Category: News

After several months spent in Malta, Latvian DJ and producer [Ex] da Bass, who’s also well known in foreign countries, releases a cover version of the ’90s club hit “Hardcore Vibes” by the German electronic dance music group Dune. The new version was created with the participation of two young dance music producers from Malta – Seguna and Panza.

“I simply can’t imagine a better way to end this year! This is my fifth musical release this year, furthermore it’s also a new and powerful song that I see potentially being played by the world’s top DJs in their sets at the big clubs and festivals. This song is a cover of a Dune hit that I’ve always associated with the beginning of my DJ career. Thanks to my newfound Maltese friends – Seguna and Panza, who helped me bring this idea for a new version to fruition. I see the right attitude, as well as great passion and potential in both of these guys,” explains [Ex] da Bass.

“I will definitely return to Malta, and it looks like it will happen in April. During more than two months I spent there, I met many great people from the entertainment industry, with whom I want to continue working. Will there be another song coming up? Very possible. I want to try my hand at the Afro house genre, which is currently so popular in the world,” adds [Ex] da Bass.

“We started working on music production quite recently. Of course, we still have a lot to learn, but we’re ready for it. Many thanks to our Latvian friend for this unique offer and the opportunity to be a part of the “Hardcore Vibes” project, it means a lot to us! [Ex] da Bass is a very pleasant person and a great professional in his field,” says Seguna and Panza.

“”Oda priekam” is a song full of irony, drama and honesty. It is an reminder and bitter experience with those well-known little creatures, who hides in the heat of summer, innocent corners of the forest or in the threatening size of clouds. Before listening we recommend using a mosquito repellent and protect your bare skin,” says Aptiekas Bēru Ansamblis about their new single.

Song “Oda priekam” was recorded in Riga, “Gateris” studio, sound engineer Jānis Kalvāns.

The band’s lineup consists of Irbe Šmite (vocal), Agnese Želneronoka (vocal), Laima Edīte Cīrule (guitar), Līga Inkēna (bass), Ilze Barkeviča (accordion), Madara Markovska (accordion), Mārtiņš Rutks also Rutkis (drums). Maija Cīrule (violin) also participated in the recording.

“Oda priekam” is available on all the most popular streaming sites.

Aptiekas Bēru Ansamblis dates back to 2018, merging Vecrīgas kroga Aptieka workers and friends in a song together. In the March 2024, the band released their debut album “Tunku cincis”, thanks to their victory in the new band competition “Nemiera Blice”. It has been reviewed in the magazine “Mūzikas Saule” and in the NRA portal, as well mentioned in the show “Zibens pa dibenu”, made by the music reporter Uldis Rudaks, as one of the best Latvian music albums of all time.

For the ones, who don’t know the band, they refer to their represented style as neo-eclectic-pank-indie-schlager aka cross-genre music. It’s a creatively messy music performed by seven non-professional enthusiasts.

Czech artist Meadow Talks unveils “Garden”, the second single from her forthcoming EP „Bed of Green“—a hauntingly intimate track written during a songwriting camp in Riga. With production by Polish musician TYNSKY and a heartfelt performance by Latvian songwriter Ilze Rijniece, „Garden“ explores the tender themes of grief, memory, and quiet acceptance.

Emerging from a deeply personal moment of sorrow and introspection, “Garden” is the newest single from Meadow Talks upcoming EP „Bed of Green“, set to be released later this year. Written in November 2024 during a collaborative songwriting camp in Riga, Latvia, the song stands as a moving tribute to the artist’s great-grandmother, who passed away just two weeks before the trip.

The track brings together international voices and textures, featuring Polish producer TYNSKY, whose atmospheric production wraps around the fragile core of the song, and Latvian musician Ilze Rijniece, who contributes both piano and kokle—a traditional Latvian string instrument. These organic elements, woven with subtle field recordings from the very classroom where the track was conceived, create a unique and deeply human sonic tapestry.

Unlike a traditional single, „Garden“ embraces an experimental structure. Its gentle flow of instrumental swells, fragments of spoken word, and candid moments of laughter challenge standard songwriting form, leaning instead into raw emotion and atmosphere. This approach reflects the inner turbulence of grief—moments of heaviness offset by unexpected lightness and stillness.

“Garden is about letting go of control,” says Meadow Talks. “It’s about standing still in front of something you cannot change and simply acknowledging it exists. It’s not loud, it’s not resolved—it just is.”

As the second glimpse into „Bed of Green“ (EP), „Garden“ sets a quiet but powerful tone for the EP’s exploration of nature, memory, and emotional vulnerability. With its cross-cultural collaborations and tender authenticity, the track promises to resonate with listeners navigating their own landscapes of loss and remembrance.

On Friday, May 30, 2025, musician Luka is releasing her new summer single “Tik viegli”, which she presents as a preview of her upcoming EP album, set for release this fall. The song’s music video will be available on all major streaming platforms starting May 30 at 12:00 PM.

“The song ”Tik viegli” reflects how I’m learning to embrace the good in everyday life – not rejecting the things that bring peace, safety, and joy,” says Luka. “It’s a gesture of gratitude toward the people who bring that feeling into my life, and at the same time, a permission I give myself to be open to joy. “Tik viegli” is a reminder that feeling good and accepting it is not only possible, but also something we deserve.”

“Tik viegli” was created in collaboration with producer Patriks Elviss Pētersons. The chorus came to life while Luka was visiting Denmark and became the foundation for the song’s overall mood. The guitar parts were recorded by Jānis Kalniņš, and the track was post-produced by Kaspars Ansons. The visual concept for the song was created by Ralfs Jankevics and Emīls Trauliņš.

Luka shares that the creative process for this track was unpredictable and ever-changing, as both the song and its creation differed from her previous work. The theme of water is a constant motif – both in the song and its visual story, which is part of a broader journey that will continue with the upcoming EP.

The single will be performed live for the first time on June 5 at “Bourzma Boutique 2025” at 8:00 PM.

Musician Luka is the runner-up of Season 5 of the music show “X faktors” and was also a participant in this year’s “Supernova”. She also gained recognition with her single “Atļauties”. Luka plans to further pursue her musical career abroad.

Marking their return after a 17-year hiatus, the band “R.A.P.” has released a new, energetic single titled “Melnā (Ak nē, nē, nē!)”, along with a music video. 

The song’s music was created by all four band members – vocalist Artis Dvarionas, guitarist Aleksandrs Štro, bassist Artis Rozītis, and drummer Gatis Kaizers. The lyrics were written by Artis Dvarionas. The initial musical idea was born during the band’s first creative retreat after reuniting, which took place last year in Rauna, while the lyrics were written later, following the band’s powerful comeback concert this March.

“The song is based on healthy irony about emotions we all know – when anxiety caused by a desire for recognition, and fear that your work won’t meet expectations, becomes a burden,” says Artis Dvarionas. “These feelings are especially familiar to people in creative fields, who often experience a stark contrast between the initial euphoria of a new idea and the hard-hitting reality that follows.”

An equally energetic music video was produced for the new track “Melnā (Ak nē, nē, nē!)” which is a rarity in the band’s history. “This is a big deal for us, as we haven’t exactly been generous with music videos in the past,” Artis continues. “The concept was simple – to highlight the song’s dynamics and its self-ironic message. This was possible thanks to two truly talented individuals who brought our vision to life – director Marks Landmanis and cinematographer Ritvars Bluka.”

As previously reported, the band “R.A.P.” – considered one of the flag-bearers of the local alternative rock scene – returned last November after a 17-year creative break, releasing the new song “Mēs esam atpakaļ!”. This March, they reunited with their audience with full force at a concert held at “Palladium” concert hall in Riga. The concert has also been nominated for the public media award “Kilograms kultūras”.

The band is now actively preparing for their summer shows, two of which have already been announced – on July 26, “R.A.P.” will perform at the “Saldus Saule” festival, and on August 2, they’ll take the stage at the grand summer festival “Summer Sound” in Liepāja.

Meanwhile, the new single “Melnā (Ak nē, nē, nē!)” is already available on top Latvian radio stations and major music streaming platforms.

The new music video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QB5WEloOKlg

Will this gift wrap be good enough? How to negotiate an extension of work with the teacher? Is there enough food? But maybe it’s too much of it? When should work reports be sent? What last-minute gift to get for a forgotten relative? Where to leave the children while going to the New Year’s party? Why the hell did I read the news before the holidays? When will there be snow and money?

If you know the heart-wrenching feelings behind these questions, put on Sniedzes version of the alarming Christmas bells and feel that you’re not alone. Happy holidays no matter what!

The song was arranged, played and sung in the home studio by the tired elf Sniedze Prauliņa, mixed by the hardworking dwarfs Pyotr Kalinskis from Poland and our own Krišjānis Geidāns.

The drum and bagpipe group “Auļi” kicks off the second season of their project “Senču Balsis” with a three-song mini-album titled “Voices of Ghana”, featuring the talented Ghanaian singer Abiana. The project aims to build a musical bridge between traditional vocal cultures from around the world and Latvian folk music.

Abiana (real name Eldah Naa Abiana Dickson) is a renowned Ghanaian singer and songwriter who has received several prestigious awards, including “Record of the Year” and “Best Female Vocal Performance” at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

The mini-album features three traditional Ghanaian songs in different dialects – “Senwa De Dende” (Twi), “Meele Ni Yaa” (Ga) and “Agba Eeeee” (Ewe) – arranged by Auļi. The music was composed by Mārtiņš Miļevskis, Edgars Kārklis, and Kaspars Bārbals.

“After the success of the first season, which culminated in a successful concert tour in Latvia, a documentary on Latvian Television, and wide engagement on social media, we were ready to continue this journey. That’s why we are especially excited to once again focus on international musical collaborations,” shared Auļi bagpiper Kaspars Bārbals.

Michael Bamfo, CEO of Apprise Music, emphasized the broader impact of the collaboration, stating: “This project goes beyond music. It connects history, education, and innovation — perfectly aligning with our mission to make African music accessible to a global audience.”

The second season of the project is set to include a 12-song program, created in collaboration with three international female vocalists and one Latvian singer. The goal is to offer both Latvian and global audiences a glimpse into the vocal traditions of various cultures around the world.

“It’s incredibly fascinating to observe how songs from such different cultures intertwine with Latvian folk songs and Auļi’s music. It evokes emotions never felt before,” says composer Mārtiņš Miļevskis.

The first season was released in 2019 and featured vocalists from Mongolia, Austria, Sápmi (the land of the Sámi people), and Latvia. The most viewed video on YouTube from the project is the collaboration between Auļi and Batzorig Vaanchig titled “Hunnu Guren”: https://youtu.be/vztRqe_CHC0?si=gvsZZ1_OfVzkUH32

On October 21, the music label Amber Muse will continue its autumn-winter season of events. On this date, the Laska V21 club will host a party of the Disco Darko series with the support of Beefeater. Its headliner will be a representative of the Frankfurt scene, which gave the world a galaxy of famous electronic stars – Chinaski from the Robert Johnson club.

Stefan Haag aka Chinaski aka S-F-X is a sound and visual artist, producer, and DJ based in Frankfurt am Main. Born in Northern Germany and coming from a background in digital arts, his endeavours in electronic music are not new: Stefan has been producing for years to develop his signature sound built upon hooky synth lines.

His work has consequently brought him to Robert Johnson, in whose vicinity he stayed to become a resident in 2014. Led by a keen instinct for the visual counterpart of sound in video and live performance, Stefan has also edited numerous video clips for befriended artists and releases on Die Orakel or Live At Robert Johnson – the label he is closely affiliated with as a musician. He has also been released with Permanent Vacation, Running Back, Bordello A Parigi, and Dischi Autunno, among others.

As Chinaski Stefan addresses the dance floor as a joyful space where the roots and the contemporary of electronic dance music walk hand in hand. In his sets, he combines those genres of contemporary electronica that are commonly referred to as dark disco.