Latvian Music News

Musician Markus Riva has just released the music video for his much-discussed single “Impossible”. It is his first music video shot on 35mm film, and marks the 30th video in his career.

The song “Impossible” was created in collaboration with singer Aminata. It is a story about determination, conviction, self-belief and an endless fight with the circumstances standing in our way – including our own fears and doubts.

 “Markus himself is the focal point of the video, and various images and symbols represent his inner world, thoughts and feelings, and the message of the song,” says Pavel Trebuhin who the directed the video. “To create the right mood, we chose to shoot the video on a 35mm film. The whole filming process becomes much more difficult, but the video obtains a particular quality and vibe not often found in the modern world.”

The music video was shot in E. Fon Trompowsky Quarter the day before Christmas. Almost 20 people took part in the filming process that lasted up to 3 AM. Markus notes wittily that he had to remind himself repeatedly that he is indeed unbreakable as it was very cold indeed in the deserted factories, but he is very happy with the result.

It is no secret that the song “Impossible” was one of this year’s “Supernova” competition entries, and Markus had hoped to fight for a chance to represent Latvia in the Eurovision song competition, set to take place on May 12 in Rotterdam. Although the events played out differently, Markus is pleased with his achievement and hopes to inspire his fans with this song.

“This song says very much about the events currently unfolding in the world and in my own life as well. Read the lines and read between the lines! Do good things in life, and do what you love! And be brave,” says Markus.

Markus Riva is currently working on material for a new album and continues performing in Latvia and CIS countries. Moreover, in collaboration with the movement #Neklusē, he will be visiting several schools in Latvia to talk about mobbing among teens and to promote its eradication.

At the end of last week, nine finalists of the Supernova songwriter and singer competition, including Edgars Kreilis with the song "Tridymite", were announced. Now a video too has been made for the composition. Edgars offers it for a wider audience rating.

“Tridymite” has been co-authored by bass guitarist of Latvian band “Brainstorm” and composer Ingars Viļums, who wrote a message to Edgars offering to collaborate on this year's Supernova competition. In the process of dynamic work, a song came to be known as the Tridymite, causing a widespread debate about what does it actually mean.

The name came up in the songwriting process, while Edgars and Ingars exchanged different ideas. Tridymite is a polycrystalline that is found in small quantities on our planet Earth. But it was a big surprise when a large group of American scientists from NASA discovered it on planet Mars. This mystery is still unresolved. In the song, this multifaceted crystal symbolizes the unknown and utterly unexplained formula of love that exists in the universe. Who can surpass energy when eyes meet for a moment and the "inexplicable" happens? The world around us glows and at that moment everything seems possible - as if there were no limits to time or space.

“Carnival Youth” members Emīls Kaupers, Edgars Kaupers and Roberts Vanags have signed a publishing deal with music publishing companies “Radicalis Music” and “Progressive/Bosworth Creative” (Switzerland/Germany).

“Carnival Youth” manager Guna Zučika, “Every Little Thing”, explains, that building a stable infrastructure within the target markets is one of management’s primary tasks in advancing the band’s international career: “The German, Austrian and Swiss music industries and listeners have been among the first ones to positively appreciate “Carnival Youth” music, so it is a great pleasure to add to the already well-established partnership with a booking agency and a record label in the region an author representative – a publishing company which is successful both locally and internationally.”

Head of “Radicalis Music” David Burger is pleased to add “Carnival Youth” and their songs to the company’s catalogue: “We are delighted that one of the most successful bands in the Baltic States is joining our companies. We will support their career growth through our global partners.”

This year “Carnival Youth” continue their latest studio album “Good Luck” tour both in Latvia and Europe. In Latvia, the band will stop at “Melno Cepurīšu Balerija” in Jelgava on the 20th March and “FonoKlubs” in Cēsis on the 21st March. Tickets and information can be found at carnivalyouth.com

On Wednesday, 22nd January, “Carnival Youth” will perform at a music festival “Bise” in Nantes, France. During March and April, the band will tour through Germany performing at “Ego FM” festival in Munich on the 28th March, “Hanse Song” festival in Stade on the 18th April, and will play multiple solo shows in Oldenburg, Leipzig and Nurnberg. On the 25th April “Carnival Youth” will perform in Vienna, Austria. 

Watch the after movie of the “Carnival Youth” show at “Hanzas Perons” in Riga on the 23rd November 2019 here:

Chris Noah releases a new single “The Line” from the forthcoming EP expected in March. Chris explains that the song is a story about how sometimes circumstances and the environment around you changes as well as people change but there are feelings and emotions that remain unchanged no matter how you might try to leave them in the past.

Chris started writing the music for the song by himself and was later joined by the keyboard player form his band Marcis Jukumsons – Jukumnieks with whom “The Line” was finished. Both this single and the rest of the songs on the EP were recorded by Chris Noah in a collaboration with the British music producer Christopher Harris (who has previously worked with the likes of Bear’s Den, Belle and Sebastian, Ghostpoet and others) with whom the musician has worked before.

“The Line” is released under the record label “Made in Baltics”/”Sony Music Entertainment”.

Single on the digital platforms

At this year’s showcase festival and conference “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2020”, held from  January 15 to 18 in Groningen, Netherlands, Latvia is represented by two artists – Evija Vebere and ANNNA.

Evija Vebere is a Latvian producer, singer and performer. She creates music with multiple modular synthesizers and a broken trumpet. By using her unique voice she invites the listeners to discover forest of amazing sounds. Her debut solo recording “Sirdsbūt” won Best Alternative Music Album 2019 at Latvian music awards.

At “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2020” Evija Vebere will performs on 16 January at USVA.

ANNNA is a modern day wakeup call that makes you want to move. Her songs mostly cover very current and serious topics, such as sustainability and equality. However, ANNNA’s distinct voice, that blends together a touch of Lana Del Rey and Kate Bush, results in an energetic, uplifting and impactful performance. This Latvian/Dutch singer’s debut track, “The One That Got Away”, became the No1 most played track on some of the biggest Latvian radios as well as her second track, “Stardom/Hater” won the Amsterdam Dance Event demo competition in October 2019.

At “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2020” ANNNA will perform on 17 January at the Praedinius Gymnasium.

Singer Signija Taranenko with a stage name SIGNIA at the end of last year surprised with “Musical Advent Calendar” when she posted 24 Christmas song cover versions on her YouTube channel. Last week Signia presented her first original song “Where Are You”.

New singer from a small town works in a pharmacy as a pharmacist’s assistant for a couple of days a week, the rest of her time she spends singing. Currently active in a group “Carnelian” and sings as a back vocalist to Atis Auzans. Participates in a variety of musical projects and charity events cooperating with Pipars.lv and Palidzesim.lv.

About the song Signia says: “I wrote this song 2 years ago and then I was asked – who is it about? I said it certainly wasn’t about me. Time has passed, circumstances and events have changed my life a lot, and now I can associate this song with myself and finally sing it really out of my heart.”

The song is about love we’re waiting for, searching for and finding if we get lucky. If we don’t, we keep waiting and looking for “the one”. About dreams that we all want to come true, we give them up when it gets hard, and then believe them again meeting the right people. The song is about those who are searching. About You too. Whatever you’re looking for – love, happiness, inspiration or yourself – this is the story of not giving up.

The author of words and music is Signija Taranenko herself. In the recording work the points on “i”’s were placed by producer Kaspars Ansons, but producers who worked on it were Arturs Palkevics and Gaitis Lazdans. Video made by Eriks Saksons. Costume design – Ilze Kasa.

Three of the “RIGaLIVE“ songwriting camp 5th session songs are shortlisted for the "Supernova 2020" final, among them Annemarija Moiseja – Undo, Katrīna Bindere – I Will Break Your Heart and Alekss Silvers – Again! The finalists will be revealed on the 16th of January. They will perform live at the final show on the 8th of February when the public will choose the winner of "Supernova 2020" who will represent Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands later this year in May. 

The “RIGaLIVE“ songwriting camp 5th session took place in the middle of October 2019 and gathered together more than 30 creatives from Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic and Russia. The promising young singers teamed up with well-rounded songwriters and producers from Latvia and Estonia to create the songs that would resonate with a wide audience.

“RIGaLIVE“ songs in the "Supernova 2020"  shortlist:

Annemarija Moiseja “Undo”. 

Music: Mārtiņš Gailītis (Marka), Jans Vavra, Annemarija Moiseja, Reinis Straume

Lyrics: Reinis Straume, Jans Vavra

Producer: Mārtiņš Gailītis (Marka)

Katrīna Bindere “I Will Break Your Heart”.

Music: Katrīna Anete Bindere-Čodere, Jānis Driksna, Niklāvs Sekačs

Lyrics: Katrīna Anete Bindere-Čodere, Jānis Driksna, Niklāvs Sekačs

Producer: Kaspars Ansons, Niklāvs Sekačs

Alekss Silvers “Again”.

Music: Alekss Silvers, Andis Ansons, Uku Moldau

Lyrics: Alekss Silvers, Andis Ansons, Uku Moldau

Producer: Kaspars Ansons, Andis Ansons

The song won the hearts of both the audience and the jury in October 2019, when the song won the prestigious Amsterdam Dance Event demo competition. The track will be a part of ANNNA's EP that will be released in spring 2020.

The new track is a collaboration with the Danish producer and songwriter, August Friis. His nostalgic, bittersweet style perfectly mixes with the harsh, themed lyrics and attitude present in each ANNNA's track.

Probably you'll notice when listening to her lyrics, but “Stardom/Hater” is not a sweet story. The song is about something that the singer read in an article on BBC UK explaining the increase in domestic violence that happens in English homes once their home team loses during the World Cup. Same as in her other songs, ANNNA's lyrics cover things that bother her, things that make her stand up and shout out loud during her impactful performances.

The singer's new chapter in 2020 will begin with a performance at the Eurosonic Festival on the 17th of January, where she'll show off all her new, powerful tracks.

*The song is available through this link: https://band.link/annna

Spending the past few years honing her songwriting skills and collaborating with a slew of talented producers, ELIZZA is now bringing her new single to the world. Taking equal inspiration from pop icons such as SIA and Dua Lipa, and RnB artists like Raye and Jorja Smith, ELIZZA distils her breadth of influences down into a focused, unique, and deeply meaningful style with her latest single, “Can’t Quit”.

“This song is about those intense romantic feelings, that rush you feel when you’re in love and out of your mind: almost like an addiction that’s hard to quit.”

“Can’t Quit” is scheduled was released on 8th November.

“Can’t Quit” is a potent insight into the addictive power of love. Inspired by the experience of an intense romantic connection that became difficult to detach from, the song deftly explores the drama created by an attachment that you can’t shake no matter how hard you try. This latest offering from ELIZZA emotively frames themes of romance and lust in edgy pop sounds and glittering production, laying down a powerful vocal performance over energetic beats that irresistibly pull you on to the dancefloor.

“The “drug” refers to that chemical feeling, the dopamine rush you feel when you’re in love: addicted to another person and out of your mind.”

After graduating from BIMM London in 2014, ELIZZA has since worked alongside several talented music producers, developing a unique sound of her very own, taking cues from pop and RnB but staying true to herself and her roots. Subsequently, her releases have been featured on BBC Introducing, Clash Magazine, Indietronica, Hype Machine, and Born Music, and more recently she appeared for an in-studio interview on the Harriette Rose show on FUBAR radio.

The long-awaited collaboration brings together two well known artists from the neighboring countries - Lithuania's “Daddy Was A Milkman” and Latvia's “BrainStorm”. From today,  October 31st, the new song called “This is how i feel” is avalable on all digital music streaming platforms and radio stations in Latvia and Lithuania. 

Renārs Kaupers remembers his Lithuanian friend Ramunas telling him ones about a guy who suddenly appeared on the Lithuanian sky of music with great songs and perfect English. Couple of years later they met each other here and there and it was always nice to meet Ignas who he says is a very sincere, simple and solid guy.

Igna's band is known to Lithuanian and Latvian listeners as "Daddy Was a Milkman", but their most popular song "Breathe In" is often found on radio playlists. “Daddy Was a Milkman” has visited Latvia several times, both at various festivals and with a solo concert at Arena Riga late last year.

The idea of collaboration was in the air for some time but the song or a theme wasn't coming. And then one day quite a simple melody came to Renar’s mind that he recorded on a phone and sent to Ignas. 

“The first draft of “This is how I feel” sounds really funny now, because exactly nothing has left from the original theme”, adds Renārs Kaupers. Ignas and the producer Vitas played around with the song and added a very nice bridge part. In one of BrainStorm’s rehearsal we felt that this bridge sounds better than the original verse and offered to use it instead of the original one. Then I flew to Vilnius and we composed together a new chorus. Ignas quickly came up with lyrics and here we go, song was ready!”

“This song points out the strength of a friendship, power of connection that true friends have. There is this thing we all have in common - we need someone to trust and help us get things off the chest. And there comes a time when a laugh, a shared memory or even a single word of encouragement can work miracles if it's with the right person at the right time. We wanted it to sound light and positive, though carry a simple but important message. "This Is How I Feel" is sort of encouragement to make time for our closest ones as we simply can not afford otherwise,” tells Ignas.

Music: Ignas Pociūnas, Vitas Vaičiulis, Renārs Kaupers, Jānis Jubalts, Māris Mihelsons, Kaspars Roga

Lyrics: Ignas Pociūnas

Produced by: Vitas Vaičiulis, Povel Olsson

Published by: BrainStorm Records Company and Ignas Pociūnas

Lyric video: Didzis Bardo, Nauris Asenkampfs/Jauda

Listen to the song in all the digital streaming services.

Concerts:

BrainStorm:

November 23, KALININGRAD, Vagonka. Tickets

December 2, NIZHNI NOVGOROD, Milo concert hall. Tickets

December 4, MOSCOW, Crocus city hall. Tickets

December 6, ST.PETERSBURG, A2 green concert. Tickets

December 12, KYIV, Caribbean club concert-hall. Tickets

Daddy Was A Milkman:

November 28, VILNIUS, Siemens Arena. Tickets

December 29, PALANGA, Palangos Koncertu Sale. Tickets