Category: News

Members of the band RYGA are in continued incomprehension on what is going on in the world and in their own houses. Is this really what people would like place under the Christmas tree these Christmas?

The band is offering their option – to live in peace, share love and not to destroy this world. “If children are usually told that they will get coal for Christmas, then what makes the world’s mighty ones, politicians and managers of large concerns better?” – ask members of the band. This does not appear to be a secret that there are demographical problems in Latvia and lots of people choose to emigrate abroad. Maybe the reasons thereof are to be looked for in the attitude to work assigned?  Incomprehensible purchase of the SRS building with the overpayment of quite a few millions, corruption involving officials etc. Unfortunately the services of the Panama offshores are chosen by politicians and significant business people as well and this has a direct impact to Latvia and tax collection, as well as many other problems pictured in the video.  

The band RYGA picture improvised workshop of Santa Claus in their new video, where Santa Claus hears out the wishes of many countries and organizations on what they would like to get these Christmas. And it turns out that no one needs the presents prepared by dwarfs (renewable energy, homes, love and mutual patience). Upon hearing these mad wishes, Santa Claus and the team of dwarfs with Snow White fail to resist the pressure and cast off.  Santa Claus and Snow White get to the improvement of demography, but in order to do it, the system in the shape of SRS building must be destroyed.

Nowadays it has become very common to simplify the image of woman down to the sex object and lots of women are gladly fine with that. Is this the standard of this era?!  Are the minds

With this provocative video the band RYGA is not afraid to show, what is actually continuing to go on in this world and they promise not to go away from hard and uncomfortable subjects in the debut album of the band RYGA, coming spring next year.

Two songs of the band RYGA (Candyman and Summerfest) have gone into the voting of first selection of Grammy awards and are still fighting for the nomination. At the same time the song of the band Candyman is played on playlists of quite a few radio stations in Germany is getting to be known in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In order to introduce listeners to the material of the new album, the band is planning to go on European concert tour in the middle of April.

Latvian delegation has just returned from Poland, where from 24th to 27th of November they took part at the conference ”6. Europejskie Targi Muzyczne Co Jest Grane 24 2016”, bringing home new impressions and contacts. The trade mission organized by Latvian Music Export Latvia (Latvijas Mūzikas attīstības biedrība / Latvijas Mūzikas eksports) was implemented with the support of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).

In cooperation with their Polish colleagues Latvian music industry professionals were offered a rich and saturated program: insight in the specifics of media and the nature of concert organisation in Poland, meetings with journalists, publishing and PR agency representatives, a tour around Warsaw music clubs, as well as a panel discussion on Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish cooperation so far and in the future.

The participants of the event concluded that all the parties are keen to establish stronger ties in the field of music business with good music as the main prerequisite, followed by the ability to perform it at high-quality concerts and the desire to discover their talents anew across our national borders.

After the Conference, the delegates had the chance to get a fresh glimpse of new Polish music and introduce the shows of their own artists as part of several concerts. This time the choice of the event organisers fell upon Alise Joste, who performed at Sunday night showcase program. 

At the conference, Latvia was represented by Agnese Cimuška – head of Latvian Music Evolution Society / Latvian Music Export, Ieva Liepa – Brainstorm Management representative, Dace Volfa from the I Love You Records label, Dita Ābola – head of Biedrība HI (representing Manta, Sigma and other acts), Jeļena Rantiņa (DaGamba project manager) and Jeļena Smelova (MOO / Music Observation Organization).

The song’s lyrical self speaks about how sad and pitiful their life was and how that all changed after meeting their significant other. “Can You Hear Me Now?” is one of the more serious and heavy tracks from Double Faced Eels’ upcoming album and the band feel that it, to some measure, captures the way many people feel right now.

Fiņķis and DoStudija presents their newly created band “FUND” and announces concert in December 8 in music club “One One”. Special guest Māris Mihelsons (DJ set), member of the Latvian pop/rock band “Brainstorm”.

In the beginning of september 2016 Fiņķis and DoStudija released their first studio album “Bāra ceļš. Akmens dārzs” (“Bar road. Stone garden”), which was presented during the modern culture forum “White Night 2016” in Riga.

Along with the concert disclosure, musicians release the video for the song “Music / Groove” from the new album. Operator Edgars Staune, dancers – Stella Upaciere un Francis Upaciers.

This week as an introduction to the upcoming Advent tour Little Christmas Melancholia the vocal group Latvian Voices releases their newest single Totari – a composition by one of the groups’ singers Laura Jekabsone. The mixing and postproduction of the single has been made in collaboration with Gustavs Erenpreiss.

“Latvian folk songs have always been a fundamental part of the repertoire of Latvian Voices and an inspiration for new discoveries in music. Also the composition Totari is inspired by Latvian folklore although the musical material is Lauras’ original work,” tells the participants of the group.

With this song Latvian Voices encourages not to forget ones ethnic identity during the time of Winter solstice, to straighten ones back and breath in the air of Latvia’s winter!

The first concert of the Latvian Voices tour Little Christmas Melancholia will take place on November 27th at Ogre St. Maynard Catholic church

The concert program Little Christmas Melancholia will introduce the listeners to new compositions made by the singers of the group (for example, Totari by Laura Jekabsone) as well as offer the opportunity to recognize traditional Christmas melodies intertwined with Latvian folk music and Winter solstice traditions. “During the eight years of groups’ existence we have gathered a lot to say in the lyrics of our songs and in our original music. This tour will be like a summary of our years together because this will be the first time the group tours in Latvia and not somewhere abroad during Advent and Christmas time. We have also included in the program ancient Advent melodies combined with our own musical ideas – a meeting of the traditional and modern. Of course also the texts from folklore with our melodies will be an essential part of the concerts.”

Also well known Christmas melodies will be sung to give the audience a light and elevated feeling when going out of the concert. Concerts will include songs like “What Child Is This?”, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Totari”, “Kalado”, “Little Sad Christmas”, “See Amid The Winter’s Snow”, etc. The producer of the new program is Paula Plavniece and the visual design is in the hands of Marcis Ziemins.

Latvian band The Coco’nuts recently released their new single called “Fading slowly” from the new material.

Right after having their first debut album “Amid opposites” in the beginning of this summer The Coco’nuts had a creative camp in Ēvele, where they already started working on new program. It has been presented in several wonderfull concerts during past three months. All new songs are made with completely new inspirations, that’s why they are quite different from usual sounds of The Coco’nuts. Compositions are flowing, they take listener in the world of reflections and toughts.

Band  releases song “Falling slowly” as the first because it tells about changes – just like new material – about new beginning, about new path in our lives, that changes are not always easy to realise in the moment, until at one point you lose control over everything so you just want to dissapear or fade out for a second until it all starts from the beginning and the unstoppable flow of life keeps going.

Live performance you’ll be able to hear on 16th of December in jazz bar “Trompete”. For more information you can follow band on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thecoconuti/

Latvian trio Audience Killers are about to release their first full-length album Floating Islands today on May 20th. The band formed back in 2010 and features the soothing, almost whimsical vocals of Normunds Petrovs with Arletta Supe on keyboards and backing vocals and Edgars Oplucans on the drums. 

New album has been produced by lead singer Normunds Petrovs and the band itself. Recorded at their newly built Trii House studio in Riga. Engineered and Mixed by Reinis Kārkliņš (band Franco Franco), mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters, Los Angeles. Album artwork by Paulina Wyrt.

In their new video for Sounds Like You a fiercely independent kid sets out on a trek through the city and across serene mountainside landscapes in Newfoundland, Canada. She tramps across breathtaking landscapes of waterfalls, still seasides villages and spans of the sea, all the while with a glowing star slung over her shoulder. In the end, the child sets the star free, syncing up with the songs powerful crescendo. 

‘The lyrics of Sounds Like You seem to me like the words of someone in mourning, wether it be for a failed relationship, the passing of a loved one, or even the loss of oneself. The last words are ‘There is nothing I can do’. So I wanted the video to reply to that lyric and say ‘No, here is something you can do’. To me, the video is about rekindling lost hope. A fall, and a rebirth. Sometimes, we have to let go of something that brought beauty in our lives. ‘To move on’ can be difficult, but a necessary act for new hope to bloom. Everything has its time. Everything has its place. Live. Laugh. Be free again.’

The new remix saw its debut last night on the popular dance music channel TASTY NETWORK, and it has already been listened to more than 10,000 times!

In preparation of the 20-year anniversary concert in Arena Riga, which will take place already next Wednesday, the company “Mikrofona ieraksti” dug through its archives and found the track “Waterfall” recorded in 2001 by Brainstorm. This motivated the creation of a new remix of the song.

The first new remix was created by the group of producers “Boyza II” led by Lotars Lodziņš. They had already made a remix in 2001. Back then, a remix was also made by one of the most successful Latvian dance music producers of all time Ralfs Mākulis (BTH). This version was nominated for the Annual Latvian Music Records Award. In 2001, the single was released in several countries by labels of the English company “EMI Records”.

This year, however, when the new remix version by “Boyza II” had already been made and the band had listened to the results, the lead Renārs Kaupers decided to re-record the tracks. After the tracks were recorded anew, the idea emerged to invite other dance music producers to create a modern remix, and this time “MicRec” entrusted it to the young and talented producer Rūdolfs Elviss Zariņš A.K.A. “REZarin”, who this year has already helped the remix of the song by Justs “Heartbeat” recorded by “MicRec” to reach the English Music Week’s UK Upfront Club Top 40.

The tracks released by the producer “REZarin” have earned recognition by world famous deejays and producers. Last year, his track “About You” was played at the radio show of DJ Hardwell. This year the track “I Got That” and the remix of Justs’ “Heartbeat” were played at the popular Don Diablo radio show. Such world famous artists as Robin Schulz and Mike Williams have included tracks produced by “REZarin” in their DJ sets.

Latvian bands’ “Once Upon” song “A Letter to My Agony ” has been nominated for the 15th annual Independent Music Award in the category “Best Metal / Hardcore single of 2016”, and is recognized as one of the most prominent independent music recordings of 2016.

After a fierce competition this song is amongst the five which are eligible for the prize. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony that will take place on November 12th, in New York, USA.

This is the 15th year “IMA” giving away awards, emphasizing innovative musicians who records their music themselves, as well as independent record label artists.

The winning projects will be selected by blue-ribbon panels of top recording artists and influential press and talent buyers from the Americas, Europe and Pacific Rim that include Amy Lee („Evanescence”), „Slayer” , „Shinedown” , „Sepultura” , Warren Haynes („The Allman Brothers Band ”, „Les Claypool”, „Coheed and Cambria”) , industriju – Benji Rogers („PledgeMusic”) , Fred Beteille („Music Business Association”) , Anthony DeCurtis („Rolling Stone”).

Alternative / modern metal band “Once Upon” formed in autumn of 2012 consists of  Artūrs Ročāns (vocals), Edgars Meijers (guitars), Artūrs Krasts (drums), Jānis Brolišs (guitars) un Edgars Poika (bass).

In April 2014, “Once Upon” participated in “Metal 2 The Masses” and after the jury and fans decision they were chosen to represent Latvia in UK’s largest independent heavy metal festival “BLOODSTOCK 2014”.

Latvian band “The Coco’nuts” publishes their first official music video for “Love song” from first studio album “Amid Opposites” today.

The main idea of song and video is a classic story about neverending love. This story helps us remember to spend more time on good things and good feelings instead of putting them aside for later and concentrating on things that we think are more important at that moment.

Video was made in the end of this summer, in different locations close to Riga. Main roles were played by Inta Cikule and Vitauts Cikulis, grandparents of bands contrabass player Toms, and also, of course, “The Coco’nuts” themselves. Director – Elīza Eikerte, operator – Jānis Vīksne.

Last week there was a presentation event for the new material in art and culture space “3 Māsas”. Also yesterday along with “Love song” video it was presented in lovely “Dad cafe”. Nevertheless “The Coco’nuts” never stop developing and soon there might be more news connected with bands new musical view.