The Boat and The River

    This year took off with mixing, editing and recording, which is not something different from the previous year. The only difference is that I'm not dragging my body over the ocean but am more static physically. As to what's happening - plenty! I'm done with producing and mixing this project . I am pretty stoked about it and we spent such a good time making it. You can download it there for a donation and support a good cause - a museum of works of our national poet.

Werewolves are out and are on a mission in the Mission in SF, so watch out.

I wrote music for a documentary. This is part one, I guess part two is under the same user.


DZIĻĀ AMERIKĀ, I daļa from Vides Filmu Studija on Vimeo.


Besides that learned couple new tricks on a miniramp, wrote dozen of new songs, explored some forest paths, shook my heart up and am lazily recording new album.

John Kruth is gonna visit Riga from New York and we're playing some tunes together on July 1st, 2nd.

A show in Stockholm is scheduled for July 8th.

Also, gonna play somewhere in Europe end of July so stay tuned.

Have a great summer and live in favorable circumstances with firm intentions.

R

Rambaling Hex

Werewolves are out and ready for free download from bandcamp site. The story behind is may 2010. Working on Tour De Friends Mixtape finally and it's pretty much done. Meanwhile howl to the moon.

An Island

Finally I have a reason to blog about. I'm not in India, New Zealand, Frisco, nor am I in a place I've never been before when even a thought of remembering its name makes you feel special. This time it's as simple as this. I have followed Vincent Moon on Twitter and had followed his career from the time The Shins clip was on TakeAwayShow website or even before that, can't really remember. He posted something about a chance to host a premiere and to do that one had to enter a competition by making a comment on Wired website about why one wanted to host it etc. Not knowing any detail (I rarely read the whole text and am sure only few do that. majority looking at the photos only) I commented and then actually replied on twitter to Mr. Moon saying that if he really wanted me to make this premiere he should let me know then so I can make some arrangements. What didn't click to me at that time that it was THE world Premiere.

AN ISLAND - 3rd TEASER - Vincent Moon & Efterklang from Rumraket on Vimeo.

 Anyway,  I moved away from Riga few months ago because that city was too charming for me making me less productive with every hour. I've accumulated plenty of material from my travels and the summer to work with, plus I had to think about the next album. So I moved to my hometown Cesis, which is about a hundred km north east from the capital. It was a pleasure for me to get to know new people in this town with common interests. I asked Ilva (owner of an art gallery) if we could host a premiere and being as cool as she was I literally was given keys to that beautiful place. Projector and a screen borrowed  from a good friend Atis. An Island downloaded from the link Rasmus sent me. With the blessing of Mr. Moon and Rasmus we were ready to go. The last thing Vince told me over skype was to play it loud! And so we did - the rest is history. 

Skype didn't work neither before, nor after the film but it wasn't a big of a deal since the film itself was almost a divine experience leaving a significant imprint of beauty and bliss on our mind streams. 

photos: Janis Viksna

I came back home and Rasmus was still online. Actually it was only then when it clicked to me that it was THE world premiere we just hosted. In this chain reaction I started receiving messages from people who couldn't make it and how awesome was the fact that we managed to do it. I told Rasmus that I couldn't remember the last time I was speechless (no I do - the scam (kidnapping) in Kashmir). I won't say anything more about the film, go to An Island website and check the closest location of a screening. I want to thank Efterklang, Vincent Moon, all the people involved in creation and all the people involved in hosting this premiere. Love to you all. 

Off The Fence

     Tried my luck in directing a video for a new song which I yet have to finish. Needless to say it was a lot of fun, especially freezing my ass off in a swamp. Well, I shouldn't complain because actors were in a skinny outfit and thin shoes freezing to the bone. My heart shrank everytime I looked at their frozen hands and cheeks so my fat ass was just fine. The crew of ten people spent one day on ice in a cold wind at -10 degrees Celsius. The intention was to tell a story and I tell you that I realized that it's not an easy way to do it. Being an absolute rookie myself together with an experienced cameraman came up with a script and a storyboard wishing to embody certain amount of skill, taste and luck from our favorite directors we kicked it off on a saturday afternoon, driving cars around the city of Riga. Bit thanks to everyone involved, it's been such a pleasure. The effort from people was enormous and I wish the result will be satisfying for all of us.

Double U Double Me

We took a ship to Vienna last weekend. A huge cruise ship which departed from the ancient harbor of Riga City. I was surprised that people there were so similar to latvians (Rigans?) - they had three eyes, spoke at least four languages and had hair dark as the guts of the universe. Actually it felt that I have never left Riga (city which I love so much. Actually I think Latvia should be called - Riga and the rest of it we'd call a park thus making it a bigest city park in the world?) Anyway, I'm brewing my theories about that so stay tuned. Meanwhile (mean whale) observe the sky.

Mr Postman Knocked On The Door

       I started a newspaper of my own. You know, Kanye's making films with nice running in it, birds and angel - like servants. Why not a paper with just me and the band in it I thought? 

As I sip black coffee (not that I like it black but couldn't find milk in the fridge for multiple reasons) and go through the pages of somewhat one may call a newsletter or a fan update, or whatever else I might have despised not too long ago, I could think of only one thing - the importance of amazing people I've met so far in my life. It's incredible. I could write a story or two and they all together would mirror only the tiniest bit of an actual life of an individual. Life is crazy and so are we - humans. 

I can't say precisely what made me realize that writing music could be it. Even more, it changed my whole life. Thinking back I doubt that I have ever dreamed of living this much broke and actually being happy about it. Anyway, the journey continues. I've lined up 21 song to be recorded over period of next 3 months.

It all started with Tour De Friends and me sitting in a cold room in Dharamsala, India. "It has to be today I start making next album," I thought and set up everything to record something that would serve as a basis for all things to come. Came up with the name of that album the moment I was singing something about visiting the oracle while staring at a majestic peak of a mountain. I love it, I want to go back. I'm able to go back only in future, isn't it funny? You never go back. 

Stevie Gee is making a cover for Werewolves On A Mission, a skate rock album recorded in San Francisco due to the kindness of people I met there. Looking through the images on Gee's blog made my day today. I highly recommend to check it out now and find out where's Osama? 

I'm off to record something. Oh yeah, if you are a latvian reader and want this newspaper in your inbox send an email to elmars at elmarsuniverse.com 

Old Is Gold - I Don't Like Gold

I do like photos though. Does it make it Old is A Photo? This is the last entry with photos, I don't have a camera anymore. Well luckily I still got a keyboard so I can type. Moving on to the next subject, I wasn't born in this town but spent here my first eighteen years. The town is really old, so it is like a photo to me.  

 Russian Isus Hristos

 Fence.

fish eye

 Trees

A hole in the wall

 Sugar

 Smoke

 Training facility.

The next section is called: Riga At Knight.  

 We are being filmed. I recently noticed the fact.

 Sometimes you're offered and asked.

 Spies are everywhere and they know it.

 The dude below was checking my computer while I was away to grab a cup of coffee.

 I was taking a photo of myself and this nice hallway and caught other dudes on tape who were spying on me again from behind.

 The list of names to be spied on.

Good luck.