Category: News

Singer-songwriter Ivo Fomins, after a hiatus of more than a year and intensive concerts in sold-out venues, is finally releasing a new song and video! “Vēl viens pagrieziens” (Another Turn) is co-written by Ivo Fomins and Guntars Račs Music, who collaborated on nearly all of Ivo’s previous hits.

Ivo: “We never know what awaits us beyond each new turn. Rarely does anyone ponder that because it’s much more crucial to keep moving forward toward our chosen goal. The journey itself is the meaning of life. This is what the new song is about, and it will also be the theme of my major concert in Liepāja, titled ‘Mans ceļš’ (My Way).”

The concert “Mans ceļš” will take place on March 9, 2024, and tickets are already available at Biļešu Paradīze box offices and online here: https://ej.uz/ivofominskoncerts. The concert will feature powerful sound and lighting equipment, and besides Ivo and his band, special guests—individuals who played a significant role in Ivo’s career- will also participate.

The new song “Vēl viens pagrieziens” is produced by Roberts Dinters and Ivo himself, with the final audio mix by Janis Narbuts. The recording includes Ivo Fomins on vocals, Roberts Dinters on guitar and keyboards, Kristaps Eihvalds on bass, and Eriks Hanzovskis on drums. The video is produced by Kaspar Dween Productions.

In addition to the upcoming major concert in March next year, there is an opportunity to attend the remaining shows of Ivo Fomins’ series “30 gadi uz skatuves koncertus” (30 Years on Stage), which will take place on December 8 in Talsi (sold out) and on December 21 in Ogre.

Guntars Račs: “The path is life, and life is the path. Keep moving forward, and don’t fear the swift turns where life occasionally challenges us. They might lead into a ditch but can also take you up a high hill. If you don’t turn, you won’t know.”

The song is available on all music streaming and download platforms worldwide: https://orcd.co/velvienspagrieziens

RAUM has come back with new powerful song, more powerfull and more honest that ever.

 

Agnese Rakovska introduces ‘Constellation class,’ which is a new method aimed at revolutionizing and digitizing music lessons within the general education system. The primary focus is on engaging students in practical activities while providing opportunities to gain fundamental music knowledge and theory in a contemporary manner, utilizing technology and music production equipment. This approach influences children and their thinking towards music lessons, combating the stigma within the education system that deems music classes dull, outdated, and irrelevant.

The project directly addresses this issue, creating an environment and method that resonates closely with the interests of children and teenagers. By growing both theory and practical skills, it allows students to use the knowledge in real-life scenarios. It primarily adopts the structure established by ‘School 2030,’ aligning with the guidelines and recommendations adopted by the Ministry of Education and Science for organizing the educational process.

“Music lessons should focus on practical activities that foster each student’s creativity and interest in music. My experience and education have been the key in creating an entirely new concept, addressing educational issues in a modern and relevant manner,” says Agnese.

The project’s goal is to introduce the ‘Constellation Class’ initiative in multiple educational institutions throughout the upcoming academic year, developing new teaching materials and enhancing the technical infrastructure of schools. Additionally, the initiative aims to nurture a new generation capable of competing in the creative industries.

Project tasks involve identifying schools willing to modernize their music classes, engaging educators ready to adopt this method, creating pilot lessons to assess their relevance among children, developing evaluation criteria for music classes, initiating the adoption process, and conducting teacher training.

Velvet River is a duo project consisting of drummer Kārlis Roberts Kalejs (LV) and bass guitarist Tauna Woolfe (UK). Following the release of their debut EP “Casablanca” at the beginning of the summer, the instrumental duo is now releasing live video recordings filmed and recorded in an industrial complex in Riga, Latvia.

“The charm of live recordings provides the listener with a similar feeling as a concert, as everything happens at the same time and place. Moreover, such videos offer the opportunity to see the musicians up close,” says Kārlis, the drummer of Velvet River, expressing the goals of the recordings.

The first recording released by the band, “Casablanca,” is a composition from the duo’s debut album. However, the tracks “Altercy” and “Occurrence” are entirely new and are being presented to the audience for the first time.

The choice to film in “Provodniks” happened very organically, as it was important for the duo to select a location that not only offered an authentic atmosphere but also complemented the group’s sound.

The musicians began their collaboration in late 2019 when both were studying music in the UK. The roles of bass guitar and drums in music typically serve to support and enhance the sound of other instruments, but Velvet River in their music experiment with what they can create just by themselves in such a minimalist context. The duo’s sound and unique concept are inspired by modern and contemporary jazz, combining it with their individual sources of inspiration.

The video series was created in collaboration with videographer Artūrs Krūmiņš, photographer Kārlis Didrihsons, and video producer Nikola Dita Namniece.

BAIBA, a Latvian musician and producer based in Austria, has released a new single and a live music video filmed at the top of the Alps.

“Black Hole” is her latest work and is already available on the most popular music streaming sites. BAIBA performed this song for her fans for the first time in a very unusual way – on the shores of a picturesque lake, located on a hiking trail in Austria at an altitude of 2158 metres.

Her performance is featured in the music video for the song “Black Hole”, a collaboration between the “Gigmit” booking platform and the portable power company “Instagrid”.

In the song, BAIBA talks about the bittersweet ‘unhealthy’ or ‘toxic’ love, often praised in pop culture.

The journey into space, the longing for something beautiful and lasting, and the fear of whether this attraction to the other will “suck out” the whole essence of oneself, pulling one into the nothingness or black hole of space – these existential questions, combined with a flowing melody and strong bass lines, create a whirlwind of feelings.

This is her first release since her EP “Compulsive” this spring.

Aivo Oskis and Oskars Deigelis have jointly released a new collaboration single titled “Gaiss tīrs”.

The primary theme of the song emphasizes the significance of effective communication within a relationship, especially during challenging times, instead of impulsively seeking fulfillment elsewhere. It underscores that open and honest dialog can lead to more profound and lasting connections between individuals.

Elizabete Gaile has released her version of the Gain Fast song ”Tas nav uz zemes šīs” giving a new sound to the song. ”There’s something special about this tune and the feeling it gives. When winter came, I felt that I wanted to record my version of it, as this song has become very close to me.

For this anxious time that goes along with the pre-holiday atmosphere, I wanted to convey a sense of peace and take the listener somewhere higher.” says Elizabete.

With the release of debut EP “short hair now”, Latvian band “whenever near” make a their mark on the local music scene. The album consists of six songs and is available at all major music streaming platforms.

The band is hailing from Riga, Latvia and consists of two members – Anneli Arro (vocals, keys) and Toms Taukulis (guitars, songwriting). Both have been involved in another project called “himnas”, which was nominated for “Austras balva” and “Zelta mikrofons”.

The EP “short hair now” combines post-emo guitar and drum sound influences, rhythmic yet downcast melodies within anthem-like verses. The record was self-released and it’s beginnings date back pre-pandemic.

Spotify

On October 21, the music label Amber Muse will continue its autumn-winter season of events. On this date, the Laska V21 club will host a party of the Disco Darko series with the support of Beefeater. Its headliner will be a representative of the Frankfurt scene, which gave the world a galaxy of famous electronic stars – Chinaski from the Robert Johnson club.

Stefan Haag aka Chinaski aka S-F-X is a sound and visual artist, producer, and DJ based in Frankfurt am Main. Born in Northern Germany and coming from a background in digital arts, his endeavours in electronic music are not new: Stefan has been producing for years to develop his signature sound built upon hooky synth lines.

His work has consequently brought him to Robert Johnson, in whose vicinity he stayed to become a resident in 2014. Led by a keen instinct for the visual counterpart of sound in video and live performance, Stefan has also edited numerous video clips for befriended artists and releases on Die Orakel or Live At Robert Johnson – the label he is closely affiliated with as a musician. He has also been released with Permanent Vacation, Running Back, Bordello A Parigi, and Dischi Autunno, among others.

As Chinaski Stefan addresses the dance floor as a joyful space where the roots and the contemporary of electronic dance music walk hand in hand. In his sets, he combines those genres of contemporary electronica that are commonly referred to as dark disco.

Indie and psychedelic rock band @thebadtones have just released their second tringle, ‘ii’, featuring three new tracks. Among them, “Vējš,” accompanied by a music video created by the band members, explores the theme of facing life’s headwinds. Lead vocalist and lyricist Edvards Broders shares, “Just like riding a bicycle over Vanšu bridge on a rainy day, with the wind in your ears and raindrops on your face, ‘Vējš’ captures the struggle to overcome helplessness and find your way forward.”

Spotify