Múr releases Ārstēšanās (Treatment)

On the morning of 11 August Múr releases her new single Ārstēšanās (Treatment). The indie pop-rock track has been recorded and produced in London by Madara Murnikova and Daniel Guillermo Sauceda. 

“Ārstēšanās (Treatment) invites to wake to the charm of reminisce with a doomsday perception of lost love” Múr says. She presumes that “necessary treatment for the ones grasping for air will be continuous and endless”. She adds that song meanings transform over time and now the track simbolizes the beauty of aging, self-discovery and new beginnings for her.

The song was originally composed more than 5 years ago and back then Múr listeners heard it and grew fond of it at concerts and Múr’s Sofar Sounds Riga performance in 2019 – 

Múr promises new surprises in the coming months and is confident that Ārstēšanās has healing powers. See for yourself –

Ārstēšanās sound has darkened over time and become more melancholic and effortless – not unlike to how memories age.

The music video will be available soon on Múr’s social media channels:

Rapper Loopout (member of the group “Rīmdari”) releases a new album “Monsters in Dreams”

The album “Monsters in Dreams” is a story about monsters in your head that prevent you from fulfilling your dreams.
“This album is a battle between two worlds,” the author of the album explains, “between ego – doubts, fears, anger, which lead to the brink of self-destruction and love – dreams, positive emotions, creativity and joy of life.”
The album contains 13 compositions – 9 songs and 4 skits. The album was produced by Reinis Kārkliņš. Three of the album’s songs feature the voice of Baiba Bite.

“It’s been a long road. The picture that can be seen in the album design was taken in 2003. That was the year I discovered rap music and it became my main source of inspiration.” Kriss remembers, “That summer I had an unrealistic dream that one day I could be on stage. But over the years, I managed to lose my way a little, encountered depression, psychosis and other mental problems, which, thanks to professional psychotherapists and support from my family, I managed to solve.”
In 2021, Loopout released their debut EP “Music from Nowhere” and last October released the album’s title track “Monsters in Dreams”. The video of the song was created using artificial intelligence generated animations. Loopout is the hip-hop project of Latvian musician Kriss Baglais. Kriss is a member of the latvian hip-hop group “Rīmdari”.
Photo Helmuts Oelke Elks

Release of a single “Closing Doors”

EZIA, the Latvian singer-songwriter from New York – on September 8th releases her new single “Closing Doors” which will be available on all music platforms.

“Closing Doors” combines the famous NYC metro announcement sound, crispy percussion, and agile synth patterns with catchy melodies and witty lyrics.

“Every time the doors close on the NYC Subway metro, there is an announcement that goes, “Stand clear of the closing doors, please.” I thought about how many people hear this seemingly ordinary phrase daily and what a beautiful philosophy it holds. “Closing Doors” is a song that confronts people who are testing you and unable to commit to a relationship with you despite your many attempts in a humorous and assertive way,” says EZIA.

EZIA, a Latvian-born singer and songwriter, moved to New York in 2018 and has been traveling around for the past few years. Her debut album “Cycles”, which was released in March 2022 gained very positive music critic reviews and was featured on various music blogs. Since the release of her debut album, EZIA has collaborated with many notable artists like Mick Jenkins, Michael Christmas, Katori Walker, and more.

More info on EZIA, including tours, audio samples, news, and reviews is available on www.eziamusic.com, Instagram, and TikTok @eziamusic or Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

Fools On Parade release their second studio album „Human Reaction”

Influenced by the scars and human experiences of the pandemic left behind, Fools On Parade describe their second studio album “Human Reaction” as energetic, charismatic and candid. It is worth mentioning that the album for the band is a remarkable leap out of their comfort zone and a successful attempt to enter various song categories, including songs about love. For some time, the band have been eager to escape a homogenous style, and as they grow musically within years, they finally managed to experiment with their own sound. “Human Reaction” was recorded in their own studio in Ropaži, while post-production has been developed in collaboration with Mix & Master. So far, the highest number of people have been involved in the making of this album and three music videos will be included within this project.

Since 2017, Fools On Parade have gained some recognition under the Latvian post-grunge scene with their debut album “Hometown Stories” and have won several awards from various Latvian Radio stations and music publications. They have showcased their mastery in moving audiences by performing 97 concerts a year and performing at festivals such as Summer Sound, Playground, TasTe and Open Air Festival, causing attendees to sweat profusely.

Featured on LDN Music Magazine’s Upcoming Artists for 2021

“One of the best Latvian rock discoveries in 2019. Energetic, youthful and enthusiastic post-grunge, which is almost impossible to compare to any other current bands in Latvia.”

– NRA (Independent Morning Newspaper)

“Sometimes you hear a glimpse of Kurt Cobain.” – PIECI.LV Radio

Guitarist Gints Smukais announces concert series and releases video with American guitarist Ian Ethan Case

Musician Gints Smukais announces a concert series “Landscapes” with American guitarist Ian Ethan Case (Boston, USA) and publishes a music video filmed in the USA. Ian Ethan Case is an acoustic double-neck guitar virtuoso who is considered one of the most creative and engaging fingerstyle guitarists in the world. Both musicians will perform in Riga, Liepāja, Ķekava and Kocēni from October 5 to 8.

Gints Smukais says about Ian Ethan Case: “I am happy that there are many guitar enthusiasts and musicians in Latvia who actively promote fingerstyle guitar playing, but no matter how much of it we have already seen here, travelling to the epicentres of fingerstyle culture, I have come to the conclusion that its expression is even broader than we could imagine. Ian Ethan Case is a great example of that and a great inspiration to me. Listening to his music, I realised that there really are no limits to fingerstyle. We share not only this style of playing, but also the beginnings of a musical journey that started with rhythm instruments. We love rhythm and playing it in melodic cascades through the particular characteristics of the acoustic guitar. I am grateful that our paths have intertwined and now we can create and play together in concerts.”

The two guitarists first met in person in Boston in September 2022 after Gint’s participation in the World Guitar Fingerstyle Championships held in Winfield, USA. In Boston, the two musicians created a video for Ian Ethan Case’s “Aftershocks”, which particularly inspired Gints, so he wrote a second voice for it, enriching and articulating the message of the piece and giving it another rhythmic and harmonic dimension. Video by Ian Ethan Case.

Ian Ethan Case says of his collaboration with Gints: “It means a lot to me to have been able to perform and record this piece with Gints. For this kind of highly detailed, structured, specific piece, it’s almost never possible to bring in an additional musician, let alone another acoustic fingerstyle guitarist. From the first time we performed the piece together, it worked! Gints had taken the serious time to learn every nuance of the piece, plus he had found a way to add his own musical input that would enrich the song rather than detract from it, and that’s not easy. I’m very honoured that he cared enough and felt enough about the piece to put in such serious work, and I’m really looking forward to playing it together in these concerts! I am also really excited to explore Latvia with Gints, as I had some unforgettable moments and feelings when I was in Estonia a while ago.”

With “Aftershocks”, the guitarists invite us to reflect on and be aware of the notes that each of us plays and stands for in life, because everything that is thought, said, and done in this world has a very big echo. It is therefore important to pay attention to what are the things and events that should have the longest resonance and that need to be controlled or even blocked to allow other things to exist and be heard.

The two musicians met during the pandemic, when Ian looked up Gints on the internet after watching a video made and recommended by a friend, also an American guitarist. It was a compilation of five of the best fingerstyle guitarists that you might not have heard of. The video also included a clip of Gints’s original composition “Flourish”, which made a big and lasting impression on Ian. Ian says: “Gint’s performance was not only honest, complex, deep and really refreshing, but it also showed a real exploration of music and a real love of music, which is the most important thing for me.”

In early October, the two masters of the acoustic guitar will meet on the same stage for the “Landscapes” concert series, where they will perform their original compositions and Latvian and foreign melodies familiar to the audience, as well as demonstrate the subtle world of fingerstyle guitar playing, in which all genres can meet.

The concerts will take place:

  • 5 October at 19.00 at Kocēni Culture House;
  • 6 October at 19.00 at the Small Guild in Riga, with the support of the VKKF;
  • 7 October, 18.00, Dole Folk House, Ķekava;
  • 8 October at 18.00 at the Culture House “Wiktorija” in Liepāja.

Tickets for the concerts in Riga, Ķekava and Kocēni are available at the “Biļešu Paradīze” box office and online at www.bilesuparadize.lv, and for the concert in Liepāja at www.bezrindas.lv.

Osokins Freedom Festival for Ukraine Comes to an End with a Magnificent Concert at Wagner House, Raising More than €20 000 in Donation

The Osokins Freedom Festival for Ukraine comes to an end with a magnificent Gala concert and an exhibition dedicated to the war in Ukraine, during which more than EUR 20 000 were donated to support Ukraine. The Gala concert took place at the Wagner House in Riga on Saturday, 10 June.

The Festival’s Gala concert featured the “Kremerata Lettonica”string ensemble, actresses Dita Lūriņa and Larisa Ponomarenko, as well as the Festival’s founder and creative director, pianist Andrejs Osokins himself. The concert was opened by the President of Latvia Egils Levits and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia Anatoliy Kutsevol. Visitors to the concert also had the opportunity to see a special exhibition dedicated to the Ukrainian war – drawings by Ukrainian children from Kharkiv, Irpin, Kiev and Latvia, the installation “Time” by artist Edmunds Kalniņš, and an exhibition of portraits of Ukrainian women who have found refuge in Latvia, accompanied by sad stories from Grebnevo. On Sunday, 11 June, the cultural space “Ola Foundation” hosted the epilogue of the Festival – a solo concert by pianist GeorgijsOsokins. On Saturday, June 17 festival will close with a Charity concert in Kuldīga.

Ticket revenue from the Festival, together with the funds donated in a special campaign on Ziedot.lv, will be redirected to Ukraine –for humanitarian, medical, defence and pet aid. The campaign will run for two more weeks, giving people who missed the concerts the opportunity to donate to Ukraine, which is especially important after the terrorist destruction of the Kahovkahydroelectric power plant. Everyone can still continue to donate here: www.ziedot.lv/osokina-brivibas-festivals.

On Tuesday, 13 June, a convoy will leave from the square in front of the Congress House for Ukraine to deliver the meal kits and thermal imaging cameras that have already been purchased with funds donated during the Festival to the war-torn areas and flood victims.

“While the war is still going on, blood is still being shed, innocent people are still dying, war crimes are still being committed and evils incompatible with humanity are still taking place, our task is to continue to support Ukraine just as powerfully, to show its people that we are with them even in the most difficult and darkest moments and will do everything to end the war as soon as possible with a Ukrainian victory. Let our support be an important signal to other countries, an incentive to strengthen our assistance to the people and soldiers of Ukraine to achieve our common dream and give a bright future to the next generations! I am extremely grateful to all the audience and donors for their overwhelming support, as this year’s Festival has already raised more donations than last year. It is urgently needed right now, with the counter-attack and the terrorist explosion of the Kakhovka HPP,” says Andrejs Osokins.

This is the fourth year of pianist Andrejs Osokins Freedom Festival, which for the second year has been dedicated to Ukraine and its people. This year, the Festival and its launch events have taken place in Riga and Valmiera for more than a month. It included a wide range of concerts, masterclasses, conversations about current events, special meetings of the Festival musicians with Ukrainian families, charity actions and other events. It brought together Latvian and Ukrainian musicians, actors, artists and other professionals, renowned in Latvia and abroad, including “Labvēlīgais Tips”, “Melo-M”, Ralfs Eilands, Katrīna Gupalo, “Kremerata Lettonica”, Sonora Vaice, Ieva Parša, Edgars Ošleja, Platons Buravickis, Gundars Āboliņš, Dita Lūriņa, Laura Čaupale, Ģirts Krūmiņš, piano quartet “Quadra”, Kristīne Garklāva, Kristīne Rudzinska, Mārtiņš Daugulis, pianists Andrejs Osokins, Dmitry Volkov, Iveta Cālīte, Georgijs Osokins, musicians, artists and actors from Ukraine and many others.

The creative team of the Festival would like to thank all the supporters and partners who made it possible for the Festival to be so ambitious and diverse – Riga City Council, TC Spice and Spice Home, LNK Industries, LNK Charity Foundation, philanthropist Dmitry Volkov, Valmiera County Council, Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia, Confederation of Ukrainian Societies “Viche”, Ziedot.lv, “Biļešu Paradīze”, “Tavi draugi” association, all Festival venues, sound and lighting companies, media and many others.

Photographer: Jānis Romanovskis @gribuvasaru.lv

Singer and songwriter ‘Taurud’ from Latvia release a new song

‘Taurud’ latest work ‘My Gold’ is the second single leading up to his EP.

‘We have nothing to lose – simply creating music that excites us. I am a lot less afraid to go and look for new sounds in musical areas where I never went before. At the same time, I am singing about stuff that most people will relate to. This time it is all about the truth. There is something hidden in this world ,and that secret presence creates a lot of suffering. The song is about not losing yourself ,nevertheless’ explains ‘Taurud’.

The music and lyrics are written by ‘Taurud’. The record was made in collaboration with an incredible young producer from Manchester Sean Rogan (Spotify – Sean Rogan).

‘Taurud’ songs have previously rotated on Latvian radio stations, won the Radio SWH competition ‘Priekšnams’ and debuted on TV. This summer musician is actively performing in the UK and working on the EP ,and later this year is planning to visit his home Latvia to perform in Riga and Jurmala.

“Taurenīt?” is released today, on July 11. This song is about a summer romance and was created in close collaboration with Būū

“I met Būū for the first time in February 2022, during the concert “Latvian rap against the war in Ukraine”. I didn’t know when and how, but I knew that one day we will work together because I ‘caught’ Būū vibe right away ” says Raiens. Būū added that she rarely collaborate on songs and even more rarely sing about romantic love, but on “Taurenīt?” she managed to get both of those ticks in effortlessly. “Raiens is young, determined artist, driven by good goals, bright thoughts and love” she says.

The production and mastering team behind single “Taurenīt?” are Kristaps Hļevickis and Marks Spruģevics. 

Spotify

Indie pop project “Funkinbiz” from Riga releases a song in Ukrainian

Indie pop project Funkinbiz, in collaboration with music producer Mārcis Vasiļevskis, makes their debut with the song “Tini – shadows,” an exciting single from upcoming album performed in Ukrainian language. The song is already available on all major music streaming platforms. Link – https://ffm.to/tini

The title of the song, “Tini,” symbolizes the shadows of love that touch us and linger even after we have experienced the joy of love at least once. The song is particularly fitting for moments when we introspect, travel, dream, love, and express romantic feelings.

The track was recorded at the “Laimes telpa” studio, in collaboration with talented musicians: drummer Dairis Petrauskis, and bass guitarist Toms Kursītis. The post-production was done by Toms Lisments, while the final sound processing was carried out by Robb Robinson from California, known for his collaboration with the renowned artist Jason Mraz.

The song was written by Kirils Ponomarenko, also known as Funkinbiz, who is the songwriter and performer from Latvia. Coming from the breakdance and hip-hop culture, he combines various contemporary elements in his music. Born in Riga, Funkinbiz embarked on his musical journey by learning classical guitar from Armenian guitar master Vaak Kjurdjian. This training inspired his love for music and laid the foundation for his unique style. Funkinbiz further developed his skills at the prestigious Žoržs Siksnas School of Opera, specializing in vocal techniques and expanding his musical horizons.

In 2022, while experimenting with music and participating in exclusive events, Funkinbiz teamed up with music producer and multi-instrumentalist Mārcis Vasiļevskis (Laime Pilnīga, Samanta Tīna, Ralfs Eilands). They collaborated at the “Laimes Telpa” studio with like-minded professionals to create an album.

The main source of inspiration for this project is the power of love, which is employed with the hope of fostering connections between people.

Foto – Miks Uzans