The rapper March (Martins Šimpermanis), known as a rap prodigy, has just published a video for the song “The Man” Come Get It, which also features the US rap superstar Redman. In the video, the legendary American rapper shares his ideas about what he believes to be the true hip-hop sound.
Velvet River is a project by drummer Kārlis Roberts Kalējs (LV) and bassist Tauna Woolfe (UK). The musicians started their collaboration at the end of 2019 when both were studying music in the UK. However, shortly after the formation of the duo, the pandemic halted their ability to collaborate in person for several years until they reunited in 2021.
In music, the role of bass and drums is usually to support and complement other instruments, but Velvet River in their EP experiments with what they can create themselves in such a minimalist context. The duo’s sound and unique concept are inspired by the modern and contemporary world of jazz, combined with both musicians’ personal sources of inspiration.
“This EP was not planned. During the pandemic, we exchanged some ideas virtually. We agreed that we could try to write music using only bass and drums. When we met again, there was such energy flowing through us that we composed 4 tracks in one week”, says Kārlis. The musicians say that the so-called “lo-fi” atmosphere suits this EP, which only adds to the fact that the album was recorded with their own
resources at home.
“I had gone to visit Kārlis at his place in the UK. We played music every day in the living room, where Kārlis had set up a minimalist drum kit. Due to the pandemic, we didn’t have access to a proper studio, and we decided to record the compositions right there in the living room”, adds Tauna.
Perhaps, in unconsciously striving to create new musical forms, the emphasis throughout the EP’s tracks became highlighting the interplay between the bass and drums, as well as the musical freedom and space with which the musicians experimented in their compositions. “In such a minimalist context, there are so many possibilities of what to play, and just as many possibilities to not play anything and leave some vibey space”, says Velvet River.
EP “Casablanca” is produced, recorded and mixed by Velvet River and mastered by Toms Jankevics. Artwork and design by Tīna Alise Drupa. Listen to “Casablanca” on all major streaming platforms starting from 02.06.23.
In this album, DANI RYAN present the collection of feelings of the last 3 years. The world has changed, the people have changed, and this album is like a diary of the band. Its name symbolizes the band members’ ability to find comfort and relief from everyday events in their music. This album connects the riff-filled alternative rock with the already recognizable elements of Dani Ryan’s synthrock, and also includes a couple of synthpop ballads. The songs’ themes connect to life and emotions.
DANI RYAN are getting ready for the album presentation concert, which will take place on March 31st in the “Republika” club. Follow the news via the band’s social networks @daniryanmusic and on the website daniryan.lv.
DANI RYAN is a synthpop project created by Daniel Ravinsky (vocals, guitar, synthesizer). After the debut album “Open” (2019), Daniel was joined by like-minded musicians and the project turned into a real rock band. After the band’s experimental second album, “Party!” (2020) he was joined by Jānis Zariņš (drums) and Angelina Volkova (bass guitar). During the pandemic, the band recorded the concert album “Performance”, thus capturing the band’s energetic multimedia concert performances. During these years, listeners have come to love several songs of DANI RYAN – “Exciter”, “Meloman” and also “Radio Anna”, which entered the list of TOP 3 songs on radio NABA and was regularly on air.
DENISS (Deniss Stepanovs), a member of the hip-hop association “Kreisais Krasts”, rapper and mixed martial artist, has released the song “Stop gamble”. With this single, he wants to draw people’s attention to the problem of gambling, also mentioning examples of well-known people in Latvia.
A new song “Atdevu visu Tev” from the upcoming album and its video is presented to the audience by singer Samanta Tīna. The singer invites everyone to listen to themselves, not to be afraid to dare and to be able to step out of their usual comfort zone, beyond which a new stage of self-awareness opens.
Photographer: Arturs Martinovs
Singer Kristīne Prauliņa and her band “The Soulful Crew” release the single “Change of Perspective” and the music video for their first full-length album “Textures”, which will be released on 20 April.
“Change of Perspective” is the second single from the upcoming full-length studio album “Textures”, due on April 20th. “The song is about the days when it’s hard to see beauty and meaning, but it’s the pursuit of the good and the choice to view both ourselves and the world around us through faith and a sense of perspective that define us more than anything else. This is a very dear song to me, written on a hard day, with the sun shining”: says Kristīne Prauliņa about the new single.
The recording features original music by Kristīne Prauliņa’s band “The Soulful Crew”, which includes keyboardist Toms Mikāls, bassist Valters Sprūdžs, guitarist Jānis Kalniņš, drummer Kaspars Kurdeko and, of course, Kristīne herself.
A special video version of the single “Change of Perspective” has been created in collaboration with the creative team “Colortime”. The video was directed and produced by Reinis Janulis.
The single “Change of Perspective”, as well as the forthcoming album “Textures”, were recorded at “Mint Music Studio” in Riga and engineered and mixed by Toms Lisment, while the sound mastering was done by Zino Mikorey in Berlin. The album will include 10 original songs in English by singer Kristīne Prauliņa and bassist Valters Sprūdžs.
“Textrures” will be available on 20 April on all major streaming sites and will be premiered at a concert in Riga at the “K.K. fon Stricka Villa” on the day of the album’s release.
“The Soulful Crew performs original music in English and Latvian in soul, blues, R&B, gospel and singer/songwriter styles. The group’s sound ranges from intimately fragile singer-songwriter motifs to full-bodied, wide-ranging soul music expression, playing melodic, lyrical songs with less instrumentation, as well as full-bodied grooves.
Album is a reminder that feeling alone and alienated from the rest of the world can still be enjoyable. Meanwhile single “Zvaigžņu rati” (or Star chariot) is a romantic ballad that provides the feeling of a warm summer night.
On April 12th, indie rock musician Jannsi released the song “Atkrītot”, featuring elements of indie rock and rap with an authentic and inclusive message. “I believe that music has the power to change the world. Similar to other songs, in this composition, I encourage everyone to challenge their personal beliefs, not allowing prejudices or misunderstandings to create hatred, which is sometimes presented as love,” says Jannsi.
In the song “Atkrītot”, Jannsi, whose real name is Jānis Uplejs, talks about his experience in various conversations, internet comments, letters, and phone calls where someone expresses their opinion about Jānis’ religious life. As Jannsi identifies himself as a Christian while also expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community and egalitarianism – the belief that all genders are equal in friendship – these opinions are received quite often.
“These comments are quite diverse – from attempts to indoctrinate to efforts to persuade, to calling me a Satanist or a false teacher, but they all share the judgment that I have either never truly been a believer, or I have ‘fallen away’ from faith. This song is my story about this ‘falling away’ – a careful evaluation of my beliefs, not relying solely on what some teachers have said, who continue to echo only what they have been taught, without conducting deeper research,” continues Jannsi. “For example, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah describes horrific sexual violence, physical and numerical superiority used against the weaker, but is used against loving same-sex couples.”
The song “Atkrītot” is available on all popular music streaming platforms.
In the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest, Sudden Lights are releasing a series of remixes of the song “Aijā”, in collaboration with four different DJs. Makree, [Ex] da Bass, MarkMate and the acclaimed Lithuanian producer Leon Somov have given the song a new sound in the dance and house genres. All remixes are available on streaming services.
The first release is a remix by electronic music producer Makree (Mārtiņš Makreckis). “Makree is a very talented musician, his works are in our personal playlists. His music has an international character in the best sense of the word. We are delighted and grateful that he agreed to give our song a different sound!”
https://open.spotify.com/album/24x4lRjN59Gw06ePP1w0Ia?si=o5B-Y_T2QiCgMWidaetOFg
The well-known Latvian DJ [Ex] da Bass or Mareks Dainis has also renewed his tradition of remixing Eurovision songs. He says: “Although “Aijā” is a sad and rocky lullaby, I would like to believe that my remix has turned out to be very enjoyable, modern and in line with the expectations of club-goers. I wish Sudden Lights a successful start and great success at this year’s Eurovision!”
https://open.spotify.com/album/54P2R5kuWAQhk56fQyQKvC?si=MQjOXG4_SwKuMBkd5sCgvA
The remix series features Sudden Lights’ first international collaboration with one of the best-known Lithuanian producers and electronic music creators – Leon Somov. “It’s a great feeling to support our Latvian brothers not only with our voices, but also with a new version of their song. Of course, stylistically the remix and the original song are very different, now it’s a completely different genre… But when a song is good, it can sound great in different styles. When I was working on the song, I had complete creative freedom and I used elements that excited me, I expressed them in my own way,” explains Leon.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3t0noeRlgjV3VBKYgsjP8J?si=4M_wrM8aTiaz5vTPAKWE2g
The series is concluded by the promising 19-year-old producer MarkMate (Marks Matisons), whose name has already been heard abroad and whose songs have received support from well-known DJs such as Don Diablo, Nicky Romero and others. “Sudden Lights is a soothing lullaby with a unique tempo. I thought that a remix with elements of house music and my own musical signature, as part of my MarkMate music project, would be something that could appeal to both a passionate fan of the band and someone who prefers dance music on a daily basis,” says Mark.
