A dark train ride into our mind – “The Coco’nuts” releases new music video “Getting Dark”

Latvian indie band “The Coconuts” have released a new single and music video – a visual tale of a young man taking a trip on a train and in his mind simultaneously.

The compelling look at minds’ darkest corners is set on the backdrop of enchanting Nordic scenery and combines different art forms – music, contemporary dance, sculpture, and strong visual language.

“We never know what’s going on in another person’s head. Someone may look calm and all put-together, but can have a whole hurricane going down in their mind at the same time,” says Paula Pētersone, the director of the video. “Many of us experience anxiety and panic attacks, because of storing and hiding our emotions. We try so hard to bury the negative feelings, but the more we run away from them, the worse it gets. Until we burn out or break apart and everything that was buried deep down for so long comes out. It was this exploding breaking-point moment that we tried to embody in the video, inviting everyone to stop running away from yourself, acknowledge that there are problems, and start solving them”.

The lead role of the video is played by the dancer and choreographer Marģers Vanags, who had to go through several extreme experiences – sink underwater, get buried in the peat fields, stare into the eyes of a burning statue and make a headstand on a riding train. “The Coco’nuts” band members are also riding in the imaginary train wagon playing different characters. At the end of the video, a wooden statue made by the band’s bassist Toms Valmiers is burned – as a symbol that sometimes you have to say goodbye to your old self in order to move forward.

This is the third single from “The Coco’nuts” upcoming studio album “Forward Back”, which will be released in spring 2022. The video was created by a creative team together with video artist and cameraman Daniels Veiss, written and directed by Paula Pētersone, produced by Anna Pētersone, and mixed and mastered by Toms Lisments.

The Coco’nuts consists of six musicians and creative souls united by friendship and music since 2012. Their songs are characterized by strong, dark and powerful lead vocals, bold improvisation, ever-changing melodies and plenty of instruments. They describe themselves as follows: “We’re like Latvian rasols — a sausage-potato salad that fills you up and has a bit of everything in it: alternative jazz, indie, blues rock and funk. We truly believe our sound is unique but we might remind you of Bahamas, Regina Spektor, Erykah Badu, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings. But we only mentioned these because our manager told us to!”

The Coco’nuts have released an EP Appetizer (2014) and two studio albums Amid Opposites (2016) and “No Other Way Out”(*2018). Their third studio album Forward Back is due in spring 2022.

Dainis Tenis – a pianist from Latvia – is releasing his first single momentum II

The piece is about repetitive moments in our daily lives, which very often are taken for granted and are not appreciated. Such as waking up for a new day, seeing thousands of colours or having a refreshing sip of water when You’re thirsty. momentum II sets focus on the big value in these tiny things.

Dainis is an active member of well known crossover, instrumental band DAGAMBA. As a band they perform worldwide including several arena concerts in Baltics and Russia, their albums had won numerous awards. After their debut in Glastonbury festival DAGAMBA has headlined many world known festivals.

As a soloist Dainis has performed with many orchestras, including Sinfonietta Riga, who has been awarded the grammy award. He had won numerous competitions as a classical pianist and has performed in several classical festivals, including Piano aux Jacobins.

The original music of Dainis Tenis is permeated with the sounds of acoustic, prepared pianos and synths. In Dainis’ music, lyrical melodies are enlaced with unusual harmonic solutions that highlight a broad spectrum of emotions from tranquil meditation to technical eruptions of energy.

Queer On Acid releases their third EP in 2021 – “Short Cut” EP on Kneaded Pains in the UK

Hailing from the Latvian capital city of Riga, electronic brothers in arms Queer On Acid have been fervent dance music devotees since the 1990s. Born out of the LGBTQ community of which they belong to, the duo has had an impressive ascendency over the last couple of years that has included releases for Josh Wink’s Ovum Recordings, Shadow Child’s Takeout imprint, collaborating with original house vocalist & artist Robert Owens, and maintaining their burgeoning Queer On Acid record label.

The ‘Short Cut’ EP is the latest fruits of their labour, released on Dense & Pika’s ever consistent Kneaded Pains label. Lead track ‘Bob’ cuts up some gnarly lead lines with an ardent rhythm and drifting atmospherics, whilst ‘C Ex’ jacks out some crunchy funk over an industrious 909 beat as waves of elated pads wash in an old school flavour. A hypnotising percussive house rhythm, not too dissimilar to the classic ‘House Of God’ by DHS, build the foundations of ‘Not The Time’, as a raw Chi-town groove is shaped and pulverized with a seductive vocal loop.

‘Short Cut’ EP by Queer On Acid is released on Kneaded Pains from 3rd December 2021. Get it from major music platforms: https://fanlink.to/short_cut_ep.

Rihards Lībietis releases a new single and video “Miniature on Being” from the new album “Lines and Miniatures”

Guitar player and music author Rihards Lībietis releases a new video for the composition “Miniature on Being”, which is the third single from the new album “Lines and Miniatures”, published at the end of October.

Composition “Miniature on Being” is a reflection on melancholy, search for inspiration, about impossibility of a true loneliness and finding strength within oneself. It’s composer and performer Rihards Lībietis reveals: “This is one of my favourite pieces of the new album – it’s quite a simple composition in its essence and instrumentation, but at the same time it’s a very fragile, emotional and sensitive work. It also includes sort of existential ruminations about someone always being there for us, even if we may not be aware of it. I sincerely hope that this composition will bring warmth, strength and self-acceptance to the listener.”

Video for the single was filmed at the end of the autumn in forests of Lilaste near the three lakes. It’s DOP and director is Janis Romanovskis, who says: “Music of Rihards Lībietis can take us on endless existential reflections and that is what directed our approach for the video – it’s filmed as a meditation in nature, reflecting in the music and catching the passing autumn in raindrops. A possibility to tune in on the artists’ soul through a combination of the music and eyes.”

“Miniature on Being” is an instrumental composition for the baritone guitar. It was recorded in “No Fuss Audio” studio in Tukums, its sound director is Valērijs Černejs. The composition can also be heard in the theatre performance “Upe” in Liepāja Theatre, directed by director and choreographer Kristīne Brīniņa. The performance was nominated for “Spēlmaņu Nakts 2020/2021” award.

The single “Miniature on Being” can be heard on all music streaming services, including Spotify.

“Lines and Miniatures” is the second original music album by Rihards Lībietis. It includes ten instrumental compositions, thematically dealing with feelings and events of the last year – especially loneliness, melancholy and uncertainty. At the same time, music is brimming with inspirational, energising and uplifting emotional charge. While originally intended as a solo-album, the album features various guest artists – Toms Kagainis (Drums, Percussion), Erna Daugaviete (Cello), Olga Bucinska (Violin), Ieva Rutentale (Flute), Matiss Repsis (Piano) and Beate Zviedre (Voice). Album was made with the support of AKKA/LAA Author Scholarship and is available on all music streaming platforms.

Author of the photos – Janis Romanovskis, Gribuvasaru.lv.

Latvian art-pop producer Waterflower releases her latest single and music video, Oasis / Gen S(AD)

Waterflower says of the track: “I dream of a future where technology can co-exist with the natural world.  But in reality, it is humankind that is the death of nature. Our world is in mourning for its future before it has  even happened. An oasis is a self-contained eco-system, dramatically different from its surroundings. Humans  need to change to accommodate nature, or else there won’t be anything to save and the oasis, if it exists, will  cease to be.

Music Video Info
The music video is a short film that was directed by Ērika Daņiloviča. The music video’s concept explores the sadness and struggle of youth to want to live in the autumn of the world around them.
The production was supported by Sony Latvia and Master Photo.

Latvian producer MICKEEN with singer Katrīna Kreile release a collaborative single “Bad Habits”

Electronic music producer MICKEEN (Miks Pinzulis) in collaboration with Katrīna Kreile on july 17, released the single “Bad Habits”.

Katrīna Kreile about the song: Wanting something that you can’t have is one of the most annoying feelings ever, but it’s not something that we purposely choose to do, it’s a pattern that we can’t break that easily. This song is about how we often unconsciously catch feelings for the ones we can’t have while friend-zoning everyone else no matter how good they might be. And each time that happens, our guardian angels probably get very disappointed in our choices. They send us some great people into our lives because they only want what’s best for us, but unfortunately we get attracted only to the ones who are emotionally or physically unavailable. Sorry, guardian angels, there’s nothing we can do about it, just like with any other bad habits.

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.

Mickeen with rapper Ods releases a song called “Lights Off”

Latvian electronic music producer Mickeen (Miks Pinzulis) in collaboration with Ods (Valters Grīnfogels) releases the track “Lights Off”.

Ods about the song: Track lyrics are about all the negative things that one says to another even not knowing them personally. These words dishearten and ridicule a person so much that they don’t even think they’re suitable for love. Later in the song the character finds someone who loves them voluntarily, despite the things which are said about them. I believe that all people, also those who do not express their feelings, will love with all their heart those who’ll see in them something more than complexes and defects which all people possess.

This is the second track from Mickeen’s EP “Bad Habits” which comes out in late August. EP will contain artists such as Katrīna Kreile, Ods and Zeļģis.

Latvian rapper ZEĻĢIS drops song “PUIKAS”

Latvian rapper ZEĻĢIS in collaboration with producer MCKN an rappers Ods and Goča release single “PUIKAS”.

‘’The song tells the story of an exciting and colorful path from the countryside to the city. All artists in this piece are from small towns hence the following topic seemed appropriate. To some small town have left bitter experience, while other have had the best years so far but now we all are in Riga where we try to fulfill or plans and go towards our dreams and doing what we love’’.

ZEĻĢIS is a rapper from Lēdmane and have started his activities less than two years ago he have released several singles, however has gained greater visibility through participation in “371 clique” project.

It’s worth mentioning that this is not the first collaboration with Ods and Goča, they have made rap group “mid”  and right at this moment are working on one of their first projects together.

Pacific K releases new solo EP “Light Variations”

The new “Light Variations EP” is out on July 30, gathering 4 solo variations of the band’s songs.

Listen to “Light Variations EP” on all major streaming platforms

While the band is on a creative break for a while, 2021 has started with new ideas, perspectives and energy for Kristaps. While also working on brand new songs and a couple of collaborations, he has re-imagined some of the songs from the band’s LP “Light Between Oceans” (2020) into new solo versions that all come together on the new “Light Variations EP”. The EP combines minimalistic beats, vibey guitar sounds and the essentials – stories and melodies. One of the 4 songs featured on the EP is “White Wanderer” and it was the initial push towards the idea of an EP.

“Playing around with samples and minimalistic beats suddenly opened up a whole new world to me. I had never done that before. It was a chance for me to explore new sounds, strip the songs down to their bare minimum and then build them up again from a new perspective. I had a lot of fun in the process,” says Kristaps.

Each of the 4 songs from “Light Variations EP” will be accompanied by a simple, one-shot video filmed at Kristaps’ countryside house and its surroundings.

Playing together since 2016, the Latvian four-piece includes Rihards Libietis (guitar), Nauris Babris (drums), Toms Kursitis (bass) and Kristaps Bedritis (vocals, guitar, songwriting). Pacific K released their debut EP “Blue Fall” in 2017, followed by the full-length studio album “Light Between Oceans” in 2020, gaining praise from their listeners, as well as some industry professionals. The album was rich and colourful in sound, featuring some additional instruments (flute, piano, trumpet, Arabic oud, hang drum, percussions), as well as a couple of guest artists, including the world-renowned French jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz on the song “Castaway”.

Pacific K have many live gigs under their belt, including major festivals in Latvia (Positivus, Laba Daba, Playground, Piens Fest), RIGaLIVE showcase, shows in the Baltics and a few appearances at the global live concert series Sofar Sounds. In 2017, they opened for one of their influences – the British band Fink. In 2019, they appeared at a local late-night show, played several concerts, including a couple of gigs with the British band Eyre Llew and had their music featured in the documentary short “Mind Your Step”, as well as a promo video for the brand “BEE IN”.