Collection of Arta Jēkabsone’s folk song arrangements on “Dziesmu kamoliņš”

Egils Kaljo | 

Award winning Latvian singer Arta Jēkabsone has, throughout her performing career, explored and combined many different styles in her songs. Though primarily a jazz singer, her work still has many Latvian elements and influences, and she has also created her own arrangements of Latvian folk songs. Her exuberant and emotionally rich vocals have won her praise around the world, as evidenced by her victory at the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition and her being recognized as the “New Artist of the Year 2022” in Latvia.

Her latest album, 2025’s Dziesmu kamoliņš (Garland of Songs) is a collection of her arrangements of Latvian folksongs, along with original works. Including arrangements both of well-known and lesser-known Latvian folk songs, imbued with jazz stylistics, the collection makes for a memorable collection of performances in Jēkabsone’s own unique musical language.

Jēkabsone’s vocal talents are on display throughout the album, such as the wordless vocalizes that punctuate her arrangement of ‘Skaisti dziedi, lakstīgala’, and this performance is enhanced by the synthesizer performance of Kengchakaj, which adds additional layers and sonic textures to the music.

Jēkabsone also makes effective use of recording technology, allowing her to creative textured tapestries with just her voice. One such example is her arrangement of ‘Tumša nakte, zaļa zāle’, where, with vocal loops, she creates a multi-layered vocal performance that brings out the spiritual and meditative elements of this folk song.

The layered vocal effects also provide for a memorable interpretation of the lullaby ‘Aijā, žūžū’, where Jēkabsone builds upon the simple melody of the song to create a complex, yet moving performance of this beloved song.

Beyond being a singer, Jēkabsone is a multi-instrumentalist, and many of the performances include her playing the piano and violin. Additionally, Jēkabsone is also an accomplished songwriter, shown by the original song ‘Dziesmu kamoliņš’, a gently flowing song full of positivity and vivacity.

Arta Jēkabsone’s performances and arrangements of Latvian folk songs on Dziesmu kamoliņš are innovative and creative, and reveal new facets to these timeless Latvian songs. Jēkabsone, who has been living in New York City for more than a decade now, brings together both the folk songs of Latvia and the modern jazz elements with striking results. The layered and rich arrangements, woven together with Jēkabsone’s vocal talents, along with a number of talented musicians from around the world, makes Dziesmu kamoliņš a captivating and spiritually uplifting listen.

For further information, please visit Arta Jēkabsone’s website.

Dziesmu kamoliņš

Arta Jēkabsone

2025

Track listing:

1. Man dziesmiņu nepietrūka

2. Caur sidraba birzi gāju

3. Silta jauka istabiņa

4. Lakstīgala

5. Tumša nakte,zaļa zāle

6. Dieviņ,Tavu gaišumiņu!

7. Ziedi, ziedi rudzu vārpa

8. Sēju rūtu, sēju mētru

9. Noriet saule vakarā’i

10. Aijā žūžū!

11.Dziesmu kamoliņš

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

Composer Aija Alsiņa releases third studio album and vinyl record

Aija Alsina | 

On October 3rd, Latvian instrumental music composer Aija Alsiņa releases her third studio album “Lightkeeper”. It is a deeply personal and emotional piece of work, in which piano compositions intertwine with the timbre-rich sound of a string quartet and subtle touches of ambient and electronic music.

The album reveals the musician’s inner journey between motherhood and self-realization, between doubts and the strength to continue. Each piece is like a step closer to the light — even in moments when it seems it will go out. “Lightkeeper” symbolizes the small but persistent flame that continues to burn, inspiring Aija to create and share her music.

“Lightkeeper is the most honest thing I’ve written. It comes from the constant struggle between being a mother and being an artist. I love composing more than I can explain – it’s where I feel most alive – but my children will always be my first priority. That means my dream of fully dedicating myself to music often has to wait. Some days it feels like I’m standing on a shore, watching that dream drift farther away, knowing I can’t chase it without letting go of something even more precious.” – says Aija.

With this album, Aija continues to prove herself as a sophisticated, emotionally powerful composer, whose works touch the listener’s heart, creating space for reflection, peace and a sense of light.

The compositions from the new album were created during Aija’s various creative getaways in Latvian nature. She produced them in her home studio, but both Latvian and foreign specialists were invited for post-processing – Pauls Dāvis Megi mixed the four tracks that feature strings, Martyn Heyne at Lichte Studio in Berlin mastered the whole album. The String Quartet NŌNA participated in the recording, and artwork for the album was created by the talented Latvian artist Linda Valere.

Aija Alsiņa has been nominated for the new Gamma Music Award in 2024 in the category “Artist/Group of the Year in the Instrumental Music Genre”. Two of Aija’s compositions, “Collecting Memories” and “Lullaby”, have reached the 2 million threshold on digital music streaming platforms, thus receiving gold certificates presented by LAIPA.

Aija has released two prior studio albums: Domum (2017) and Creation (2021, also on vinyl).

Listeners can get the new album, as well as T-shirts with the Lightkeeper design, on Aija’s bandcamp site: https://aijaalsina.bandcamp.com/merch

Listen to Lightkeeper here: https://open.spotify.com/album/61qoilVXYgnMelgKrogIyH? si=rGEobtKhS3ij14RvcTePIA

Latvian heavy metal band Skyforger release new album ‘Teikas’

Egils Kaljo | 

Ten years have passed since the last studio album by legendary veteran Latvian pagan metal band Skyforger, but, in 2025, the group released their latest album – Teikas.

Skyforger perform in an extreme metal style, with heavily distorted guitars, rapid fire pounding drums and screamed or growled vocals. Still, the group has always had a strong melodic aspect to their music, and have included traditional Latvian instruments like the kokle and the stabule in their songs.

The group also find inspiration in Latvian history and legends, and many of their albums have been based on such legends, for example, 2010’s Kurbads, about the legendary powerful warrior who was the son of a mare. The group have also explored the stories of other Baltic nations, such as the ancient Prussians on 2015’s Senprūsija.  Though most of Skyforger’s recordings are of an aggressive and relentless style, the group also does occasionally perform in a traditional Latvian folk style, such as on 2003’s Zobena dziesma.

The thunderous guitars of ‘Rex Semigalliae’ present the story of the sword of Viestards, the renowned leader of the Semigallians (Zemgalieši). The sword, found in the ruins of the demolished castle of Tērvete, supposedly was cursed, and caused a destructive fire in the castle of Casimir Kettler, a baron in the Duchy of Courland.

The slower, but no less powerful ‘Svētbrizs’, tells of a sacred grove (a dense forest believed by pagans to have mystical powers), and one of these groves remains today near the town of Kuldīga in Kurzeme.

Besides telling of legends, Skyforger also honor the contribution of Latvians throughout history in ‘Vecie latvieši’ (or ‘old time Latvians’), a reverent song about the many older Latvians that having lived history, continue to pass down legends and stories of what Latvia was like in previous decades to younger generations, ensuring that these stories are not forgotten.

Those who purchase the physical CD will find more information about the songs in the booklet. Though the lyrics are not included, there are detailed notes on the legends and historical events that inspired each song, which certainly helps appreciate the legends and stories behind the songs. It also further displays the reverence Skyforger have for their Latvian heritage and history.

Skyforger continue to actively perform throughout the world, and are planning a European tour in February of 2026, with stops in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.

For three decades now (Skyforger were founded in 1995), the group has, with their aggressive music and lyrics steeped in legends and history, firmly established themselves as the premiere Latvian heavy metal ensemble. Though a long ten years passed between albums, Teikas has been worth the wait and is one of their most consistent and satisfying releases.

For further information, please visit the Skyforger website.

Teikas

Skyforger

Thunderforge Records TFR 006, 2025

Track listing:

1. Mālpils purvs

2. Dieva Suns

3. Spēlmanis

4. Spīgana

5. Mājas kungs

6. Rex Semigalliae

7. Svētbirzs

8. Zilaiskalns

9. Velnakmens

10. Lietuvēns

11. Alšvangas dūdas

12. Pelīte

13. Vecie latvieši

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.