Category: News

Pacific K offers the first single “Tranquil State of Mind” from their first full-length studio album “Light Between Oceans” to be released in autumn 2019.

The song tells a story of a man deep in the woods drifting between different worlds and different inner selves. It’s a mix of pure emotions, telluric energy and deep calm. The song opens up the world of the new album, leaving one curious for what’s to come. The band recorded and worked on the album with the sound engineer Talis Timrots at Mints Music Studio in Riga that has previously worked with artists such as Damien Rice, Ludovico Einaudi, as well as several Latvian bands, including Brainstorm, Satellites LV among others.

Playing together since 2016, the Latvian four-piece released their debut EP “Blue Fall” in April 2017 which gained them praise from careful listeners, as well as some local industry people. Inspired by artists such as Fink, Ben Howard, Nick Cave, The Barr Brothers, Sigur Rós among others and driven by the powerful songwriting of the frontman Kristaps Bedritis, Pacific K deliver captivating live performances. As reviews say:

“The original music of the band works as a magnet, leaving no one in the audience indifferent. It has an emotional grasp, mixing melancholy with rich, intense progressions.” – Berga Bazars Summer Festival

The band currently has 40+ gigs under their belt, including major festivals in Latvia (Positivus, Laba Daba, Playground, Piens Fest), shows in the Baltics and a few appearances at the global live concert series Sofar Sounds. In 2017 they opened for one of their influences – the British band Fink and have started 2019 with an appearance at a late-night show, as well as a couple of shared gigs with the British band Eyre Llew.

“I don’t know” was written in the period, when I got completely lost. To me personally, it is not just another break up song. It is more.

 “I don’t know” is about freedom. Freedom to be who you are, and freedom to accept yourself. Some time ago, I would only accept myself when I was winning. Would only love my body when I was in the best shape. Would only like my photos taken from a special angle, so that my face looks good, with make up on, building a perfect picture of a dream life for the outer world… So life taught me lessons. Failure after failure, which led to constant anxiety and frustration. I became a person, who couldn’t be loved or respected  by the “old me”.

So, when I had no other choice, I’ve learned my lesson. I’ve learned, that I actually deserve love and respect not for my success, or not because I look good at a certain picture, but because I am me. I don’t have to always win to be loved. Don’t have to satisfy everyone. I can actually love myself for nothing, even when I make mistakes, even when I don’t know what to do next, where to go.   

With “I don’t know” I want to mark the end of this chapter of frustration, and start a new one, a chapter full of freedom and self acceptance.  From now on, I do things not because of pressure I put on myself, not because “I am useless, so I have to become at least “someone”… Faster!” I do sports, because I love it, I sing and write songs, because I love it. I spend time alone, because I love it. I work with people who I like. I do all that, because I love myself and respect my needs and wishes. I deserve to be happy. I deserve love, as do you.”

Podruga, electropop project of singer Alise Stefanoviča and guitarist Ričards Dauksts, offers their latest creation – summery and sultry single „Make It Stop”.

The song is a call to stop limiting oneself, and to experience adventures, love and all the good things that come into life with real awareness of your desires instead. “The creation of the song itself was letting go of my old patterns of songwriting and production – it is evident in unexpectedly uplifting sound. Also, after a 10-year break, I have taken up flute again, which you can hear in this piece,” says Alise Stefanoviča. “We believe that „Make It Stop” will become a great soundtrack for summer adventures!”

Music video was created by audio-visual artists Diana Lelis and Marija Mickeviča (MNTHA). The song was recorded and engineered at studio “401” in collaboration with the well-known hip-hop producer Tablis (Toms Horsts).

Podruga began her musical activities in 2016. So far, three singles and a mini-album “YPA!” have been released, as well as many concerts have been performed, including at major Baltic music festivals

In the heat of the summer tour around the Baltic States “Very Cool People” together with the Latvian soul singer Kristine Prauliņa, releases a new single, “Come Along”, from the band’s new album “Caution! Contains Words!”

“Come Along” is the forth single from the band’s latest album “Caution! Contains Words!”. Prior to that VCP had already released “We Should Dance” with Kristīne Prauliņa; the second single from the album – “Pa Apli” – got into the Top 15 at the Latvian National Radio music poll “Muzikālā Banka 2018”, it was in the Top 20 of the most influential commercial radio in Latvia (Radio SWH) and has more than 450k views on YouTube at the moment; and the third single “This Mess” featuring Evilena Protektore.

“This is definitely the most summery song from our new album and it could definitely become a summer soundtrack for those who are planning to go on romantic trips or to attend the summer festivals” says VCP leader Elvijs Grafcovs 

The song – “Come Along” also features an animated lyric video made by the artist Raitis Kalniņš, who also created the group’s newest album “Caution! Contains Words!” visual design. 

The album “Caution! Contains Words!” features many guest appearances & blends together a sparkling cocktail of funk, soul, jazz, rock & hip-hop. Ten out of the album tunes were written by the band members themselves, and two are cover songs – “Let the Music Take Your Mind”, a tribute to the legendary R&B group “Kool & the Gang”, & “Going Down Slowly”, a homage to the great late music legend from New Orleans Allen Toussaint, who has inspired & influenced VCP.  This is the band’s sixth album so far: 2009 – self-titled debut, 2012 – Cruising In The Trolley, 2015 – Funkology, 2017 – Heya Some Kind Of Fish!…, 2018 – Snowman’s Express.

Latvian indie rock trio Carnival Youth release a new single and video “Only the Moon Can See the Sun” a week before the release of the new album “Good Luck”.

Carnival Youth member Emils Kaupers reveals that the song is about procrastination: “I believe everyone has those little things on their mind that you can’t get rid of and they prevent you from being truly happy. You want to deal with these things and resolve them but it’s easier to put them off again and again. This can drag on forever. It’s difficult to finally take the first step so this song serves as an encouragement to be brave”.

 The music video was shot in Aluksne, Latvia by directors Ieva Aleksejeva and Peteris Viksna. Peteris describes the video as follows: “The video plays on the connection between dreams and reality using the lyrics as a point of reference. We interpreted the lyrics of the song both literally and through various abstract associations of the words and the symbols hidden within them”. This is the second music video that Carnival Youth have filmed in Aluksne and this time biathlete from Aluksne Andrejs Rastorgujevs is in the video as well.

The upcoming album “Good Luck” will be available in CD and double vinyl. Limited edition vinyl will also be available. The album was recorded last summer in Red Bull Studios in Sao Paulo, Brazil and is produced by the band’s long-time collaborator Gatis Zakis. The album was mixed by Grammy winning producer Nicolas Verhnes and the master was done by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound in NYC.

Musician Chris Noah releases a new song called “Inside Out”, which is the last of the three-song set, which has been developed with the British produced Kristofer Harris.

The British producer visited Latvia in May of last year and in collaboration with the musician and companions recorded three songs. The first one published was “River”, which has been listened to more than 370 thousand times, the second one – “Fall Through” was the first single who also had a music clip. This song has gotten awareness not only from Latvian radio stations, but also from many foreign music bloggers and it got many fans in the Baltic radio tops.

The song “Inside Out” differs from the previous two, because the song has been in the making for many years – the main part of the song was written more than two years ago, but the rest was produced with Kristofer Harris in May of 2018. “Sometimes it happens like that – you develop a seemingly perfect melody for a song, but the rest of it does not come out naturally. In this case I had to wait for the right moment to get the inspiration to finish it.” Says the musician Chris Noah himself.

About the contents of the song Chris Noah says: “The song is about relationships with a person, who changes what he says, what he thinks and even denying what he said earlier. Everyone of us, at least once in our lives, meets a person like this with whom it is difficult to make plans with, because you never know what might happen tomorrow.”

Song co-author and co-producer is Chris Noah friend and musical companion Marcis Jukumsons-Jukumnieks. Also people who have been a part of the recording are guitarist Janis Kalnins, and drummer Jekabs Zemzaris.

The band’s new album is a mix of funk, jazz, soul, hip-hop and rock that still sounds like “Very Cool People”. There is no shortage of energy, joy of life, catchy riffs and melodies. Their new album consists of 12 compositions, of which only one is instrumental. That also explains the ironic title of the new album “Caution! Contains Words!”.

Ten out of the album tunes were written by the band members themselves, and two are cover songs – “Let the Music Take Your Mind”, a tribute to the legendary R&B group “Kool & the Gang”, & “Going Down Slowly”, a homage to the great late music legend from New Orleans Allen Toussaint, who has inspired & influenced VCP.

Very Cool People:  Oskars Ozoliņš – trumpet;  Māris Jēkabsons – tenor sax;  Laura Rozenberga – trombone.  Kristaps Lubovs – baritone sax;  Elvijs Grafcovs – guitar;  Māris Vitkus – organ, rhodes piano;  Valters Sprūdžs – bass;  Andris Buiķis- drums, percussion.  

The record features many guest appearances: Kristīne Prauliņa – vocals, Evilena Protektore – vocals, Ralfs Eilands – vocals, Maija Sējāne – vocals, MC Edavārdi – vocals, MC ansis – vocals, Hannah Horvath – vocals, Erika Székely – vocals, Andris Kauliņš – moog & synth.

The album is produced by the leader of the band and guitarist Elvijs Grafcovs, co-produced by Valters Sprūdžs. The album is mostly recorded at “Sound Division Studio” in Riga by Ivars Ozols, additional recordings were made in other studios in Latvia and Romania. Mixed & mastered by Jānis Kalve at Labo Ierakstu Studio (Riga, Latvia), except We Should Dance mixed by Jon Evans. Design & artwork by Raitis Kalniņš.

This is bands sixth album so far. In 2009 – self-titled debut, 2012 – Cruising In The Trolley, 2015 – Funkology, 2017 – Heya Some Kind Of Fish!…, 2018 – Snowman’s Express.

In 2019 summer VCP will be on the tour around festivals in Baltic States & Germany: 18th of May “Museum Night” (Liepaja, Latvia), 25th of May “Görlitz Jazz Festival” (Görlitz, Germany), 1st of June “Gaujas Svētki” (Ādaži, Latvia), 6th of July “Bliuzo Naktys”(Varniai, Lithuania), 13th of July “Tintes Svētki” (Valmiera, Latvia), 16th of July “Saulkrasti Jazz” (Saulkrasti, Latvia), 27th of July “Positivus” (Salacgrīva, Latvia), 2nd of August Augustibluus (Haapsalu, Estonia), 3rd of August Summersound (Liepaja, Latvia), 24th of August “Siauliai Jazz” (Siauliai, Lithuania).

Music producer and dj Makree has released a new song “Position in Here” featuring vocal from singer and songwriter Justs. The song has been signed by Eton Messy Records.

Radio version of the song has already been featured in Justs debut album “Here I Am”, Eton Messy also released the club and dub mixes of the song. You can also hear Latvian duo Dvines singing back vocals before the second chorus kicks in.

Earlier this year dj Makree signed a record deal with Sony Music UK for releasing 3 singles together with the British DJ Secondcity. Their first release “Never Been in Love” was released in march and since then it has been played out in BBC Radio1 multiple times, the song has reached over a million streams on Spotify and has gained support from big name artists such as Annie Mac,Oliver Heldens, Disclosure, Sam Feldt, Claptone, Danny Howard and others.

The new track, IKA  is inspired by Greek mythology, the story of Icarus, as  Elizabete  portrays a luminous perspective amongst an experiential electronic backdrop of ideas.  Elizabete is reminiscent in places of  Efterklang, Bjork or Aphex Twin.  Delicate  harmonies intertwine, as sounds merge with moments of pure industrial experimentation. Elizabete  seeks out the world of Icarus as she soars metaphorically reaching for the sun, demonstrating a courageous and experimental soul, as she cautiously searches for new worlds. The video has borne in collaboration with new media artist Zane Zelmene, exploring the intersection between technology and nature. Elizabete  Balčus creates a musical cosmos, looping flute and voice, clicking electro pop beats, synthesizers and veg plot, taking you to a blissed-out state.  Live performances engage the audience with a psychedelic and theatrical performance, both bewildering and mesmerising demonstrating  Elizabete’s personal drive to create and to dream more. 

A Latvian musician and performance artist  Elizabete  Balčus  creates neo-psychedelic dream pop from collaged, genre juxtapositions that are simultaneously melodic and experimental working with a strong visual aesthetic that draws upon modern surrealism, contemporary fashion and geometric imagery. Elizabete  attended The Latvian Academy of Music in order to study classical and jazz flute, plus opera vocal in Rome’s Santa Cecilia Academy.  Having released her debut album  ‘Conarium’  under the UK label ‘Liminal Noise’, was nominated  for Latvian Music Recording Award  ‘Zelta Mikronfons’  2017 for best alternative / indie pop album of the year and was nominated for the Latvian ‘Mercury Prize’– ‘Austras Balva’, for best album of 2017. Elzabete has been busy of the last year performing at live festivals including: Eurosonic Noorderslag, Tallinn Music Week, WestWay LAB, Scenica Festival, The Great Escape, Reeperbahn Festival Live Shows

Up-and-coming Latvian four-piece Neon Saturdays strike once again this Autumn by releasing their third single. The song titled “Gravity” was produced in UK along with the rest of the band’s second album and speaks about pitfalls of fanatical ambitiousness and idealism.

“Gravity should encourage people to take a good look at the dynamics of their own life – daily rhythms, patterns of behavior and numerous habits that slowly take us where they do,” explained the leader of the band Andris Evelis.

“This song tells the story of an ambitious person who is having a hard time accepting that the real world has limitations that can’t be suspended. A lot of effort is put in to try and break free of this down-force. The song ends with the protagonist reaching a deeper understanding that love and peace is what we as human beings truly need,” he continued.

Most of us aim to achieve these things by striving for material gains, overdoing and over delivering with hopes that somebody will notice and acknowledge that we are special, the singer added.

Sonically Gravity will probably remind you of those old, weird, lesser-known sci-fi movies with deep and obscure storylines. The music video takes a twisted turn showing the band as unhinged, malevolent and almost non-human beings that are trapped in their reality, upside-down.

It was shot in a specially modified location and will definitely be one of the most interesting and unnerving things you’ll see this Autumn.

The song was recorded and produced together with Scottish production genius Lewis Gardiner who has been working with the band for some time now.

Gardiner had previously made a name for himself working with Ellie Goulding and the winner of 2016 British X Factor Matt Terry.

Talented and well-known sound engineer Andy “Hippy” Baldwin from Metropolis studios was recruited to lay on some finishing touches. Baldwin has previously worked with acts like Oasis, Robbie Williams and The Who.

The band has also announced that the third single together with their second full-length album titled Freaks In The Ocean will be released in November 9th.

The first single of the album (Get Up) was released back in April and found its way to numerous radio stations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK and Baltics. Same with the band’s second single Phoenix.

The band released their debut album in 2012. Since then a number of singles have made it to the TOP10 of the biggest Baltic radio stations after which Neon Saturdays toured the Baltic states as well as UK a couple of times.

In 2015 Neon Saturdays was one of the first Latvian acts to play The Great Escape in UK. In 2016 the band opened for the British rock band James.

In July 2018 the band opened for the American singer LP (Laura Pergolizzi) in Latvia, playing for 4000 people.

Band’s music has also received a well-deserved recognition by Tim Fraser, an internationally well-known songwriter (Tina Turner, Billie Myers), partner of Artists United and a member of BASCA’s Songwriters Executive Committee.