The Briefing is an indie pop band formed in 2002 by four Latvian musicians, who since 2010 have been living and working in London. So far they have released two studio and one remix album. In 2008 album Funny Thoughts was nominated as the best alternative music album at the Annual Latvian Music…
After a lasting break, DVINES are back in business, presenting their new track – the debut single “SET IT ON FIRE” from the upcoming EP, in collaboration with DJ and producer MAKREE.
After deciding to take a break from any musical activity to find their unique sound, DVINES are back, planning to settle in the electronic pop dance genre.
“SET IT ON FIRE” tells about the desire to get rid of insecurities and anxieties, “set the fears on fire” and start a new life. The song is influenced by pop and house genres, written by both sisters, produced by MAKREE, joined by DJ Rudd, who also took part in the arrangement.
DVINES is a twin sister duo, known for their original songs, appearances at various TV shows and also for collaborations with various dance music producers, including MAKREE, with whom DVINES have successfully collaborated on their last release – “LOUD”.
Musicians first met and started the band in early 2015 in Netherlands while studying jazz. Their musical style could be described as “The White Stripes” meets Bjork meets “Die Antwoord” because of how Evija’s unique vocals and synths sounds together with Lav’s drumming.
On January 13, the Dutch city of Groningen will be the place to be if you’re a fan of the latest pop, rock and dance sounds.
The 21st edition of WOMEX – the world’s largest world music festival and expo, took place from October 21-25 in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. As reported, Latvia was represented by the Latvian Music Information Centre and Latvias’ premiere world music group Iļģi who performed on the “Club Duna” showcase stage.
Ilga Reizniece share: “”Iļģi” have just returned from Budapest, where this years installment of WOMEX, the yearly leading world music business exposition, took place. This time there were over 2500 delegates from 90 countries! From that count, there were only 280 musicians. It would be more precise to say that Iļģi did not just attend WOMEX, but they were invited to participate in the regional showcases which took place in Budapests’ newest and most grandiose concert complex – Müpa Budapest (Palace of Arts). Iļģi was one of the 60 acts to be chosen from the over 1200 applications submitted from around the world. This was a great honour, considering the great number of applications received. Iļģi have been applying to WOMEX for many years, and finally got the invitation this year – the only group from the Baltic states to be invited!”
Iļģi concert was introduced by renowned world music musician and journalist, longtime WOMEX delegate, Mr. Andrew Cronshaw.
Iļģi song “Ozoliņš sadega” (The Oak Burned), was also chosen for inclusion in the WOMEX expanded music sampler and can be heard online via the WOMEX stream: www.womex.com/programme/showcase_festival/womeximizer_15
The BBC Radio 3 interviewed Iļģi member Gatis Gaujenieks which can be heard here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06j2njc
WOMEX 2015 in numbers: over 2,500 delegates representing 1,500 companies from 90 countries; 80 speakers and mentors from 40 countries in 23 Conference Sessions; 15 daytime and evening film screenings co-produced in 19 countries and curated for the first time by WOMEX; more than 60 showcase acts with over 280 artists from 50 countries on 7 stages.
Latvian participation in the WOMEX provides Latvian Music Information Centre with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and State Culture Capital Foundation financial support.
Vocal group “Latvian Voices” have returned from a series of successful concerts in Taiwan and now are announcing an additional concert November 21st at 3:00 PM in the house of music “Daile” in Riga with their new concert program “Beyond Borders”.
Last week “Latvian Voices “gave two concerts in Taichung and Taipei (Taiwan) joined by Taipei male choir and conducted by Lithuanian conductor and composer Vytautas Miškinis.
“We are still in elation after visiting Taiwan and meeting the wonderful people there. A beautiful country! Although at one point it seemed that the concerts might be cancelled due to the threat of an upcoming typhoon. But a day before the first concert the typhoon calmed down and we were able to do the concerts. It was a great experience and a success and we hope to return to Taiwan as soon as possible,” reveals one of the singers of the group Elīna Šmukste.
After the return to Riga girls are already actively involved in preparation for upcoming concerts in Latvia. Concert program “Beyond Borders” has already visited Rēzekne, Daugavpils and Ādaži. In November Latvian Voices will delight the audiences in Valmiera and Riga – November 13th at 7:00 PM in Valmiera Culture Center and November 21st at 3:00 and 7:00 PM in house of music “Daile” in Riga.
“I love Valmiera! There is a wonderful audience there, we know! Last year we experienced that with our concert program “Rūtoj…” and it is always a pleasure to return to a place where you had good times and memories. Also with impatience we await the concerts in Riga and we are twice as excited because of the great interest from the audience. It is so great that we can have a double celebration for the audience and ourselves,” tells the singer Laura Jēkabsone.
Concert program “Beyond Borders” is formed by original compositions of the group members in fresh and vibrant colors. Besides the new and original compositions there will be also examples of the pop music classics – The Beatles “Strawberry Fields” and Alanis Morissette “Thank U”. In the Riga concerts audience will also witness some world premieres. Program has been made in collaboration with composer and percussion virtuoso Rihards Zaļupe:
“Right now I am at the epicenter of events. We are getting ready for the concerts and also working on the new album, so that the audience can not only take with them the feeling of the concert but also the music. This album will definitely be a surprise to the audience of Latvian Voices. We have added body percussion, accented the beat-box elements, girls are acquiring drumming skills. Also I have to mention that some of the special effects audible in the concerts and on the album are made from girls body percussion elements. I have to confess that Laura Jēkabsone is my latest revelation in music – the songs are tuneful and catchy!”
Meanwhile “Latvian Voices” will also take part in Riga a cappella festival on November 14th, where the audience will be able to hear parts from both programs “Rūtoj…” and “Beyond Borders”.
For the first time in 58 years of Grammy awards history, works of Latvian artists are eligible for consideration to be nominated for the Grammy among 21000 other records from all around the world.
Because of this, year 2015 is the first when Latvian company “Mikrofona ieraksti” is submitting its artists for the prize and one of them – band “Ryga” featuring American singer Corey Andrew with their single “Give Me Your Love” – is shortlisted for the award in category “Best Dance Recording”.
Although the rules of the Academy voting forbid to publish full list of shortlisted artists, it’s known that in total there are 240 records shortlisted for the award, most of which are made by some of the biggest names in the genre like The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Royksopp feat. Robyn, Tiesto, Paul van Dyk and Armin Van Buuren among others. Best five out of them who’ll have received the most votes from the jury and will be nominated for the prize will be announced in the beginning of December.
“Give Me Your Love” was released in June 2015 and since has received a lot of airplay not only in Latvia, but also in Scandinavian, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Danish, Netherland, English and American clubs and radio stations. There are several popular remixes of the song, out of which the most popular is Latvian producer’s “XYPO” deep house version that has been viewed on “Youtube” almost 100 000 times.
Indie rock band “Carnival Youth” from Latvia, awarded with European Border Breakers award earlier this year, have released their second LP “Propeller” on 1st of April, following their successful debut “No Cloud Allowed”.
“Carnival Youth”, formed in 2012, is one of the most acknowledged new bands from the Baltic region. They’ve played shows all around Europe – “The Great Escape” (UK), “Eurosonic” (Netherlands), “Sziget” (Hungary), “Open’er” (Poland) etc, their previous singles have had a lot of radio play across Europe – Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (XFM) and Chris Hawkins (BBC 6 Music) are a few of the DJs who have included “Carnival Youth” music in their radio shows.
The new album “Propeller” unites groovy indie rock songs with catchy lyrics and tasteful elements of alternative rock. “Carnival Youth” have been compared with “Arcade Fire” and “Alt-J”, but their latest material resembles more “Wolf Parade”, “Temples” and “Arctic Monkeys”. The mix of careless, thoughtful and danceable tunes on this album brings a more focused and distinguished sound than ever before.
Latvian Eurovision sensation Aminata has released a music video for her new single “Fighter” that has been directed by Andžejs Gavrišs. “Fighter” is the first single from her new album “Red Moon” that will be released later this year.
In order to prepare for shooting, Aminata spent two months training every other day in boxing with a help of a professional fighter Jevgēņijs Aleksejevs who reprises his role as her coach in the video as well. “To me, it was a whole new experience! In the beginning, I was afraid to hit someone and always apologized after every hit. But I really enjoy boxing so I got used to that and will continue training even now when the filming of the video is over. I’m really proud of what we have made – filming was very difficult and physical but there were no stunt doubles and fighting scenes are almost real. Both of my opponents in the video Sabīna Kukute and Karīna Saule are professional boxers and did their best to make it look real and protect me at the same time. Especially difficult was the last scene that was filmed in “Arena Riga”. We wanted to show real fight in a real arena with lots of fans and in the end, we succeed. Many thanks to my sponsors, actors, crew and the director – without you I couldn’t have done such an amazing job!”
Director Andžejs Gavrišs notes that he always had wanted to film a boxing story. “I always have been interested in sports movies so I always have wanted to make one of my own. So thanks to Aminata I had the chance to do so! We prepared for this video for approximately two months finding perfect locations, filming scenes over and over in order to make them as real as possible. Before this, I didn’t know any boxers, but now I believe that they are the nicest persons in the world!”
RYGA is a Latvian band performing in the so-called and provocative happy hardcore genre. Their brand new single CandyMan is an ironic story of the currently most well-known Australian orgy master Travers Beynon, or CandyMan. Travers is a wealthy managing director at Freechoice Tobacco and a favourite of the yellow press, who always appears in photos beside stunning, scantily clad women, with a wad of money in his hand and dressed in suggestive clothing. CandyMan is at the top of the Australian women’s rights activists’ most-hated list.
The man in question has seen the video of RYGA and deemed it good enough by dropping a line to Mārcis Judzis, the author of the song and the leader of the band, on his Facebook page.
RYGA is growing increasingly popular both in its country of origin and abroad, and its last year’s single in collaboration with the American singer Corey Andrew even got through the first round ballot of GRAMMY awards in the Best Dance Song category, competing with Prodigy and many other famous names for a place in the top five. Even though it didn’t make it, the song was approved of by DJs around the world and it is still played in clubs and on radio, while the remix by DJ XYPO has been viewed more than 111 000 times on YouTube.