Jānis Šipkēvics
Jānis Šipkēvics | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jānis Šipkēvics |
| Born | August 27, 1982 Riga, Latvia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, composer, lyricist, producer |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Independent |
Jānis Šipkēvics (born 27 August 1982) is a Latvian musician – singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, lyricist, and producer. He is a member of the group Instrumenti, the founder of the vocal group Cosmos and musical projects Nepariet and Dora.[1][2] His solo project is known as Shipsea.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Jānis Šipkēvics was born in Riga, Latvia. He began his musical education at the Emils Darzinš Music School in 1989 and graduated from the Riga Cathedral Choir School in 2000.[1] As a member of the Riga Cathedral Choir, he toured internationally, showcasing his vocal talent. His musical influences included classic rock and pop artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Prince, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Michael Jackson.[1]
In 2000, Šipkevics enrolled at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, specializing in Choral Conducting.[4] From 2001 to 2005 he worked as a conductor and developed a keen interest in photography, working as a sports photographer for local papers and contributing to ornithology journals.
In 2023, Šipkevics enrolled at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm to pursue a Master’s degree in Music Production.[5][1][6][7] He also served as a lecturer at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen.
Career
[edit]Cosmos
[edit]While at the Riga Cathedral Choir School, along with his schoolmates Andris Sējāns, Juris Lisenko, and Jānis Ozols, founded the vocal a cappella group Cosmos.[4] In their second year, Jānis Strazdiņš joined the group. Soon after their debut performance, Cosmos recorded their first compositions at the Radio SWH studio, initially focusing on classical music - compositions by Peteris Vasks, Gyorgi Ligeti and Gavin Bryars.[8][9][10]
Encouraged by the Latvian musician Ainars Mielavs, Cosmos soon shifted to popular music arrangements, producing their debut single "Tu saviļņoji mani" (a cover of Ainars Mielavs' song) and the subsequent album "Cosmos" in 2003.
Invited by the legendary Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls, Cosmos competed in and won the international contest New Wave in 2004, after which Reinis Sejans officially joined as the sixth member. After that, Cosmos began international touring, performed at international festivals, and participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the years, they released multiple albums, securing two Grand Music Awards (2007, 2008) and six Latvian Music Recording Awards.[11] Cosmos has shared the stage with renowned artists like Bobby McFerrin, The Real Group, and The New York Voices, among others.
Instrumenti
[edit]While still actively involved with Cosmos, Jānis and Reinis began venturing beyond a cappella, and started exploring new creative paths and outlets, incorporating instruments into their songwriting. They sent their first recordings to local radio stations under fictional names, posing as a band from Iceland, Germany, or the Netherlands. Donning panda masks in their early live shows, they laid the foundation for the birth of the band Instrumenti, with their debut concert in Riga in December 2010.
Through mutual connections, Instrumenti connected with Björk’s producer Valgeir Sigurðsson and the Whale Watching Tour collaborators. This collaboration led to the opportunity to record at the Greenhouse Studios in Iceland,[4] resulting in Instrumenti's debut album, "Tru", released in 2011 and later certified Gold in Latvia.[11] Just a year after releasing their debut album, Instrumenti held their biggest concert to date at Arena Riga.
Subsequent albums followed – "Procrastination" (2013), "Iekams" (2014), and a soundtrack for the movie "Double Strangers" in 2015.[11]
After a short hiatus, Instrumenti resumed their activity in 2017, releasing their fourth album "Atkala", winning two Latvian Music Recording Awards. Soon came the follow-up, "Cilveks" (2019). Both albums featured artwork by the Latvian artist Džemma Skulme. In 2018, Instrumenti headlined shows at Sigulda Castle ruins and in 2019 at the Stadium "Daugava" in Riga for the first time gathering 17,000 people in a single event. After a pandemic-induced break, they returned in late summer 2021 with three shows at the Mežaparks Great Bandstand.
In 2024 summer, Instrumenti released album “Runa Riga”.[12] In honor of this, a concert at Arena Riga has been announced for October 2024.[13][14]
Dora
[edit]In 2015, Latvian director Māra Ķimele asked Jānis to compose original music for the New Riga Theatre's play “Aspazija. Personīgi.” Jānis, joined by his Instrumenti bandmate Gatis Zaķis, accepted the offer. As they crafted music for the play, new and unrelated musical ideas emerged, leading to the birth of the duo Dora. They released their debut album “Two Sides” in late 2016.
During a visit to Venice, Jānis got acquainted with the Icelandic artist Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir. In 2016, Dora collaborated with Hlynsdóttir on the creation of moving sculptures and sound installations titled “Stitching and Mending” and “The Changing Room,” showcased in Reykjavík, Oslo, and Vilnius.
Since 2022, Dora has been working on a new album featuring music with poetry by William Butler Yeats.
Shipsea
[edit]In 2013, Jānis launched his solo project under the moniker Shipsea.[3][15][16][17] While Jānis performs solo as Shipsea, he is most often accompanied by a dynamic and ever-evolving lineup of friends and like-minded musicians.
In 2015, Shipsea released a debut four-song EP, followed by approximately forty solo concerts at K. K. von Stricka villa in Riga.[3][15] Jānis continued performing in various Latvian cities and participated in the Tallinn Music Week showcase festival. Shipsea also appeared at the “Far From Moscow” festival in Los Angeles, USA, and supported Arcade Fire at the Mežaparks Green Theater in 2018.
Shipsea's first LP, “Apgaismo mani,” dropped in June 2022, featuring eleven compositions with lyrics by Jānis and Marts Pujats.[18][19][20] The album earned two Latvian Music Recording Awards, recognizing it as the Best Pop Music Album and the Best Album of the Year.
In 2024, Shipsea released the album “Lielas cerības” which features songs created during the time of his first marriage's breakup ten years ago.[21] Musicians Matiss Cudars, Ivars Arutyunyan, Lennart Heyndels, Rudolfs Macats, and Elizabeta Lace contributed to the recording.[15] The making of the album was captured in a documentary film.
Individual work
[edit]Jānis alongside his colleagues Rolands Peterkops and Reinis Semevics co-founded "Tirkultura" – a radio project dedicated to experimental and innovative music.
In 2015, Jānis collaborated with the Latvian musician Andris Indans (from Gas of Latvia) to create the composition Kompjūtergalva, performed by the Riga Cathedral Choir and men’s choir Gaudeamus at the Venice Biennale.[4]
His solo in Scott McAllister's Mercury on the Moon opened the annual Windstream festival in 2016.
In 2017, Jānis was invited by Katarina Henrysson of The Real Group, to have his voice featured in Marina Abramovic’s retrospective The Cleaner, exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm.[4] This later led to the creation of the choral improvisation ensemble The Core Singers, consisting of Jānis, Katarina Henrysson, Morten Winther, Linda Calerdahl, Jussi Chydenius and Soila Sariola. Since then, the group has given masterclasses and performed concerts elsewhere in Scandinavia.
In 2018, Jānis participated in the sculptor Liene Mackus's large-scale sculpture exhibition at the Dzintari Small Hall, collaborating with Katarina Henrysson, the choir Balsis, and the Voice Improvisation Ensemble from Sweden.[22] Together, they created a project titled Landscapes of Change: The Construction of Voices and Space.[23]
In 2019, Jānis participated in the concert program Origin, created by Iveta Apkalna and the Latgale Embassy GORS. The musicians collaboratively interpreted works by Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, J.S. Bach, David Lang, and showcased original music by Jānis.
In 2020, Krists Auznieks crafted the chamber opera Time Present, featuring Sinfonietta Riga Orchestra, conducted by Normunds Šne, and vocals by Jānis Šipkēvics. The opera premiered in 2021 as part of the festival Parmija, eventually earning Jānis Šipkēvics the Spelmanu nakts prize for his contribution.
In 2021, Jānis Šipkevics participated in the concert-theatre performance "Ziedonis. Lācis. Vīrieši." and the accompanying album release, both featuring music composed by Kārlis Lācis and lyrics by poet Imants Ziedonis.[24] Other contributors include musicians Intars Busulis, Renārs Kaupers, Jānis Aišpurs, as well as actors Andris Keišs, Artūrs Skrastiņš, and Kaspars Znotiņš.
Composing
[edit]In 2016, Jānis composed and performed "Ubi Caritas" at the International Sacred Music Festival with the State Choir “Latvija”.[4]
“Zenits,” a song performance by Jānis and Marts Pujats commissioned by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, premiered at the "LNSO Summer House 2017".[25] The song earned nominations for the 2017 Grand Music Award and the Latvian culture award “Kilograms kulturas”.[26][25]
The Latvian Centenary celebrations in 2018 opened with the multimedia performance "Patterns of Light" at the National Library of Latvia, featuring music by Jānis. For a project organised by the State Choir in honour of the Centenary, Jānis composed the song "Pievilkšanas speks".
Jānis composed "Letters from the Beginning," three miniatures for kokles ensemble, dedicated to both his grandmothers, and the artist Džemma Skulme.
In April 2019, Jānis, alongside musicians Kaspars Kurdeko and Matiss Cudars, composed the music for the ballet "Tell Me (No) Tales", earning the "Dance Award 2019-2020" for Ballet Production or Event. The music was recorded and released in 2021.
Jānis is currently crafting a tetralogy, "Tukšumi," for Quattro Baltica, with the first part, "Kaut no kurienes," premiering in 2019.
Music for theatre and film
[edit]In 2016, Jānis composed music for "Aspazija. Personigi" at the New Riga Theater. Valmiera Summer Festival in the same year showcased "Talavas Tauretajs," a costume and sound poem that Jānis co-created with "MAREUNROL'S," director Elmars Senkovs, and actor Gundars Abolinš.[4] The accompanying album was released in November 2021.
In 2019, Jānis co-wrote the title theme for the film "Nothing Will Stop Us".
In 2020, Jānis composed for "Zemdegas" at the Daile Theatre, directed by Dmitrijs Petrenko. Collaborating with Juris Strenga in 2021, they interpreted Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," composing six songs in the original language.
In 2021, he penned the soundtrack for the documentary "Against the Current," premiering in 2023.
In 2022, Jānis created music for the poetry performance "Eternal Cloud," directed by Mara Kimele, featuring poetry by Linards Tauns.
Discography
[edit]Shipsea
[edit]| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lielas cerības | Album |
| 2024 | Silta gaisma LIVE EP | EP |
| 2022 | Apgaismo mani | Album |
| 2015 | Shipsea EP | EP |
Instruments
[edit]| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ziemassvetkus | Album |
| 2024 | Runa Riga | Album |
| 2023 | Priecigus | Album |
| 2019 | Cilveks | Album |
| 2017 | Atkala | Album |
| 2015 | Double Aliens (Original Soundtrack) | Soundtrack |
| 2014 | Iekams | Album |
| 2013 | Procrastination | Album |
| 2011 | TRU | Album |
| 2009 | Pandemiya EP | EP |
Nepariet
[edit]| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Pari | Album |
| 2019 | Luk | Album |
DORA
[edit]| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Two Sides | Album |
Vocal Group Cosmos
[edit]| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Pasaki man un tev | Album |
| 2008 | Turbulence | Album |
| 2007 | Aiming for the Stars (Release in China) | Album |
| 2005 | Ticu un viss | Album |
| 2005 | Тетради любви | Album |
| 2005 | Pa un par | Album |
| 2003 | COSMOS | Album |
Other Releases
[edit]| Year | Title | Collaborators |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | (Ne)stasti man pasakas | Jānis Šipkēvics, Matiss Cudars, Kaspars Kurdeko |
| 2024 | Dienas darbi | Jānis Šipkēvics, Marts Pujats, Vokala studija “Siguldina” |
| 2021 | Zenits | Jānis Šipkēvics, Marts Pujats, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra |
| 2021 | Talavas tauretajs | Jānis Šipkēvics, Rudolfs Blaumanis, MAREUNROL’S |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "I am an old soul - Janis Šipkevics about his path of discovery in life and music". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Aula (2024-09-21). "Janis Šipkevics and the "Nepariet" project announce the autumn concert series!". Aula — bilešu tirdznieciba koncertiem, sporta pasakumiem, teatrim u.c. (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b c "Foto: Janis Šipkevics prezentejis mini albumu, aicina uz koncertiem un piedava singlu". www.delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Janis Šipkevics". www.opera.lv. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "In search of peace and discoveries of hope. A conversation with the musician Janis Šipkevica". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Between Latvia and Sweden - how Janis Šipkevics and his family found themselves in Stockholmphoto". Jauns (in Latvian). 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Musician Janis Šipkevics about life abroad".
- ^ ""Radio SWH" broadcast producer and founder of video and audio commercials Goldbergs has passed away".
- ^ "TV3 terminates cooperation with Šipkevica; what happened". nra.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Janis Šipkevics (Radio SWH) - Delfi temas". www.delfi.lv. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b c "Janis Šipkevics – Jurmalas festivals". Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Eduards (2024-08-23). "The group "Instrumenti" releases the new album "Runa Riga", which will be celebrated with a special concert in Riga Circus". Radio SWH (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "How newly hatched! The band "Instrumenti" talks about the new album "Runa Riga"". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Eduards (2024-05-29). "Listen! "Instrumenti" publishes a new song and video - "Tu ikriti mani"". Radio SWH (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b c "Sadness full of hope. A look at the opening of Shipsea's album "Great Expectations"". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Janis Šipkevics's first solo mini-album «Shipsea» is released". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Solo concert Shipsea. In Warm Light by Janis Šipkevics". Koncertzale "Latvija". Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Janis Šipkevics publishes the first song from the upcoming album".
- ^ Eduards (2024-05-26). "The album of the vocal studio "Siguldina" with the music of Janis Šipkevics and the poetry of Marta Pujats is on its feet". Radio SWH (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Janis Šipkevics. Apgaismo mani". Aiga Redmane. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ ""I wrote it when I got divorced." Šipkevics about the new album".
- ^ "At the Riga Festival, Janis Šipkevics and Reinis Zarinš will premiere Andras Dzeniš's series White Songs". www.diena.lv. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Latvian crossing points. Janis Šipkevics, Reinis Zarinš and Andris Dzenitis meet in music". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Evita. "Kārlis Lācis laiž klajā albumu ZIEDONIS. LĀCIS. VĪRIEŠI". www.muzikaspasaule.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ a b "Janis Šipkevits' song performance "Zenits" - about the magical world of school time". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "The biggest surprises of the year in the final of the "Kilograms kulturas" award". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-09-13.