Latvian Music News

The classical music hooligans DAGAMBA as a special st. Valentine’s day greeting has released a new video version for the piece Romeo & Juliet. This is the second single from their upcoming album and grand concert DAGAMBA feat TCHAIKOVSKY taking place 12th of April this year in Arena Riga.

The inspirational spark for the Romeo & Juliet was taken from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s symphonic poem and its love theme with the same name. Infused with DAGAMBAS original music the piece slowly evolves from lyrical radiance into energetic explosion of emotions.

The composer and DAGAMBA leader Valters Puce explains - this piece is unique, because for the first time each band member has their own solo part or as one could say their own individual interpretation for love. Music is nothing more than pure love in its core; it is love towards your own music instrument – your main tool to bring emotions alive in others as well as in ourselves. DAGAMBA enjoys doing usual things in an unusual way; therefor we want to show you that love is not only fragile, but can also be monumental and suggestive.  

The video version of Romeo and Juliet has been filmed during the recording of the new album in “Sound Division” recording studio by videographer – Karlis Kempels. The album presentation DAGAMBA feat TCHAIKOVSKY will take place at the end of the march.

As announced earlier on 12th of April the classical music hooligans DAGAMBA will have their most ambitious Live Performance in Arena Riga. Tickets are available at “Biļešu serviss”.

The single  “Listen To The Way That I Breathe” is selected for the international song competition "Eurovision 2019" Pre-Selection show "Supernova 2019" semi-finals.

The director of the video is Guntis Spridzāns. The video was shoot and edited by Ivars Utināns.

The story of a video (and song) is about the loneliness, struggle and the inner demons of a musician, looking for a support from the others and a hope in general. Every upcoming performance is an emotional challenge for a musician, but the band is always there for the support.

The video was shoot in different places including “K.K. fon Stricka villa”, “Buratino theater”, “GM Pool”,” Ziemeļblāzma Castle”.

“The shooting of a video was quite challenging because you really had to get over yourself emotionally and physically. First, we had to film in a cold weather outside. After that we had to film under the water. With the lack of sleep from the previous night's gig, that really did took an energy from us” Guntis recalls.

Laika Upe is a five - piece band from Riga, Latvia. Their uniqueness and sound can be found both in their records and in their energetic live performances that no listener can ignore. Since the formation of the band in 2016, Laika Upe has released two singles. The first single “Debess Puses” was released in the summer of 2018.

The second single "Listen To The Way That I Breathe"  is selected for the international song competition "Eurovision 2019" Pre-Selection show "Supernova 2019" semi-finals. The band will perform in the second “Supernova 2019” semi-finals show that will go on air on the second of february on the channel “LTV1”. The show starts at 9.25 PM.

The song “Listen To The Way That I Breathe” can be found on the biggest music streaming services including Spotify, Google Play, iTunes.

Latvian pop-singer and Eurovision star Aminata, this January, is celebrating her five-year anniversary of being in music industry, and to mark this special occasion releases the single "Catching the Headlights". Five years ago, after winning Latvian TV show "Jaunā Talantu fabrika"(‘The New Talent Show’), Aminata released her first ever single "I can breathe".

With the new song "Catching the Headlights" Aminata was willing to recall the beginning of her career: “When writing this song, I wanted to come back to the feelings, which I had when I only started writing songs, 5 years ago. I did not want to think about making this song 'fit', about it having certain format. I just wanted to express my feelings in music, in whatever form it takes.”

Aminata worked on the song alongside the Danish songwriter and producer Jonas Brogger Filtenborg and his Swedish colleague Edvin Hjertquist.

"Catching the Headlights"  has sensual, sexy mood. The song does not have a story, it does not describe a certain plot. The main idea of the song is to remind about being present and enjoy the moments of pleasure: “Nowadays, people are running all the time. We have a lot of things planned, a long 'to do' list. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, we always worry and forget that life goes by. We forget to enjoy things, to enjoy moments,” that Aminata.

This year Aminata is planning to release her third album, and "Catching the Headlights" is one of the singles, that follows previously released ‘Zero Love’ and ‘Don’t talk about it’. The two first albums - ‘Inner Voice’ and ‘Red Moon’ gained success both in Latvia and abroad, which gives Aminata the inspiration to be braver and work even harder. Together with her team of producers and songwriters Aminata set her creative spirit free and worked productively, which has already resulted in releasing several singles.

The single "Catching the Headlights"  is available in all popular music stream services and can also be heard on radio stations.

One of this year’s music and artist contest “Supernova 2019” semi-finalists Edgars Kreilis from Jelgava presents his song “Cherry Absinthe”, which now has a lyrics video. Edgars is one of the 16 semi-finalists and in 26th January he will fight for the chance to be in the finals.

Originally for the “Supernova 2019” contest Kreilis announced his song "Fire", but in the semi-finals another song with the same title entered, then Edgars heard the suggestions for improving the song and decided to change the composition’s title to "Cherry Absinthe".

The song “Cherry Absinthe” is about a girl that was met on New Year’s Eve. It’s about emotions that take over when you meet someone and about the explosion of feelings – about falling in love. Besides all the feelings, this is also a story about a great party and an adventure - the moment when you forget the absence of the last year and embark on the new one with other goals, wishes and feelings, enjoying the time that we are given.

The story and meaning of the song tells Edgars himself: “There’s is no doubt that behind every successful man stands a strong and a successful woman. And every blossoming relationship starts with a feeling that you can feel in every note of this song. At the moment I’m not sure how others will feel about “Cherry Absinthe”, but I’m confident that every listener will enjoy the great dose of positivism that dwells in it.”

“Cherry Absinthe” was written in the spring of 2018 in the second song writing camp “RIGaLIVE”. Event organisers had created a team that included producer Arnis Račinskis, as well as musicians Jūlijs Melngailis and Edgars Kreilis who were working together for the first time. In this songwriting camp musicians shared their ideas with each other and fulfilled the potential of the song by making it a tuneful story. And that’s how the song “Cherry Absinthe” was born - by three creative minds collaborating and just letting magic happen. Moreover, in the creative process guys decided that contest “Supernova 2019” will be a perfect place to introduce this song to a wider audience, letting it start the way to success.

The music authors of “Cherry Absinthe” are Edgars Kreilis, Jūlijs Melngailis and Arnis Račinskis, however the lyrics were written by Jūlijs Melngailis and Arnis Račinskis.

“Cherry Absinthe” is available on the streaming service Spotify and you can listen to it on the social platform Youtube.

Podruga, electropop project of Alise Stefanoviča, offers the latest single – a hypnotic dance floor anthem “Sasha in Furs”.

The song was released after a break of almost two years, during which Podruga performed intensively, including in such significant places as Tallinn Music Week, Positivus Festival and the Palladium concert hall. In the meantime, there were also changes in the composition of musicians, as a result of which Podruga became a solo project of the vocalist, lyricist and producer Alise Stefanoviča.

“Sasha in Furs” is an ode to muse, a playful nod to The Velvet Underground and an anthem for every young heart who has ever dreamed under a strobe light. “Lyrics of the song are made up of conversations that occurred between the main character Sasha and me,” says Alise. “The song tells about a special friendship born on the background of Riga’s nightlife and beauty that can be seen in the people around you.”

In early 2019, a music video will be released to the single.

“Sasha in Furs” was recorded at studio "SKAN", in Riga. Guitarist Roberts Bergs from rock band Krāsa and producer Kaspars Greizis participated in the recording of the song.

On the 1st of December Latvian singers Ralfs Eilands and Kristīne Prauliņa and jazz-funk band Very Cool People are releasing the joint holiday album Snowman's Express. The album includes new original songs and self-arranged versions of well-known holiday tunes. The new album is creating a joyful party atmosphere in the best traditions of funk and soul.

The album consists of twelve songs including original pieces St. James and Call Me This Christmas, written by the participants of the Christmas project themselves. The first single of this album is Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmas Time, on the record you will also hear John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Christmas traditional pieces like Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Auld Lang Syne, as well as Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Winter Wonderland, Merry Christmas Baby and even Sugar Flute Laughter Dance from Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet Nutcracker, all passionately and skillfully arranged by one the best funkers from the Baltic States – Very Cool People.

Participants of the project Snowman’s Express: Ralfs Eilands – vocals;  Kristīne Prauliņa – vocals; Oskars Ozoliņš – trumpet; Māris Jēkabsons – tenor sax; Laura Rozenberga – trombone; Kristaps Lubovs – baritone sax; Elvijs Grafcovs – guitar;  Māris Vitkus – organ, keyboards & synth; Valters Sprūdžs – bass;  Andris Buiķis – drums, percussions, glockenspiel.

All tunes produced by E.Grafcovs, V.Sprūdžs & R.Eilands. All tunes arranged by E.Grafcovs & M.Jēkabons, except Call Me This Christmas arranged by V.Sprūdžs & M.Jēkabsons and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy arranged by M.Jēkabsons.  Recorded by Ivars Ozols, Gints Lundbergs & Pauls Davis Megi from in July 2018 at Sound Division Studio (Riga, Latvia).  Additional vocal recordings by Edgars Skrāģis at Meduza/Jump Studio (Riga, Latvia);  mixed by Krišjānis Geidāns at Ansons Lab Studio (Riga, Latvia); mastered by Jānis Kalve at Labo Ierakstu Studio (Riga, Latvia). Design & artwork by Mārtiņš Legzdiņš.

“Very Cool People” is a jazz-funk band originated in Riga, Latvia. With a backbone in jazz, funk and soul, incorporating influences from surf, klezmer, rock and hip-hop, the band using contemporary tools is trying to put jazz & funk back to dancefloor and make it more accessible to ordinary, nowadays persons. In 2018 besides regular gigs in Latvia, the band has gone to a concert tour around South Korea in August and a concert tour in Hungary and Romania in November. The band is also nominated for the biggest European showcase “Eurosonic Noorderslag 2019”, which will take place on January 2019 in Groningen, The Netherlands.

Summer Sound 2019 will take place in Liepaja on the 2nd and 3rd of August and it will be the 9th time when festival visitors are invited to enjoy music and art on the beach of Liepaja. But already on the 9th of March, the greatest spring party will take place at the Riga National Sports Manege - Summer Sound Spring Session.

For the first time in the history of the festival Summer Sound is organising a one night event in Riga with the participation of German electronical music DJ Tujamo, famous Latvian band Bermudu Divstūris and the party king of the festival - DJ Toms Grēviņš. It will be a flaming party throughout the night, marking the end of winter and the coming of summer. 

Uldis Pabērzis, Director of the Festival, explains the idea of organising the Summer Sound Spring Session party in March: “Summer 2018 was fantastic – rich with many different events. To prolong this wonderful summer mood for a moment and set the feeling for the summer of 2019, we, the organisers of the festival, have planned a spring event in Riga, which will allow us to recall the best moments from this summer and set the mood for the next year’s biggest beach event in Liepaja - Summer Sound".

Summer Sound Spring Session party will take place at the Riga National Sports Manege, at Kojusalas iela 9, Riga.

Summer Sound and Summer Sound Spring Session tickets are available at summersound.lv and all Biļešu Serviss box offices in Latvia.

Ticket prices till 9 December:

Summer Sound Spring Session - EUR 20

Festival Summer Sound - EUR 29

Unified ticket - Summer Sound Spring Session and Summer Sound festival - EUR 47

Tickets are only available at this special price until 9 December, later they will become more expensive.

In 2019, Summer Sound Festival will take place for the 9th time, and it has certainly become one of the most important summer music events in the Baltics. Thousands of visitors prove it, because each year they travel to the wonderful beach of Liepaja to enjoy two days of musical fun and relaxation right on the seaside. Every year the festival features more than 50 artists providing a diverse entertainment and activity programme.

Aldaris - bringing taste to the party, the festival is supported by Liepaja City, informative partner – Radio SWH.

Today on the 13th of November, the musician Chris Noah published his first music video for his single “Fall Through”, which has been made in collaboration with artists Peteris Viksna and Ieva Aleksejeva.

Chris Noah’s song “Fall Through” was released in the beginning of September to the most popular radio stations in Latvia and in music streaming platforms. The song “Fall Through” has received wide range of support not only from local listeners but also some foreign music tops and it has been added to some prestige music playlists both on YouTube and Spotify. British blogger “AlexRainBirdMusic” list, which includes this song, has been listened to more than 900 000 times and this song, has been added to many indie music lists in Spotify.

Authors of the music video tried not to hold on to the clichés, but they tried to preserve the video to suit the song, but at the same time letting the viewer make his own interpretations about what is seen. It has also been noted that this is the first music video of this artist and one of the main goals was to introduce the listeners with the main hero.

Chris Noah about the song: “In this song, I represent what it is like to be in a new relationship, when at first everything is great, everything is real, but when you stop and think about it, you realize that it has all been just in the beginning moments. We can indirectly see how fast our environment, perspective and feelings can change. It is just in our human nature that we are trying to find something new, or that we are trying to get answers to our uncertainties.”

Song has been made in collaboration with British music producer Kristofer Harris, who visited Latvia in May of 2018, to make three singles with this musician. Music video has been made, thanks to the collaboration with “Spirits & Wine”.

Two Latvian pop acts, that are well known not only in Latvia, just have released a brand-new duet called “Last Dance”. It is written by Markus Riva and produced by Kaspars Ansons who stands behind Aminata’s 2015 Eurovision anthem “Love Injected”.

Both musicians are friends for several years, they both were competing at Supernova 2015 (National competition of Eurovision Song Contest), where  Aminata won and Markus with “Take Me Down” ended up at second place.

“I had this idea about a duet with Aminata for a long time because I love what she is doing, I love her attitude and music. When I was working on my latest album “I can”, I wrote this song “Last Dance” but because of the bad timing, we did not manage to record this as a duet. But luckily, soon after the album release, song is out as a single and features Aminata”, says Markus.

“I was very happy when Markus offered me to do a collaboration because I knew that it is going to  be a well produced and exciting project like Markus is himself. I was in love with “Last Dance” from the very first second - I like melody, lyrics and production by Kaspars Ansons. I am super excited about this collaboration and hope everyone else as well.

Both artists have worked on several projects with Kaspars Ansons, he has produced few tracks in Markus Riva latest LP release “I Can”. This is a sad song about fading relationships and last dance, last night together before there is someone else who will come. This is their very first duet together.