Category: News

Vocal group FRAMEST releases a new single „Dod, Dieviņi”, music author ir composer and group’s artistic leader Janis Kirsis ( Jānis Ķirsis), words are taken from Latvian folk songs. The song has been written for the new concert programme „Dainu skapis” (The Cabinet of Latvian folk songs), which will be performed on October 2 in Spikeri Concert Hall and on October 9 at Kauguri Culture House.

Concert programme „Dainu skapis” results from musical explorations, where traditional melody is put in such a form, rhythm and harmony which reflects both contemporary academic and popular music. This programme is influenced by traditional Latvian culture but has a fresh, modern sounding, traditional folk tunes being mixed with modern composition techniques – jazz, electronics etc.  Concert programme consists of arrangements and original compositions by two members of the vocal group Framest – Janis Kirsis and Roberts Memmens (Jānis Ķirsis and Roberts Memmēns).

Band Laime Pilniga has written a title track for documentary film trilogy „Savējie sapratīs”(„We knew”) and grants it for free.

laimepilniga.bigcartel.com  is a place where everybody can support latvian rock quartet „Laime Pilniga” (The LP) and get its T-shirts and CD digipacks.

The Great Escape is excited to announce that they have teamed up with Music Export Latvia and The Lithuanian Music Business Association as their lead international partners for 2016, bringing to Brighton the very best of up and coming Baltic talent.

Highlights of the amazing international line-up of artists will be Lithuania’s Without Letters, who bring together tenacious techno beats and psychedelic twists in an eclectic mix of surreal sound, along with the cabaret-tinged acoustic tones of Alina Orlova. Joining them will be Latvia’s finest; the feel-good indie awesomeness that is Carnival Youth and the weird and wonderful avant-pop duo Howling Owl.  

Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s first Deutsche Grammophon recording  Shostakovich Under Stalin’s Shadow — featuring Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 and the Passacaglia from Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk won the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance last night at the 58th annual Grammy Awards.

Andris Nelsons was born in Riga in 1978 into a family of musicians, Andris Nelsons began his career as a trumpeter in the Latvian National Opera Orchestra before studying conducting. He was Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 2008-2015, Principal Conductor of Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in Herford, Germany 2006-2009 and Music Director of Latvian National Opera 2003-2007.

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…

Lauris Reiniks has jus released the official music video for his Baltic summer song “Morning in Dandelion Fluff” (LV-“Rīts pieneņpūkās”, LT-“Rytas pienės pūke”, EE-“Hommik võilille-ehmetes”). The video is available in Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian and a special acoustic version in English.

It is a romantic story about a chemistry between two people. When that chemistry is there, all stereotypes and ideas of so called “standards” just collapse – in terms of physical appearance and financial status. Nothing can stand against these feelings. It is a story about insecurity and fears that always stand by when something “too” beautiful and “incredibly” good happens to us.

The lead role in the video is played by Lauris’s colleague- Uku Suviste, the well known Estonian singer. The lead female role is carried out by Katrina Lulle, Latvian girl who works as a PR specialist but was recognised as the best for this role in a national casting. The video shoot took place in Latvia and lasted 3 days in Mežaparks (Riga), Carnikava and Mārupe.

Uku Suviste: “It doesn’t happen very often that one singer asks another singer to participate in his or her music videos as an actor therefore it was a very worthwhile experience. I very much appreciated the pleasant opportunity to work with Lauris and Katrina as well as with the whole crew. I admire Lauris’s way of cooperating with singers and actors from other neighbour countries, its something every performer should learn from. I was very happy to help and would do so again in a flash!”

“I wanna thank Uku for saying yes to my extraordinary and special offer. He was exactly the type we were looking for and did everything great! Also thanks to Katrina for being brave enough to jump into this world of show business, director Aija, camera man Ivo and everyone else! I am proud and happy to work with all these talented people. I hope my listeners will like this video and I’m already happy that this song has been doing really well in radio charts. Now everyone will understand what this song is about! Pictures speak better than words.”, says Lauris.

Video dierector: Aija Strazdiņa (JUMP Studio), Camera: Ivo Skanstiņš (Film Studio Rafa), producer: Lauris Reiniks. Publishing: “Mikrofona Ieraksti”. Songs are available for download on doremi.lv , Amazon un iTunes.

Currently, the only Latvian live looping music duo “Karmafree” has released new music video and single “Validate Me.” .

“The song” Validate Me “is about excessive obedience to authority and influential people, as well as the giving them permission to examine and define our lives “on the song’s message comment singer Mara Lisenko.

Music video are made by Pavel Trebukhin and it is the duo’s vision for creative people existentialism.

“Artists and musicians usually don’t speak about that – how they experience numerous rejections, what consequences they can have, and how they find the strength to stand up in order to continue to create, “comment the idea of the video bassist Dmitry Lisenko.

Lead vocalist of Indygo and author of almost all their lyrics Mārtiņš Vaters says: “New single “Bēglis” is about running away from our daily needs and responsibilities. You just have to enjoy everything, but if you don’t – you have to learn it!”

In early spring band went to country house in the woods of Žocene near small town Roja, where they made drafts for songs of the new album. “Bēglis” was recorded and mixed in “Sound Division Studios” continuing collaboration with sound engineer Gatis Zaķis who also took part in making of bands previous record “Decoy”. Album was finished in “New Alliance East” studio in USA. Special sound in this record was provided by world famous guitar brand “Fender”.

Album “Stars” will be released in the beginning of September – starting with online streaming but later also in CD and vinyl. Band is going to perform in festival “Summer Sound” in Liepāja, Limbaži town festival and other open air events this summer. 

Indygo is Mārtiņš Vaters (vocals), Jānis Volkinšteins (guitar), Mārtiņš Leja (bass) and Miks Riekstiņš (drums).

Bēglis by Indygo

The creators of the song are composer maestro Raimonds Pauls, renown poet and lyricist Anna Rancane and producer Gints Stakevics. The song is deeply ethnic, but very catchy and easy to listen to, overfilled with joy and the special melodic spark so characteristic to Maestro’s music, it inspires the listener to sing and dance along, as well as to believe in miracle of the Ligo night and a nation by tradition.

The author of the idea and the performer – Lana Franceska tells that she has longed for Latgalian originals works in her repertoire. – “Maestro also liked this idea, well but Anna just turned it all to reality!

While getting ready for the Summer Solstice show, I was recollecting about the traditions and memories that are intertwined with myself and the Summer Solstice festival. During my childhood all Ligo I used to spend with my family and friends at my godparents countryside in Latgale, where we danced and played, as well as learned lots and lots of ancient traditions that our parents and godparents taught us. Well, now being a grown up myself, in my family I strive to never lose that part of our unique traditions, connected to Ligo and Jani.

For that reason, I wish to all of our listeners to never let go of the most true and valuable what we have both as an individual personality and as a whole nation. Wishing you all to sing and dance your hearts out during the magical Ligo night, and may we all generate enough emotions, friendships and love to keep us warm through the rest of the year.”