Category: News

The second single from the upcoming album is recorded in Latvian language. So far, VCP has released song in latvian just once in 2008, which makes it easy to calculate the regularity of the group’s “Latvian” singles – once every ten years.

The first single “We Should Dance” from upcoming new album, was released in the in summer 2019 and was a success in local radio stations. Kristina Prauliņa also was participated in this song. VCP is not at all alien to regular collaborations with other musicians, so more guest artists will be heard in the upcoming album. Including Evilena Protectore, Ralfs Eilands and Maija Sējāne.

Participants in the single “Pa Apli”: Elvijs Grafcovs (guitar), Maris Jekabsons (tenor sax), Kristaps Lubovs (baritone sax), Laura Rozenberga (trombone), Oskars Ozolins (trumpet), Maris Vitkus (keyboard), Andris Kaulins (Moog Synthesizer), Valter Sprūdžs (bass) and Andris Buiķis (drums).

Single recorded by Ivars Ozols and Edgars Skraģis, mix and master by Janis Kalve. Video by Valdis Krumins. Photo by Mārcis Baltskars.

Singer, songwriter, former Eurovision representative of Latvia releases his debut album “Here I Am”. The artist spent over a year working on new material with producer DJ Makree. The digital release of album already took its place on 20-th of April, but physical copy of the disk will be available on April 26.

“First LP album is a big event for every musician, the first impression matters the most. I’ve been working on this album for over a year now and the process was complicated yet gripping. You learn something new, make mistakes and search for a way to do things better – I had ups and downs during the past year, but I am thrilled to deliver my new songs to the audience around the world,” Justs tells the story behind the making of the album.

Five of eight tracks in the album were produced by one of the most promising young producers of Latvia DJ Makree, who has managed to tastefully imply characteristics of EDM and house into core of the album. Two of the songs were written in “RIGaLIVE” songwriting camp, that took its place during the Autumn of 2017. Artist also added one acoustic track in the while creating the set of his album to tribute the beauty of acoustic performance.

Justs had already released two singles “Are You There” and “Uz Palodzes” (from Latvian “On the Window Sill”), second single was one of top played songs on the biggest Latvian Radio Station for 4 weeks. Both singles were released through Fanvestory project, where every fan will be able become a part of Justs new song by buying a piece of it. Find more about Fanvestory here: https://fanvestory.com.

Justs has already started his club tour in Latvia which is going to finalize on 31-st of May in club “ONE ONE”.

Novus competition for up and coming bands is seeking not only to discover, but also to encourage the most promising music talents. The project is searching for new talents, provides the opportunity to perform on a professional setting at Art Factory Loftas, to be heard by new audiences and music industry professionals.

Competition prizes for the bands-winners include a professional song recording and music video production provided by “Muzikinis Cechas” studio, an opportunity to play at a yearly “Loftas Fest” festival 2018, a live video production by “Square” studio, special prizes from “Converse” company, other performance opportunities and much more.

Last year top three places were taken by all three Baltic countries: Lithuanians “Timid Kooky” – first place, Estonians “VonKuusk” – second place, and Latvians “Ezeri” – third place. “It is quite simbolic that top tree places were taken by the representatives from each Baltic country. We are happy that NOVUS became an international platform for bands to be heard and that this competition is getting more and more interesting for our neighbours. Last year competitors from Latvia and Estonia were very strong, charismatic and musical. It was a great inspiration and push to Lithuanian bands to get to know their neigbours and to learn something new from each other. We hope that this year competition will be even stronger.” – said the owner of Art Factory Loftas Victor Diavara.

Latvian indie rock band Carnival Youth have released a brand-new single called “Love Is the Answer” on 16th of March. Next week the ensemble will embark on a European tour.

“Phrase “love is the answer” came from subconsciousness while thinking vocal melodies in gibberish, mumbling. It seemed funny at first, but after a while we saw a challenge to justify it and after all – it is true. It was a joy of discovery, we tried to follow where it was going and experiment a bit, with choir of trumpets, for example,” says Emils Kaupers, member of the band.

This single marks the period between their latest release – an album with songs in their native Latvian called “Vienā vilcienā” – and their new, upcoming album, which will take them back to writing songs in English.

Latvian DJ and music producer Makree in collaboration with the acclaimed British producer Secondcity has released the single “Never Been in Love”. This is the first out of three songs to be issued under the record label “Ministry of Sound” and BBC Radio1’s Danny Howard’s  label “Nothing Else Matters” . Both of these record labels are owned by Sony UK and are the world’s leading dance music publishers. The public premieres of “Never Been in Love” took place on March 2 at the BBC Radio 1 during the broadcast of the legendary dance music reviewer Annie Mac, but before its official release it was played already on the sets of such world-class DJs as Grammy-nominated Disclosure, Claptone, Danny Howard and Oliver Helden.

““Ministry of Sound” undeniably is the world’s largest dance music record label that works with various Grammy-nominated artists – being part of this giant dance music organizations is an indescribable feeling, especially since my music is played by DJs and music producers who’s music I’ve followed for years, “says Makree. “Cooperation with the Ministry of Sound at the moment is the most significant achievement of my career, but I consider it only as the beginning – with my work I want to bring Latvian dance music to a new level”.

Makree is a 22 year old electronic dance music DJ and producer, in Latvia he has worked with such artists as Dons, Dvīnes, Justs, Aminata and Pyor. Makree’s international debut was in 2014, when in collaboration with Swedish record label “Metron Music” the song “Clouds” was released. The song “Never Been in Love”  was created in collaboration with the British DJ Secondcity whose single “I Wanna Feel” in May 2014 ranked  as nr. 1 in the UK singles chart and also had the first place in the American Billboard Dance Music Top.

Latvian pop-act Markus Riva collaborates with the fan engagement platform Fanvestory to share his exclusive content, merchandise and a part of his future royalty earnings with his biggest fans and supporters.

Many artists are trying to find new ways to attract fans, but more importantly connect with them as streaming and digitalization has taken away one approach for artists to deeply engage with their biggest fans as they can just scroll through Spotify and find the next artist to listen to within 1 second. Exclusivity is disappearing and that is why Markus Riva has decided to take his fan engagement to the next level with Fanvestory.

“I have been attracted to music since the age of three. I am mostly inspired by my friends and the surrounding environment, but of course also by some heartbreaks and rough times I have gone through. I am lucky to be pursuing my dream in playing, performing and creating songs. There is nothing else I’d rather do and I would not be able to do it without my fanbase. I have decided to work with Fanvestory to show gratitude to my coolest fans and share part of my future earnings with them,” says the Latvian pop singer Markus Riva.

“We decided to work with Markus Riva, because there is no doubt he is a natural talent with big international fanbase and growth potential as he has fans from Russia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and other countries. His creations includes many radio singles that have been #1 songs on the charts of iTunes and radio stations,” adds the CEO of Fanvestory Birgit Karus.

Markus Riva new single “Please don’t give up” , that is given out in collaboration with Fanvestory, was written in London but recorded in Riga with Kaspars Ansons – producer that stands behind previously released track “This Time”, also known as “Supernova 2018” entry. “The idea of the song came into my mind when I was in London last year. I woke up in the morning in Shoreditch district, took a shower, and I had this melody in my mind that I fixed with the guitar that was in a hotel room. I love that kind of moments when you give a birth to a song in those unexpected moments”, says Markus. You will hear a lot of “that kind of moments” in new music album by Markus Riva that is set to be released on 20th of September. It is going to be 5th album in Markus Riva’s career that consists of songs written and inspired by real life moments. The title of the new album is going to be “I CAN” because it symbolises the life of Markus Riva – “with this album I want to inspire people. The title song I wrote for my mother when she was struggling with cancer, unfortunately I lost her last year and it was a a hard time, but good to create and find myself again in music”.

Fanvestory is a fan-engagement technology platform, which allows music fans to support artists and receive exclusive content, merchandise and a small percentage of future royalties from their favourite artists in return. So far, Fanvestory has worked with popular artists like Tommy Cash, Justs and Tanel Padar and is now collaborating with Latvian pop singer and X factor host Markus Riva.

This years’ Summer Sound festival will offer a chance to watch local cinema to its attendees in just two weeks – 3rd and 4th of August.

The cinema tent has found its way back to Summer Sound festival. In it, during the whole of the festival, there will be screenings of classic and modern Latvian cinema pieces, as well as student films. The list of films includes Four white shirts, My friend – a quirky man, Thumbelin, Emīls’ mischiefs, Because of that crazy Paulīne, Soloist needed, Return of Sgt Lapiņš, Butter, short films from students of Latvian Academy of Culture and others.

Speaking of films chosen for cinema tent of Summer Sound is curator of the tent Agnese Logina:” We know well that people are not attending the festival purely for the cinema, but we wish to broaden the spectrum of experience for the attendees. This year the cinema tent will give a chance to get to know different generations of Latvian cinema. For some this might mean watching the Latvian classics for the first time, for some it might be a revisiting of those, but the cinema tent is going to be a place for rejuvenation, good mood, laughter and new findings. The cinema tent is going to screen the classics and also more recent films, especially suited for families with kids, but all of the films are going to be life-affirming pieces motivating contemplation through laughter.”

This year the festival also invites you to attend warm-up concerts for the festival that are going to take place in Liepaja the whole week through – in Petermarket, at Liepaja University and Julianna’s court in July 31st, August 1st and August 2nd. On the City stage 15 local musicians and DJs, including Liepaja inhabitants, will perform. The three stages will host The Coconuts, Mārtiņš Dambis & Co, NiklāvZ, Funky DJ Elegant, The Mary Jane and others. Entrance is free of charge.

The most recent news of Summer Sound festival and the City stage program can be checked out at the Summer Sound official app, downloaded within Google Play Store and Appstore.

Up until now these artists have been announced for this years’ Summer Sound festival – American rockband Goo Goo Dolls, the British rockband Coasts, German DJ Alle Farben, the local Musiqq, Aija Andrejeva, Labvēlīgais Tips, Dzelzs Vilks, Pienvedēja Piedzīvojumi, Rīgas Modes, Igo, Justs, Sudden Lights, Marta Ritova, Astra The 22’s, Rigga Reggae, Singapūras Satīns, rappers Ansis, Edavārdi and Fakts, DJs Toms Grēviņš and Makree, bands Čipsis un Dullais, Inokentijs Mārpls, Soundarcade, Židrūns, The Bongo Club, The Bad Tones, Múr, Buchares, PODRUGA, DJ Uldis Rudaks.

Lithuania-based musician Andis Grīva with his band – Andis Grīva is WWMM, Lithuanian Colours of Bubbles, Garbanotas Bosistas and Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys.

In year 2018, Summer Sound will take place for the 8th time, and has undoubtedly become one of the most important music events of the Baltic summer. That is confirmed by the thousands of attendees that come each year to the wonderful beach of Liepāja to enjoy musical entertainment and relaxation by the seaside for two whole days. Each year, the festival offers more than 50 artists, as well as providing a menu of various entertaining activities.

Summer Sound is supported by Liepāja city, you are kindly invited by A/S Aldaris, and the festival is reccomended by the official radio of the festival – Radio SWH.

Good news – Latvian music is taking over the top spots in Lithuania’s radios! In the 1st place this week is K. Ansons’, V.Sprudzs’, K.Praulina’s and Jurga’s song “Be Žodžių” on FM99 in Alytas, English version of this song is  “(My Heart Beats) Staccato”, which was co-written by Kaspars Ansons, Kristīne Prauliņa and Valters Sprūdžs, this is one of the songs which were created during the fall session of the songwriting workshop “RIGaLIVE”. 

Don’t forget to catch Carnival Youth live this week in Lithuania – today at Loftas in Vilnius, and tomorrow in Alytas city festival.

How Town is a Belgian-Latvian band led by bass player/composer Lennart Heyndels. Their music is not easily classified, jumping from the more experimental corner of improvisation to a spontaneity and flexibility clearly rooted in jazz, they bring well worked out compositions taking inspiration from a pop, folk and singer-songwriter tradition. Since its beginnings in 2012, the band has released three albums: How Town (2013), a suite based on the E.E. Cummings poem ‘Anyone lived in a pretty how town’, No marvel (that I mistake my view) (2014) and I dare you sea (2016).

“I want to watch a tree grow” (2018) is How Town’s fourth album and definitely their most eclectic one. Consisting of compositions by all members of the band, the album has lyrics in four different languages (Russian, English, Latvian and French). Choral harmonies meet twisted bass grooves and sharp guitar sounds, before unnoticeably transforming into folk songs you might as well be whistling on your bike. Before you know it you find yourself in the middle of a compelling ballad with the rhythmic pulse of a ping pong ball and you may ask yourself: “How did I get here?”. A question which will become more and more irrelevant as you join How Town in watching their tree grow.

How Town has performed all over Europe including The Netherlands, France, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Belgium. They played at major festivals like Jazz International Rotterdam, Match & Fuse London and Theater Aan Zee and at concert venues like Bimhuis, Porgy & Bess and Stadtgarten. The band has won several prizes among which the Keep An Eye ‘The Records’ award (2017) and the Jong Muziek prize at Theater Aan Zee (2014).

Latvian blues rock, indie and alternative jazz band The Coco’nuts has released their second studio album No Other Way Out. Album is available for streaming on Spotify, ITunes, SoundCloud, Bandcamp and Google Play Music.

“No Other Way Out is about the journey of learning to find the beauty in everyday life. It’s about the little things we might not notice in the daily routine. About the highs and lows of life that make it worth living. Because after all the bruises, laughs, tears, experiences, and failures, in the end there is indeed No Other Way Out. So we might as well enjoy it”.

The eight songs of the album have been recorded in a greenhouse located in the suburbs of Valmiera, in collaboration with Latvian Radio Big Band musicians trumpeter Oskars Ozoliņš, trombonist Laura Rozenberga, saxophonist Kristaps Lubovs and other musical talents such as Melo M cellist Miķelis Dobičins and percussionist Migel Hernandez Giraldi from Chile.  The visual artist of the album is Aigars Opincāns.

No Other Way Out album livestream concert for friends and family can be found in HD quality on The Coco’nuts Facebook page. The band also invites everybody to the big album presentation concert on the 14th of June, club ONE ONE. The tickets to the concert are available on www.residentadvisor.net/.

The Coco’nuts consists of eight creative and vibrant personalities: Marija Broča as leadvocal, Monta Kurme backvocal, Inese Bērziņa backvocal and piano, Pēteris Narubins vocal and guitar, Jāzeps Podnieks flute, Artūrs Strautmanis drums, Toms Valmiers contrabass and Reinis Puriņš trumpet.

The music created by the band varies with funk, indie, blues rock and alternative jazz elements. The Coco’nuts started their musical journey in 2012 and so far they have recorded an EP Appetizer in 2014 and a studio album Amid Opposites in 2016. The band has played in many local and foreign festivals and events, including Positivus, Riga Funk Fest and International Jazz Day, Riga Rhythm Festival and Tartu Indie Music Festival.