Category: News

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.

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.

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.

The long-awaited collaboration brings together two well known artists from the neighboring countries – Lithuania’s “Daddy Was A Milkman” and Latvia’s “BrainStorm”. From today,  October 31st, the new song called “This is how i feel” is avalable on all digital music streaming platforms and radio stations in Latvia and Lithuania. 

Renārs Kaupers remembers his Lithuanian friend Ramunas telling him ones about a guy who suddenly appeared on the Lithuanian sky of music with great songs and perfect English. Couple of years later they met each other here and there and it was always nice to meet Ignas who he says is a very sincere, simple and solid guy.

Igna’s band is known to Lithuanian and Latvian listeners as “Daddy Was a Milkman”, but their most popular song “Breathe In” is often found on radio playlists. “Daddy Was a Milkman” has visited Latvia several times, both at various festivals and with a solo concert at Arena Riga late last year.

The idea of collaboration was in the air for some time but the song or a theme wasn’t coming. And then one day quite a simple melody came to Renar’s mind that he recorded on a phone and sent to Ignas. 

“The first draft of “This is how I feel” sounds really funny now, because exactly nothing has left from the original theme”, adds Renārs Kaupers. Ignas and the producer Vitas played around with the song and added a very nice bridge part. In one of BrainStorm’s rehearsal we felt that this bridge sounds better than the original verse and offered to use it instead of the original one. Then I flew to Vilnius and we composed together a new chorus. Ignas quickly came up with lyrics and here we go, song was ready!”

“This song points out the strength of a friendship, power of connection that true friends have. There is this thing we all have in common – we need someone to trust and help us get things off the chest. And there comes a time when a laugh, a shared memory or even a single word of encouragement can work miracles if it’s with the right person at the right time. We wanted it to sound light and positive, though carry a simple but important message. “This Is How I Feel” is sort of encouragement to make time for our closest ones as we simply can not afford otherwise,” tells Ignas.

Spending the past few years honing her songwriting skills and collaborating with a slew of talented producers, ELIZZA is now bringing her new single to the world. Taking equal inspiration from pop icons such as SIA and Dua Lipa, and RnB artists like Raye and Jorja Smith, ELIZZA distils her breadth of influences down into a focused, unique, and deeply meaningful style with her latest single, “Can’t Quit”.

“This song is about those intense romantic feelings, that rush you feel when you’re in love and out of your mind: almost like an addiction that’s hard to quit.”

“Can’t Quit” is a potent insight into the addictive power of love. Inspired by the experience of an intense romantic connection that became difficult to detach from, the song deftly explores the drama created by an attachment that you can’t shake no matter how hard you try. This latest offering from ELIZZA emotively frames themes of romance and lust in edgy pop sounds and glittering production, laying down a powerful vocal performance over energetic beats that irresistibly pull you on to the dancefloor.

“The “drug” refers to that chemical feeling, the dopamine rush you feel when you’re in love: addicted to another person and out of your mind.”

After graduating from BIMM London in 2014, ELIZZA has since worked alongside several talented music producers, developing a unique sound of her very own, taking cues from pop and RnB but staying true to herself and her roots. Subsequently, her releases have been featured on BBC Introducing, Clash Magazine, Indietronica, Hype Machine, and Born Music, and more recently she appeared for an in-studio interview on the Harriette Rose show on FUBAR radio.

The song won the hearts of both the audience and the jury in October 2019, when the song won the prestigious Amsterdam Dance Event demo competition. The track will be a part of ANNNA’s EP that will be released in spring 2020.

The new track is a collaboration with the Danish producer and songwriter, August Friis. His nostalgic, bittersweet style perfectly mixes with the harsh, themed lyrics and attitude present in each ANNNA’s track.

Probably you’ll notice when listening to her lyrics, but “Stardom/Hater” is not a sweet story. The song is about something that the singer read in an article on BBC UK explaining the increase in domestic violence that happens in English homes once their home team loses during the World Cup. Same as in her other songs, ANNNA’s lyrics cover things that bother her, things that make her stand up and shout out loud during her impactful performances.

The singer’s new chapter in 2020 will begin with a performance at the Eurosonic Festival on the 17th of January, where she’ll show off all her new, powerful tracks.

*The song is available through this link: https://band.link/annna

Singer Signija Taranenko with a stage name SIGNIA at the end of last year surprised with “Musical Advent Calendar” when she posted 24 Christmas song cover versions on her YouTube channel. Last week Signia presented her first original song “Where Are You”.

New singer from a small town works in a pharmacy as a pharmacist’s assistant for a couple of days a week, the rest of her time she spends singing. Currently active in a group “Carnelian” and sings as a back vocalist to Atis Auzans. Participates in a variety of musical projects and charity events cooperating with Pipars.lv and Palidzesim.lv.

About the song Signia says: “I wrote this song 2 years ago and then I was asked – who is it about? I said it certainly wasn’t about me. Time has passed, circumstances and events have changed my life a lot, and now I can associate this song with myself and finally sing it really out of my heart.”

The song is about love we’re waiting for, searching for and finding if we get lucky. If we don’t, we keep waiting and looking for “the one”. About dreams that we all want to come true, we give them up when it gets hard, and then believe them again meeting the right people. The song is about those who are searching. About You too. Whatever you’re looking for – love, happiness, inspiration or yourself – this is the story of not giving up.

The author of words and music is Signija Taranenko herself. In the recording work the points on “i”’s were placed by producer Kaspars Ansons, but producers who worked on it were Arturs Palkevics and Gaitis Lazdans. Video made by Eriks Saksons. Costume design – Ilze Kasa.

At this year’s showcase festival and conference “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2020”, held from  January 15 to 18 in Groningen, Netherlands, Latvia is represented by two artists – Evija Vebere and ANNNA.

Evija Vebere is a Latvian producer, singer and performer. She creates music with multiple modular synthesizers and a broken trumpet. By using her unique voice she invites the listeners to discover forest of amazing sounds. Her debut solo recording “Sirdsbūt” won Best Alternative Music Album 2019 at Latvian music awards.

At “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2020” Evija Vebere will performs on 16 January at USVA.

ANNNA is a modern day wakeup call that makes you want to move. Her songs mostly cover very current and serious topics, such as sustainability and equality. However, ANNNA’s distinct voice, that blends together a touch of Lana Del Rey and Kate Bush, results in an energetic, uplifting and impactful performance. This Latvian/Dutch singer’s debut track, “The One That Got Away”, became the No1 most played track on some of the biggest Latvian radios as well as her second track, “Stardom/Hater” won the Amsterdam Dance Event demo competition in October 2019.

At “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2020” ANNNA will perform on 17 January at the Praedinius Gymnasium.

Chris Noah releases a new single “The Line” from the forthcoming EP expected in March. Chris explains that the song is a story about how sometimes circumstances and the environment around you changes as well as people change but there are feelings and emotions that remain unchanged no matter how you might try to leave them in the past.

Chris started writing the music for the song by himself and was later joined by the keyboard player form his band Marcis Jukumsons – Jukumnieks with whom “The Line” was finished. Both this single and the rest of the songs on the EP were recorded by Chris Noah in a collaboration with the British music producer Christopher Harris (who has previously worked with the likes of Bear’s Den, Belle and Sebastian, Ghostpoet and others) with whom the musician has worked before.

“The Line” is released under the record label “Made in Baltics”/”Sony Music Entertainment”.

Single on the digital platforms