Category: News

Chris Noah releases lyric video for his single “Only Words”. The track is about how in many situations people can be selfish and do things that benefit them but present it like they’re doing it for the other person. “Words are only words – they can make people feel a wide range of feelings, however, they’re kind of useless if you can’t back them up with actions,” explains Chris. Noah’s 2nd EP “Distance”, which was released in 2020 and includes “Only Words”, is nominated for Latvian Music awards in the category “Best Pop Album”.

Regarding the writing process, Noah explains: “Usually the stories behind my songs are influenced by my own experiences, but “Only Words” is inspired by seeing one of my best friends go through a rough patch in his relationship. It’s interesting to observe this type of situations from the sidelines, it’s definitely easier to see the big picture.”

“Only Words” is produced in collaboration with London-based producer Kristofer Harris (Bears Den, Belle and Sebastian, Ghostpoet etc.) and the lyric video for the track is made by a Latvian graphic designer Didzis Bardo.

Chris Noah is a Riga-based recording artist who gracefully combines indie rock with catchy pop. Noah first gained attention with self-released singles “River” and “Fall Through” – receiving praise for his distinctive vocals, relatable lyrics and a strong sense of melody from a variety of blogs including Indie Air, AlexRainBirdMusic, Uranium Waves, Comeherefloyd, Aofd3, Mystic Sons, York Calling, Wolf in a Suit and many others.

The band “Rihards Libietis Orchestra” has published a new musical composition and music video from the upcoming album “Willful Blindness”, due to be released in late spring 2021. Author of the composition is Rihards Lībietis, and the idea for the music came last spring, during the first self-isolation period. “Driftwood Island” tells about movement and passage of time, but not in their obvious sense – more like driftwood on the shores, having experienced an unimaginable journey before ending up there.

“In this work I feel a very strong feeling of roots and introspection. Everything around us is in constant and unpredictable motion and it is unbelievably important to not lose your footing and self-reliance in all the unforeseen changes. Although it was not initially planned when working on this composition, the worrying events in the world can also be felt in there,” says Rihards Lībietis.

“Driftwood Island” was filmed at the seaside on a winter day and captures the powerful and moving emotions of the music. The video was filmed and directed by Laima Jaunā.

“With this video I tried to bring the viewer in the world of dreams and illusions: where surreal landscapes, mirroring sky and band members as dreamy characters lure the viewer in never-ending thought labyrinths with every frame,” the feeling of the video is described by its director Laima Jaunā.

“Driftwood Island” is the second single from the band’s upcoming fourth album “Willful Blindness”, set to release in late spring 2021. The album’s themes will be about self-responsibility and acceptance of personality’s shadow side. Composition was recorded in “Amfo Music Studio” Riga by Toms Lisments.

Rihards Libietis Orchestra is a quintet performing instrumental, dynamic world music, mixing influences from African, Middle Eastern and Latvian Folk Music with Blues and Jazz. The band was formed in 2015, and has released 3 albums, the newest “Reflections EP” came out in Fall of 2018. Rihards Libietis Orchestra regularly performs in the Baltic area. The band consists of Rihards Lībietis (guitars), Gints Smukais (guitars), Jānis Polis (bass), Erna Daugaviete (cello) and Matīss Repsis (percussion).

Authors of the lyrics and music is “Pirmais Kurss”. Song mix – Arnis Račinskis. Producer – Dāvis Mazurenko. Master – Kaspars Ansons and Krišjānis Geidāns.

“Pirmais Kurss” is a group of normal young people who play cool music in their free time. In their ten-year existence they have played concerts all over Latvia and released the album “Problems”, which tells about sore topics – unsuccessful purchase of a new car, barn construction process, hair and internet problems. They play original music and some masterpieces of Latvian music. Intars Busulis: “World group no. 1 in Latvia”

Hit the dance floor with Carnival Youth as they release Bel Tempo’s remix of “Only the Moon Can See the Sun” with a glitchy remake of the original music video. The remix sharpens up the song, which appears on Carnival Youth’s 4th and latest album “Good Luck”, with the indie electronic duo’s signature spellbinding beats and gives a whole new spin to this procrastination anthem.

In the upcoming months, Carnival Youth will be releasing more remixes of “Good Luck” songs, all created by Latvian masterminds of electronic music. Emils Kaupers from Carnival Youth explains: “About a year ago we thought it’d be a cool idea to create a “Good Luck” remix album. We called up a few of our friends – artists and eventually came to a very colourful bunch. We gave them absolute freedom; they could choose the song themselves and do with it whatever comes to mind. Add new musical structures, use only the voice tracks, or remake songs beyond recognition. The results are very different and interesting. We believe that “Good Luck” has gained a new parallel life and we’re glad to say that the first of the remixes is our friends’ Bel Tempo interpretation of “Only the Moon Can See the Sun”.”

“Our remix is a tip of the hat to Caribou – one of Bel Tempo’s greatest inspirations, says Andis Ansons of Bel Tempo. “It refers specifically to his song “Sun”, which begins with that phrase.” Julijs Melngailis adds: “Bel Tempo and Carnival Youth go way back, and it feels like a circle completing an eclipse now that we’ve created a remix for “Only the Moon Can See the Sun”. What makes this occasion more fulfilling is the fact that I also took part in their “Only the Moon Can See the Sun” music video – we’ll let you guess where I come in.”

The Latvian indie band Carnival Youth is one of the most successful new generation bands from the Baltic region. Carnival Youth fuse neat melodic lines with the energy of alternative rock and indie music, while their emotion range varies from youthful melancholia to pure, bright joy. Since the formation of the band, Carnival Youth have released five records, from which the latest one – “Good Luck” came out in August 2019.

Rihards Lībietis Orchestra has just released the first single “Night Follow Me” from the upcoming studio album “Willful Blindness”. The composition was written by Rihards Libietis in collaboration with the rest of the band. The director of the music video is Marija Migliniece.

““Night Follow Me” was inspired by the feelings of uncertainty and unknown, during the strange self-isolation time this spring. All this definitely taught me to appreciate more the things we often take for granted – family, friends, nature, music. Hopefully, the listener will feel the calming sense of love and gratitude of this composition.” says Rihards Lībietis.

The upcoming album “Willful Blindness” is due in spring 2021, and it will be the fourth album of the band. Its main themes will be individual human responsibility in attaining the balance between one’s inner light and dark sides. It will feature Rihards Libietis Orchestra original compositions in instrumental world music genre, influenced by West-African music, Jazz, Blues and even Electronic music.

“Night Follow Me” was recorded in  “AMFO Music Studio” Riga, with the support of LaIPA. Recording and mix/master was done by Toms Lisments. Video was shot in the beautiful Abgunstes muiža, it’s director is Marija Migliniece, directors of script – Marija Migliniece, Stefānija Toma, DOP – Raitis Lapāns. Costumes for the men are from “Mans Drēbju Skapis” shop.

Single “Night Follow Me” is available on Spotify and other music streaming platforms.

Rihards Libietis Orchestra is a quintet performing instrumental, dynamic world music, mixing influences from African, Middle-Eastern and Latvian Folk Music with Blues and Jazz. The band was formed in 2015, and has released 3 albums, the newest “Reflection EP” came out in Fall of 2018. Rihards Libietis Orchestra regularly performs in the Baltic area. The band consists of Rihards Lībietis (guitars), Gints Smukais (guitars), Jānis Polis (bass), Erna Daugaviete (cello) and Matīss Repsis (percussion).

At the end of this challenging year the ethno music group “Tautumeitas” presents their latest single “Spodrē manu augumiņu” encouraging people to leave all the dark and negative in the past and look for the light within themselves. Music video will soon reach the audience in wich “Tautumeitas” will appear in unusual characters.

The song “Spodrē manu augumiņu” tells how darkness and all the bad things that have happened to us during the year are left behind. People become brighter and stronger through rituals and things that inspire them and in the ancient Latvian traditions, this internal transformation took place through masking. Respecting the old traditions, singers of the ethno music group “Tautumeitas” will appear in unusual images in the music video of the song – special masks are created by the interaction of several artists and the technological solutions offered by LMT. The music video will be presented in mid-December.

“The most challenging and darkest time of the year has come, which in the context of the current situation in the world can turn into a test for each of us,” says the song’s author Asnate Rancāne. “I hope that this song will serve as an inspiration to find our inner strength and open up the huge creative potential that lives in us. We can be as bright and gorgeous as we feel in ourselves. It’s especially important for everyone to find that inner light within themselves.”

The single “Spodrē manu augumiņu” was made in collaboration with LMT and arranged by Reinis Sējāns, with whom the group “Tautumeitas” has successfully collaborated before. Musicians Stanislavs Judins, Mārtiņš Miļevskis and Elvis Lintiņš took part in the recording.

iTunes

The song “Spodrē manu augumiņu” is available on iTunes from today and will be available on Spotify, Deezer, etc. in the coming days.

The names Markus Riva and Samanta Tīna speak for themselves – both are winners of various international competitions and have a huge fan base outside Latvia, they are loud, ambitious, much discussed and both have a refined style. What happens when you put the two together? A new equation in Latvian music – Markus Riva x Samanta Tīna!

“Man nesanāk” (I Can’t Succeed) is a fresh release – a new single from Riva’s upcoming album and his first collaboration with Samanta. Just like the previous tracks, this piece has a nostalgic vibe that will have a strong presence in the musician’s album, set to come out in November.

Duets and collaborations are nothing new to Markus – he has previously recorded music with Aminata and Dināra Rudāne. His collaboration with Dināra placed high in “Muzikālā Banka” (Musical Bank), and Markus then joked that it was time for a duet with Samanta. And he has kept his word.

“I very much enjoy musical collaborations, and I love being in the studio with other musicians – witnessing the transformation of a song when another musician brings their personality to it is a fascinating experience. This year, I had not recorded a new duet, so the idea to perform one with Samanta was born. Luckily, she agreed, and this has been a productive and very exciting and fun adventure,” says Markus.

Samanta Tīna: ”I haven’t released a duet in Latvian for quite some time. The audience will remember my last collaboration with Rassell – “Esi man klāt” (Be with Me) – from 2012. The song by Markus and Dināra was simply wonderful, so when Markus invited me to team up I agreed instantly, and I am very happy with the result.”

The production of „Man nesanāk” was supported by the grant of the Latvian Performers’ and Producers’ Association (LaIPA) – the grant competition as a support mechanism for musicians was announced in the summer, and the allocated funding helped 53 new compositions come to life. The song was recorded at “Factory Sounds Studio” and produced by Gints Stankevičs with whom Riva has worked extensively. A Russian version of the song is to follow soon.

Spotify

Itunes

Indie rock band “audrú” announces their debut EP “the lighthouse trilogy” and, along with it, a single – “underworld”.

“audrú” is a bunch of friends who share a taste for alternative music – besides the rock music influences their work contains characteristics of folk and pop music as well. The debut EP “the lighthouse trilogy” includes a three-part story – a journey into the waters of the subconscious, where memorable, sonic lines of melody wind through different forms of music. The recording was done in “Hodila Records” studio. Along with the album, the single “underworld” begins its journey to radio stations, the sound of which includes intrigue and unexpected melodic turns.

The EP’s “the lighthouse trilogy” will be released in a special DIY way to honor the nostalgia for early 2000’s, when the band members were gaining their first musical experience and people were still actively listening to music on CDs. The idea came to life through a “Zero Waste” campaign in which they invited people to donate blank CD covers. The limited edition CDs were printed professionally, but afterwards signed with a permanent marker, as it used to be done in the early 2000’s. The band has also given their merchandise – second hand t-shirts and sweaters – a chance to live another life by screen-printing them with special “audrú” designs.

“audrú” has been playing together since 2017. So far, they have performed in several Latvian cities, participated in festivals – “Bildes”, “Vegan Festival”, “VegFest Lt”, “Give & Get” and more. Their music can be heard on several radio stations around Latvia. Previously, “audrú” has recorded and released 4 songs with music videos. All songs are available to listeners both on the video platform “Youtube” and on all the most popular streaming sites.