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Artis Gāga wins three in Latvian Music Recording Awards

Andris Straumanis

March 09, 2008

If the name Artis Gāga does not sound familiar, listen up. Gāga, a talented saxophonist, is the big winner of this year’s Latvian Music Recording Awards (Latvijas Mūzikas Ierakstu Gada Balva 2007).

Gāga on March 8 picked up two awards for his solo work and shared another for his collaboration with opera singer Sergejs Jēgers. Gāga’s Mūzikālās impresijas: Zīmējumi debesīs (Drawings in Heaven) won for best debut album and for best instrumental, film or theater music album. His recording with Jēgers, Deunde, won the award for best academic music album.

The awards honor achievement in Latvia’s recording industry and are akin to the Grammys in the United States. This year’s awards recognize work released during 2007.

Gāga, also a composer and arranger, was born in 1973, according to his Web site, www.artisgaga.com. He studied in Latvia, Luxembourg, France and the United States. Gāga has performed with orchestras but also has branched out into improvisational work.

Winners of this year’s Latvian Music Recording Awards were:

• Best modern folk music album: Auļos by the drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi. Other nominees were Lācenes un kazenes by Lāns, Mežs ieiet sevī by Imants Daksis, Saucējas by Saucējas, and the folk music compilation Sviests 2 by various artists.
• Best instrumental, film or theater music album: Mūzikālās impresijas: Zīmējumi debesīs by Artis Gāga. Other nominees were Izredzētais by various artists, Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! Merry Christmas by the brass band Rīga, Singalongs by Melo-M, and Son et Sensus by Jolanta Trofimova–Cole.
• Best academic music album: Duende by Sergejs Jēgers and Artis Gāga.
  Other nominees were Ex animo by Marta Sudraba and Ventis Zilberts; Ne tikai opera... by Žoržs Siksna; and Ziemeļlatvijas kameransamblis by Ziemeļlatvijas kameransamblis
• Best concert video: Vokālās grupas Cosmos Ziemas koncerts by the vocal group Cosmos. Other nominees were Marhils un draugi by Uldis Marhilevičs and Vasarssvētki Bīriņu pilī 2007 by various artists.
• Best music video: Esi brīvs by Pikaso, Gustavo and R-VISS. Other nominees were Daddy Cool by Melo–M, Glamour, Cool & Antishock by Jana Hermann, No lūpām lasi by Gustavo and Vlady, and Panis Angerlicus by Sergejs Jēgers and Artis Gāga.
• Best children’s album: Masku dziesmas by various artists. Other nominees were Knīpiņas un knauķīši by Knīpas un knauķi and Tas ir prieks, kam sēžu klēpī by the pop group Mušas.
• Best dance, hip-hop or rhythm and blues song: “"Es gribu dejot bugi 2007 (R.Lejasmeijera remix)” by Nora Bumbiere. Other nominees were “DJ Take Me” and and “Welcome to the Club,” both by DJ Ella.
• Best schlager or country song: “Neskaties pulkstenī” by Liene Šomase and Jānis Moisejs. Also nominated were “Pāri okeānam” by Lauku Muzikanti, “Šoko loko” by Normunds Rutulis, “To jau nepateiks neviens” by Klaidonis, and “Varbūt” by Normunds Jakušonoks and Daiga Petkeviča.
• Best schlager or country album: Magones zieds by Normunds Rutulis. Also nominated were Aiz vārdiem by Harijs Ozols and Santa Zapacka, Laika jautājums by Lauku Muzikanti, Pasaule ir skaista by Liene Šomase and Jānis Moisejs, and To jau nepateiks neviens by Klaidonis.
• Best pop song: “Glāze piena” by Jānis Stībelis. Also nominated were “Ja tu mīli” by Ainars Virga, “Mīļumiņ, nāc padzert ūdentiņ’” by Labvēlīgais tips, “Questa Notte” by 2007 Eurovision Song Contest entry Bonaparti.lv, and “Ripoja akmens” by Andris Ērglis and Cacao.
• Best pop album: Glāze piena by Jānis Stībelis. Also nominated were Nakts veikalā by Lauris Reiniks, Pūķis by Hospitāļu iela, Ripoja akmens by Andris Ērglis and Cacao, and Svīres tango by Labvēlīgais tips.
• Best rock song: “Balerīna” by Dzelzs Vilks. Also nominated were “Dzīve bez apstājas” by R.A.P. and Igo, “Skapī” by Detlef Zoo, “Tici sev” by Astro’n’out, and “Tukšums” by Dons.
• Best rock album: Sārtā rītausma by Dzelzs Vilks. Also nominated were Kurš gribēja nogalinat Džūliju? Nezinu, bet trāpīja mums by Double Faced Eels, Ķeras pie sirds by Inokentijs Mārpls, Rīga ir gatava by Pienvedēja piedzīvojumi, and Skapī by Detlef Zoo.
• Best debut: Artis Gāga for the album Muzikālās impresijas: Zīmējumi debesīs. Also nominated were Bez PVN for the album Pyrms Vuorda..., Jolanta Trofimova–Cole for the album Son et Sensus, StandART for the album Australia, and Tumors for the album Ideoti.
• Best radio hit: “Ripoja akmens” by Andris Ērglis. Other songs nominated were “Bez puišiem nevar” by Jenny May and Double Faced Eels, “Ja Tu man esi” by Dons, “Pārāk daudz” by Ivo Fomins and “Uzmini nu!” by H2O.

The awards are sponsored by the Latvian Music Producers Association (Latvijas Mūzikas Producentu Apvienība). This was the 12th year of the award.

Andris Straumanis is editor of Latvians Online.