Category: News

“Taurud” is a singer and songwriter from Jurmala, Latvia, currently based in Manchester UK. On the 12th of August, he is releasing his debut single which is the first taste from the 2021 upcoming album.  “I Keep Loving You” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and other streaming services.

Debut single “I Keep Loving You” talks about true unconditional love.  “Taurud”: “It’s a song about feelings that makes us human, those feelings which can literally bend our reality. Feelings that can turn black and white into colour, feelings that can awaken us from sleepwalking. Suddenly everything is real. So often we’ re trying to put each other in these invisible boxes to fit for us and if we can’t our feelings alter. This song is about the love we are ready to give regardless of someone’s shortcomings or pain they cause. I hope it will become people’s song and others will use it to tell someone how much they love them. I wrote it for that.”

Listen to “I Keep Loving You” here

“Taurud” is a culmination of dreamy and heartfelt sounds, experimenting with different levels of intimacy. Taurud touch acts as a refuge for those who need a break from the busy world whizzing by. It’s that feeling of being seemingly adrift in the sea of our own realities, losing yourself, hitting rock bottom and finding your feet once again. His music attempts to shine a little light into a dark room, with a desire to spread hope, love, and peace throughout.

A musician who grew up listening “Pink Floyd” and, “Queen” from age of 5 says about himself: “I’m someone who learned everything himself. Never had teachers who’ d show me how to write songs or play guitar. I started writing when I was around 15 in my first band. Still doing it really really impulsively. Very often I can’t sleep cos I have to create a new song.  It feels like I’m like an athena who is receiving signals and just writing them down, often it doesn’ t feel like I am actually writing it. Everything is energy and is vibrating on different frequencies. Theoretically, we all are music.”

“Taurud” is releasing his debut single this year. It’s the beginning of very focused work to introduce Latvia and other countries to his art. Currently working on his debut album with top musicians from Manchester, recording at “The Big Red Studio” with Jake Evans who’s collaborated with so many great musicians including “New Order”. The upcoming record will include 8 original songs. “Taurud‘ says: “We are recording it all live man, like back in the day. We are capturing real moments in the studio. It’s such real music. I’m so excited.”

On November 16, 2020 a synth-rock band Dani Ryan from Riga released a new single called „Komett”. This single is the third release from the band’s upcoming album „PARTY !”, which will be out very soon – just a week after the single.

The song was released along with the music video, which was filmed and edited independently by the participants of the Dani Ryan project. It took three days to shoot the video – a team of 7 people was involved in the filming process. However all further processing of the filmed material and its editing was done by Dani Ryan’s lead singer –  Daniil Ravinsky. Daniil was also responsible for creating all the visual effects and animation in this and previous music videos of the band.  According to various calculations, the budget of the music video ranged from 20 to 35 euros, including food and drinks for the film crew and paying for taxis to deliver all the necessary equipment to the filming locations.

The plot of the video refers the viewer to the first single and music video of the band – RADIO ANNA. The song and the video tell us about the story of the main character Anna and her journey into outer space. Both the song „Komett” and the music video for it will tell us about what happened in Anna’s life before her travels and about the sacrifice she had to make to make her dream come true –  become an astronaut.

„Komett” focuses on the difficult choice between a dream and a happy, but ordinary life, the emotions of two people and, of course, love.

The lyrics to the song’s rap verse were written by Dani Ryan’s bass player Nikita Andrejevs, who also played the main character in the band’s new music video. An interesting fact is that at the time of writing the verse, Nikita had no idea what the song will be about and what kind of music it will have. All that was at his disposal – the rhythm and general theme of the future song , space precisely. This was done on purpose so that the already written lyrics and music would not be reflected in the lyrics of this rap verse.

The entire music video creation process took about two weeks – the same as it takes to review and approve a song for release on streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music. The goal was to release a high-quality and interesting music video along with the release of the single. That is why the members of the Dani Ryan project invested in the creation of the video not only the maximum amount of their energy, sacrificing free time and rest after their day jobs, but also a piece of their soul.

The Dani Ryan team would like to express special gratitude for the magical mastering of the track to sound engineer Kaspars Greizis and the band Barta  for providing the filming location.

Dani Ryan was founded in 2015. In 2019, the band began its main activity, prior to this Dani Ryan changed members several times. At the end of last year Dani Ryan released its debut album OPEN.

The band core consists of three permanent members  – Daniil Ravinsky (composer, keyboardist, guitarist, lead singer, creator of visual effects and posters), Janis Zarins (drummer) and Nikita Andrejevs (bass-player and backing vocalist). The release of Dani Ryan’s second album is scheduled for late 2020.

“Colorful World” is about equality in the world where we all are so different but in essence so ambiguously colorful.

This song is made in rock style, which is very different from singer’s daily style. This is her first original composition as well – she is the author for lyrics and music.

Song shows the world in all its glory. Colorful world where we live but in daily rush don’t notice. We have to notice the usual things in very different view. “ I am confident that every human being will find something interesting in this song” says Karīna Laugale.

Growing up in a musical family Karīna started singing and playing piano at an early age. She is a Riga Dome Choir school graduate. At the moment she studies at Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music jazz vocal department.

Karīna has participated in X Factor’ with Koukie band, as well as in the festivals Saulkrasti Jazz’ (LV), Ventspils Groove (LV), Moscow Spring A Capella (RUS), Noorte Jazz Festival (EE), etc.

Karīna has participated in X Factor’ with Koukie band, as well as in the festivals Saulkrasti Jazz’ (LV), Ventspils Groove (LV), Moscow Spring A Capella (RUS), Noorte Jazz Festival (EE), etc.

Lyrics and music author is Karina Laugale. “Colorful world” producer and arranger is Jānis Bukums, Arturs Liede and sound engineer Kārlis Šteinmanis. Recorded in “KS Records – Unity Audio”  featuring group “Jānis Bukums”.

Lyrics video author is Rita Bērziņa

Publisher LRMA records

“In the middle of the August darkness at approximately 3AM you take your boat and row out into the mist that’s hanging on top of the lake. You don’t know where to go, but you can hear a faint sound somewhere in the distance. You row closer and closer to the strange sounds. Like in a dream a floating stage appears somewhere in the middle of the lake. The wind is chilly so you lay down in your boat. The stars up above are slowly fading with the first rays of the Sun as you drift away in a light sleep somewhere between dreaming and being awoken…” The Bad Tones

Ezera skaņas” is The Bad Tones second full-length album. It was recorded on lake Kāla (Kāla ezers) as a part of the festival “Sounds from the Lake” (“Ezera Skaņas”). In collaboration with the Finnish saxophonist Ukko Heinonen and the Latvian percussionist Dzintars Viksna (Dzintars Vīksna), during a 1 week long creative camp The Bad Tones have written a 1.5-hour dedication to the festival, which consists of 8 fragments included in the album. The main theme “I’m Not Afraid of The Wolf” reflects the growth of a child, where “Wolf” is an inner adult, but “I” is an inner child. It’s this transformation battle that takes place in the early teens and thus the musical material is split between these themes of security and vulnerability, where you don’t feel yet an adult and can’t act like a child anymore.

The Bad Tones is a nature-inspired quartet from Latvia, which represents various genres and a fusion of them. The band is formed by Edvards Broders (guitar, keys, vocals), Alberts Levics (bass guitar, vocals), Rudolfs Ozols (guitar, keys, backing vocals) and Kalvis Slezis (drums, backing vocals).

Unlike the first minialbum „SOAP” which was recorded in the guitarists Roberts Gromovs bedroom in late 2018, „Happy” is recorded in „Hodila Records” by Ģirts Laumanis. This slight change also marks the progressive advance that can be heard in the new songs. The punk genre tendencies have been complimented with atmospheric, one could say even melancholic, melodies.

The first single „Happy Once a Year” of the „Purple negative” mini album has been published in late August this year.

„Purple Negative” which consists of Elīza Daine (vocals/rhythm guitar), Roberts Gromovs (lead guitar), Kārlis Pūķis (bass), Emīls Lapiņš (drums) came together in 2017. During the three years that the band has been active, they have found their sound by mixing elements of alternative music and indie rock. The line-up has played concerts in Rīga and beyond. The band has gained recognition with singles like „Your Ignorance” and „Fluorescent Lights”.

With the release of the mini album „Happy” the band invites all listeners and their friends to a free album presentation concert. It will take place on the 19th of September in Riga at „Kaņepes Kultūras centrs”.

Latvian producer MT$ releases his debut album “HOMEMADE”, containing nine electronic and lo-fi hip-hop tracks.

The musician, who announced himself this October with the single “Venera”, has just released a full-length album called “HOMEMADE”. It includes nine atmospherically rhythmic compositions, most of which are instrumental – the musician has combined various samples and supplemented them with guitar, bass and synthesizers, creating a unique mix of “live” and “artificial” sounds.

MT$ describes his album as follows: “Ever since I have gotten into recording, I’ve tried to understand different styles of music, and it has been difficult for me to fit into only one genre. While working on this record, I tried to turn this trait into a trump card. On this album, I’ve used samples in tandem with “live” instruments, and I think that the result is, in my opinion, some pretty interesting and unique music.”

The album “HOMEMADE” in a very unusual physical format – in the form of hot sauces. Three different flavors of sauce with a unique album download code are available in limited quantities – they can be purchased in the musician’s Bandcamp profile.

“Because the album was made entirely in my home, it seemed that the idea of homemade hot sauce was well-suited to the whole concept of the album itself. For me, my debut album is an exceptional event, and I wanted to pass it on to my listeners in a way to make them feel special as well. After all, what could be even more special than something you’ve created with your hands, ” says MT.

Spotify     

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

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