This autumn – an unexpected revival of Raimonds Pauls’ song “Autumn Leaves”

Singer Katrīna Gupalo has created a new sound for Raimonds Pauls’ song “Autumn Leaves”. Her performance also emphasizes the dramatic message of Jānis Peters’ text.

“This autumn is very different from others – this year we especially feel the departure of the old world which we say goodbye to with sadness. We believe that after a harsh winter spring will come bringing new life with it.  It was through this song that I wanted to express what we all experience and feel every day during these terrible pandemic times,” says Katrīna Gupalo. “After a beautiful summer, in which I had many concerts dedicated to the music of Imants Kalniņš, I decided that autumn would come with the sounds of Raimonds Pauls. Autumn always sounds very special in Maestro’s compositions. Two of his songs “Ance’s Romance” and “Don’t Come To Me In Autumn” have been in my repertoire for a long time and now I’ve added a third – “Autumn Leaves».

Intuition was the main drive during the making of the music video: “We got in cars and drove aimlessly hoping to find a suitable location for filming. In many places the leaves were still green and there was no evidence of the mood encoded in the song.  While driving on the windy roads that took us through the forests and meadows of Krimulda region, we suddenly came to a stop at a random country house. It was perfect for the song! The exceptionally beautiful and bright staghorn sumac together with the stone wall overgrown with vines created a perfect oasis for making a music video.  We met Rasma – the sincere and lovely owner of the house. She gave us her blessing and a music video was created in this special place. Thank you, Rasma!”

“Autumn Leaves” was recorded both in Latvian and Russian in “Wolk Recording Studios”. Produced by Aleksandrs Volks and Oriole. Music video created by Kaspars Kambars. Costumes designed by “Public Makes Image”. Make-up artist – Anita Intaite.

Katrīna Gupalo’s upcoming concerts: Culture Palace “Ziemeļblāzma” – October 30, Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga – November 20 and December 12, Concert Venue “Zeit” in Līgatne – November 28 and December 26. All concerts will be held in accordance with guidelines related to the spread of Covid-19.

Photo by Jānis Škapars

Exclusive Outfits and True Chemistry in New Video by Markus Riva and Samanta Tīna

As October drew to a close, the first duet of Markus Riva and Samanta Tīna, called “Man nesanāk” (I Can’t Succeed), saw the light of day. It has quickly become a favourite among audiences and caused great interest in the pair beyond their homeland Latvia. The music video for “Man nesanāk” is out now to complement the track.

The initiative and the idea of the story belong to Markus, while the visual identity of the music video was entrusted to director Pavel Trebuhin with whom Markus has worked for many years. Samanta’s favourite makeup artist Jana Kozlova did the makeup of both stars, and the music video was shot at E. Fon Trompowsky Quarter.

Several exclusive “Fyodor Golan” outfits are featured in the video – the brand, characterized by brave designs and bold colours, was created by Latvian-born designer Fyodor Podgorny, and it’s adored by such celebrities as Lady Gaga, Madonna, Rita Ora, Blackpink and others.

“It’s easy to work with Samanta – I’m very happy she had trust in my ideas and felt confident appearing in the video in a different mode than usual,” says Markus. “Being in a frame with her feels ecstatic – cameras love Samanta, and every second of the video is electrified with her charm and energy.”

“I like to be in charge, so at first it was difficult for me to go with Markus’ ideas and trust his choice of stylists and video crew, but I did it, and I am extremely happy with the result. The stylists did a fantastic job, and the outfits we wore were fabulous; I got to know new designers that I will keep working with. The team was very professional, and I am very satisfied with this cooperation and what we have achieved,” adds Samanta.

As reported earlier, “Man nesanāk” is the third single from Markus’ upcoming studio album in Latvian, set for release this autumn. The production of “Man nesanāk” was supported by the grant of the Latvian Performers’ and Producers’ Association (LaIPA).

“The Bad Tones announces release date for live album “Ezera Skaņas””

“The Bad Tones is coming out with an announcement for a new live album “Ezera Skaņas, which will be available on the platforms starting from November 21. Album was recorded on Kala lake (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), 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.”

Latvian Composer Aija Alsiņa Releases New Single and Video

Latvian composer Aija Alsiņa who has been working in film music for several years now, is releasing a new single titled “Abyss”. The composition, along with a video made by the French director Paul Lavau, is published on November 6th, and is available on all major music streaming platforms.

Aija Alsiņa’s debut album ”Domum”, released in 2017, was critically acclaimed by both Latvian and foreign reviews. Her delicate piano compositions are emotionally charged and writing music is a way in which Aija expresses her feelings. After completing an MSc in Composition for Film and Media in the UK, it has now been a year since Aija returned back to her home country of Latvia and is currently residing and working in her native Riga.

The essence of “Abyss” is the nostalgia for one’s childhood – manifested in moments of fond memories, deeply immersive and at the same time blurred, and intertwined with a thread of sadness over a time gone by; just another reminder of the transient nature of our lives. “Children are a significant part of my life, and this inevitably influences my music” , Aija comments on her creative process. “When writing Abyss, I played around with chord progressions and sounds, and while listening to a fragment of the written piece I imagined waves and the plain vastness of the sea. A moment came to my mind when, in the beginning of the pandemic, I was staying at home with my kids a lot, and my five year old loved to make up fairytales, so I had a couple of them recorded on my phone. When thinking about the sea and the water, I decided to use a fragment of his story in my composition, turning the child’s voice into an additional instrument.” “Abyss” was mixed and mastered by Aija in her home studio.

Aija’s collaboration with the French director Paul Lavau started earlier this year when she was invited to write the soundtrack for his documentary “202”. In the video for “Abyss” Paul portrayed his own take on the memory and the feeling of nostalgia, crafting the film to the finalized music composition.

Listen to the “Abyss” here.

“Abyss” was created with the financial support of AKKA/LAA.

CHRIS NOAH RELEASES EP “DISTANCE DELUXE”

On 6th November, Latvian recording artist Chris Noah releases a deluxe version of the EP “Distance” which came out on the 20th March. Alongside the original songs from the EP, the deluxe version includes recently released single “This Is The Night”, its live acoustic version as well as a stripped-down version of a fan favourite River.

““This Is The Night” was recorded after the release of EP “Distance” and even during the writing process, I felt that it would fit very well with the other songs in the EP. It’s not only strong as a single, but it also serves as a great addition to EP “Distance” and gives the necessary contrast between the songs,” says Chris.

“This Is The Night” was released on 23rd October and came out with a music video.

Regarding the inclusion of the acoustic tracks in the EP, Chris comments: “I write most of my songs on my acoustic guitar and only during the production process, by adding various instruments and other bits and bobs, the characteristics of the recording are shaped. It’s great to have big production and it’s always fun to do that, but sometimes it’s worth returning to the basics which for me is my voice and guitar. Doing a live recording is always special as there’s room for natural noises and you also seem more vulnerable as a musician since there’s less editing. I think it might reveal a new side of me to people who follow my music. The stripped-down version of “River”, which is included in the EP, has become a fan favourite at gigs where I don’t play with a full band, and this version gives a rawer feeling to the story behind the song.”

On 6th December, despite the ongoing situation in the world, Chris Noah is playing two shows in one of the most beautiful cinemas in Latvia – Splendid Palace. Chris will be showcasing his talent to his rapidly growing fanbase in his homeland, whilst taking all the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Spring Vibes Even During #stayathome – Markus Riva Releases New Single

Spring is finally here even though it took a different turn this year, and singer Markus Riva marks the arrival of the season with new music. From April 9, his new single “Vienmēr” (Always) is available on all streaming platforms, the result of a fresh musical collaboration.

“Spring is my favourite season ­– I always feel a huge rush of energy, which gets my creative juices flowing. This year is no exception; on the contrary, there is more time than ever for creative endeavours. As a result, an uplifting spring song in Latvian was born; I hope it will be a source of positivity in these troubled times,” says Markus.

The song “Vienmēr” was created in collaboration with Roberts Pētersons who is also the author of the song and initiated this partnership. Work in the studio wrapped up before state of emergency in Latvia was declared, and both musicians swiftly found a common language and are very happy with the result.

Roberts Pētersons: “When I was writing this song, I quickly realized that Markus Riva would be a perfect fit for it, and I was extremely pleased he agreed to work with me. Markus knows what a good pop song needs – he brought his own ideas to the recording session and truly made the song his own. I am convinced that listeners will enjoy it, and it will be a great addition to Markus’ repertoire in Latvian.”

Just like his colleagues, Markus is currently looking for new ways to be next to his fans during social distancing ­– with virtual conversations and support for those in self-isolation, online gigs, musical surprises in Latvian and Russian, and special streaming playlists. He continues to work on on-going projects, and it is already clear that the song “Vienmēr” won’t remain the only musical collaboration this year.

A new fashion collection by Markus Riva, inspired by car racing, is out too. It is devoted to Markus’ grandfather whose life went hand in hand with this sport ­– the new arrivals are already available online at luckyonestore.com.

Markus Riva Announces New Album with Dual Single

At the height of summer, musician Markus Riva brings a new song both in Latvian and Russian to his audience. “Vēl pēdējoreiz”/ „Белые ночи” (One Last Time / White Nights) is the first single from Riva’s upcoming fall album.

“Self-reflection is inevitable when you face this unprecedented solitude, which brings about nostalgia and melancholy. These sentiments linger both in this song, as in the tone and content of my forthcoming album,” says the musician.

Markus Riva also enjoys popularity in Russia and other CIS countries; in fact, Riva is one of the few Latvian musicians with a considerable fan base among Russian-speaking listeners. His work is usually released in one language so it does not always resonate with all listeners. However, “Vēl pēdējoreiz” found its sound both in Latvian and Russian leading to the decision to gift the song to a larger audience.

“A larger follower base means having to make sure my creative endeavours do not leave anyone out. Fans in Latvia and Russia and other countries are all waiting for new music from me,” asserts Markus. “I am extremely happy to release this single in both languages at once. Although my new album will be recorded in Latvian, a Russian version might be in the cards in the near future.”

Markus Riva is the author of the music and lyrics of “Vēl pēdējoreiz”, while the lyrics of „Белые ночи” were contributed by Igor Tatarenko, Riva’s long-time musical associate from the Ukraine. The song was recorded in “Factory sounds studio” and arranged by its co-author Gints Stankevičs.

From July 28, the song “Vēl pēdējoreiz”/ „Белые ночи” is available on all streaming platforms

On April 16, a young musician called TOM SIMO, released his second single “No More”

Toms Samsons or TOM SIMO, comes from Saldus, but he’s currently learning Popular and Jazz Music at Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School.
The track “No More” has been created with White Wide Production (Musicians Jānis Narbuts and Gints Purgalis), as well as Dzintars Vītols, who co-worked with TOM SIMO. They say that it’s a very simple, professional and interesting collaboration.
“We like that he can be musically different, meantime keeping his own style and highlighting his unique voice,” says White Wide Production.
The musician became popular with his first single “Tālumā”. The single has already being played on several radio stations. Although the young musician has just started his musical career, he has already given several concerts and also went on his first mini-tour “NEONS”.
As TOM SIMO reveals himself: “The new compositions tell the story of ideals and choices in life , which often lead to impasses when you have to give up everything.”
The single “No More” from April 16 is available on top streaming services.

Markus Riva to host a spectacular virtual party – PURE POP DISCO

While real face-to-face parties are off limits, partying online has never seemed like a better idea – Markus Riva invites all party animals to the PURE POP DISCO global party! Join us tomorrow, April 24, LIVE from FANTADROM.

Dance hits, an interactive live chat, unique go-go dancers, tips for choosing the best drinks and snacks for the night, special guests from around the globe, a chance to vote for the best dance, contests, prizes and impressive technological solutions – join, dance, watch, relax!

Everyone will keep a safe distance at the event. The event will be hosted in Latvian, English and Russian.

Tickets to “MARKUS RIVA INVITES – PURE POP DISCO VIRTUAL PARTY” are available at Biļešu Serviss ticket store online – ticket prices start from 5 EUR. Join us LIVE on April 24 at 19:00 here.

PURE POP DISCO live stream is brought to you by  “UNTITLED originals” in cooperation with “Markus Riva Music” and conference hall Fantadroms.

“Kristine Praulina & The Soulful Crew” releases a new single called “Mountains”

The Latvian Soul, r&b band “Kristine Praulina & The Soulful Crew” in collaboration with Riga Gospel choir releases a single called “Mountains” and a video of it’s recording process. It’s the first single of their upcoming album. “Mountains” is now available on all the major music streaming platforms.

In 2018 Kristine Praulina’s dream of her own music came to life as she created the band that is now called “Kristine Praulina & The Soulful Crew”. The band has five members – Toms Mikāls (piano), Jānis Kalniņš (guitar), Valters Sprūdžs (bass), Kaspars Kurdeko (drums) and Kristine Praulina (vocals) and it performs original soul, r&b, singer songwriter, blues influenced music.

“Mountains” is the first single from the  band’s upcoming first full-length album. The song tells a story of a search for Light in the time of darkness, the power of faith and the beauty that comes from a heart filled with gratitude. Kristine says: “I wish that this song would be an encouragement in these peculiar and trying times – to stop for a moment and listen to the inner quiet, to hear your own voice and the voice of God. It is this eternal perspective and peace of heart that can give us true and lasting joy in our everyday lives and as the song says – it can “move mountains inside our souls”.

“Mountains” was written specifically for Riga Gospel choir for Kristīne has been a part of the choir since 2003 and is currently it’s musical director. Riga Gospel choir is where Kristine’s musical journey began. Kristine about her love of gospel music: “I fell in love with gospel music at the age of 12 and it still moves me deeply every time I sing or hear it. We (RGC) have been dreaming of our own music for some years now and this is our first leap in that direction. I couldn’t be more excited about this release for it unites my two main musical passions – soul and gospel music and let’s our work with The Soulful Crew and Riga Gospel choir flourish”.

“Mountains” (music and lyrics, vocal and choir arrangements) was written by Kristine Prauliņa and these are her first steps songwriting in gospel music genre. The instrumental arrangement was created together with the band. The song was recorded in “Mint” studio in Riga, Latvia in January 2020. Studio and mixing engineer – Toms Lisments. Mastered by Tom Woodhead (GBR). Video made and edited by Reinis Janulis.

Kristine Praulina has been on the Latvian jazz music scene since 2013 when she won the International Jazz Vocalist competition “Riga Jazz Stage”. She has been actively working as a soloist in Latvia and abroad with bands like the Latvian Radio Big Band, funk band “Very Cool People”, “Alaska Dreamers” and many more ever since. She has recorded two studio albums with the legendary Latvian Maestro Raimonds Pauls. In 2018 “Kristine Praulina & The Soulful Crew” was born. That same year the band released an EP called “A Warmer October” with four freshly written songs. In 2019 they released a song in Latvian called “Kopā”, along with a video.

Riga Gospel choir is an active perfomer in the Latvian music scene since 2006. The choir has performed all over Latvia and in Norway, Estonia, Great Britain, Germany and other European countries, as well as the USA (Chicago, New York, New Orleans and more). Riga Gospel choir performed with the Grammy winner, gospel super star Donald Lawrence in Riga, Latvia in 2019. They’ve had collaborations with Karen Gibson (creator and musical director of Great Britain’s “Kingdom Choir”) and gospel greats Cynthia Nunn, Malcolm Williams, Walter Owens and Terry Moore for the USA. Riga Gospel choir has won two gold medals in the World Choir games.