @eziaishere or Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
DIGITAL ART HOUSE is an art space for people who want to enjoy the works of world-famous
artists in a free, modern and relaxed atmosphere. Multimedia exhibitions are a symbiosis of the
works of genius artists and the possibilities of modern technology, which allows us to see what we
already know in a new light.
Singer and songwriter Muuna is launching a new solo project and releases her debut single “Dark Valley”. The song is available on all major digital music streaming services.
Spotify
“Dark Valley” is like a retrospective reflection about those destructive aspects of personality that are inevitably part of human nature. The interaction between the inner and outer worlds can be harsh, ruthless and challenging, but it is also transformative. The ray of light that tries to break into even the darkest corners gives the belief that after darkness there always comes light. ”
– Muuna.
The single was recorded and post-produced in collaboration with producer and sound director Gatis Zakis, while the final editing was done by Minerva Pappi from Waudio Mastering in Finland. Contributors to the project also include Rudolfs Dankfelds – drums, Marcis Vasilevskis – guitar.
Muuna in real name Sabine Zuga is a singer and songwriter who is better known as a lead singer of the band Carousel, representing Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.
“Augstāk Par Zemi” is a composition on freedom, the strength of the spirit, it is about the rights of each individual to live the life in any way they like, on support from your friends to follow through the chosen path and finally it is about your own perception and knowing what to be and how to be and not being told or pushed by anyone on telling you how things should be done ” – authors of the song Ervīns Ramiņš and Mārcis Vasiļevskis.
The song is captured at the recording studio “Laimes telpa” together with the guitarist of the band and sound engineer Mārcis Vasiļevskis which was then processed by Krišjānis Geidāns with final touches from Ģirts Laumanis.
“Laime Pilnīga” has released four albums of original music, all of them have been nominated for the best rock music record of the year at the Annual Latvian Music Recording Awards. The band has travelled across most of the Europe playing concerts and spreading the joy to the fans of rock music.
‘“Vaga Värded Ķäubed/The Gate of Silence Opens” is generally about the death of language and the rebirth of new life in all its ways. It’s also about misunderstanding and comprehension. And definitely it speaks about Love which is the final reality after every fire and apocalypse. I think it could be a poem of the Easter and the Midsummer Night at the same time,’ contemplates Kempju Karlis, the author of Livonian poetry.
The artists of the project ‘Kuolm randõ/Three Shores’, inspired by the contemporary Livonian poetry, have enclothed Livonian language in nowadays original music. It is chamber music with
layers of different sound nuances and moods, bordering between the discovery of new musical horizons and following traditional canons. The musicians are united by their interest in the
shades of academic, jazz and world music.
Livonian is a language of indigenous peoples of Latvia, and it is listed in the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger as one of the most critically endangered languages in the
world. This year starts the Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2022–2032) with the aim to draw global attention on the critical situation of many indigenous languages and to mobilize
stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization and promotion. Kempju Karlis is the only poet in the world who writes poetry in the lost and mysterious Vidzeme dialect, which is
also called the Salaca Livonian language, using his own orthography. A song is an opportunity to immerse oneself in the language, get to know its sound, use it, preserve it and carry it to a
wider audience.
Double bass player Stanislavs Judins, the author of lyrics, says about the single: ‘Language, poetry and people impact my thoughts and ideas. In recent years, I have focused on free
improvisation, contemporary music, but only when I met musicians in this project, I wanted to compose a simple melody in the senses of poetry.’
The poem ‘Vaga Värded Ķäubed/The Gate of Silence Opens’ is taken from the book ‘Trilium/Trillium’ (2018) published in both Livonian and English by the Livonian Cultural Center. It
is the first contemporary poetry book in Livonian language, which was widely recognized: it received the Annual Latvian Literature Award in special nomination (2019) and the Estonian
Literature Award for the related nations program (2020). In 2021 the book was published also in Estonian and Latvian languages.
The performers who took part in the recording of the single: Elina Ose (singer and artistic director of the project, producer), Janis Rubiks (double bass), Austris Kalnins (keyboards) and
Ernests Medins (percussions), string quartet JUNO, Kristaps Krievkalns (sound engineer, producer), Armands Treilihs (mix/master).
The single is made in cooperation with the University of Latvia Livonian Institute and the State Culture Capital Foundation and is a part of the upcoming album ‘Kuolm randõ/Three Shores’,
which is planned to be released in the second half of this year.
The project ‘Kuolm randõ/Three Shores’ will be performed on April 20 at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu and on May 5 as part of the music festival Tallinn Music Week within the
Fenno-Ugria Night in Tallinn
Estonia’s premier music industry event Tallinn Music Week (TMW) is thrilled to reveal the first speakers for the conference taking place within the event on 6th – 7th May. The panellists include Simon Raymonde, Owner and Managing Director of Bella Union, which celebrates its 25th anniversary at TMW, the main instigator of the Britpop movement Jane Savidge, as well as the Managing Director of Mute Song David McGinnis.
The music industry programme of the conference is developed in cooperation with the music industry development centre and export office Music Estonia.
TMW 2022 PRO Pass is available for a discounted price until the end of January.
Simon Raymonde, former Cocteau Twin and the owner and managing director of Bella Union which celebrates its 25th anniversary at TMW, has discovered artists like Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Midlake and hundreds more. He also looks after the European releases for Spiritualized, Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, etc and has recently returned to making music once more by forming the duo Lost Horizons. Simon will discuss the journey through the music business as well as share invaluable advice for the next generation of musical talent.
As co-founder and head of legendary PR company Savage & Best, Jane Savidge is widely credited as being the main instigator of the Britpop movement. At TMW, Savidge will present her new book Here They Come With Their Make Up On: Suede, Coming Up… And More Adventures Beyond The Wild Frontiers, out on 12th April. Besides Suede, Jane has represented other Britpop stars like Pulp, The Verve, Elastica, The Auteurs, and Menswear, and many other influential artists of the era, including The Fall and The Jesus and Mary Chain.
Canadian-born London-residing David McGinnis is the Managing Director of Mute Song, the music publishing partner of the eminent Mute record label. Prior, he held licensing positions with PPL and MCPS. Mute Song publishes music by Jóhann Jóhannsson, Max Richter, Underworld, Swans, Bob Geldof, Peter Green, Liars, Wire and many other distinguished composers and recording artists.
Other speakers for the TMW conference include the artistic director of Slovenian festival MENT Ljubljana Andraž Kajzer, founder of Berlin’s booking agency von der haardt Ralf Diemert, agent at ICM Partners/Primary Talent Beckie Sugden, Festival Director of Oslo World Festival Alexandra Archetti Stølen, and Board Member at Norwegian Greener Events Linnéa Elisabeth Svensson. Estonian industry is represented by the popular artist and songwriter Daniel Levi and the Head Promoter of LiveNation Estonia Eva Palm.
The full TMW 2022 conference programme and main topics will be published gradually from February to April.
TMW 2022 takes place on 4th – 8th May in the Estonian capital Tallinn that bears the UNESCO City of Music title from 2022.
TMW 2022 passes are on sale at shop.tmw.ee. Until the end of January the PRO Pass, which grants access both to the music festival and the conference, is available for 150 euros, raising to 175 from February.
The selection of passes also includes Festival Pass and DigiPRO Pass, which provides online access to the conference.
TMW festival is founded and run by Shiftworks OÜ. The festival’s strategic partner is the music industry development centre and export office Music Estonia.
