10 Questions For: Normunds Rutulis

INTERVIEW

We start 2016 with a very special interview. This time, our trip is to Latvia, where we talked to one of the most important and awarded artists of the region. It was an honor for us to be able to have this chat with him, and we hope it is as enjoyable for you to read. These are our 10 questions for Normunds Rutulis:

Sounds European!: Tell us a bit about your history with music. What artists did you like to listen when you were growing up? What genres of music appealed to you? Do you see any influence of the music you used to listen then on your current work?

Normunds Rutulis: I grew up during the Soviet occupation of Latvia and I used every opportunity to listen to pop music. My mother is very musical and so was my late father. From early childhood, I took a liking to soulful great melodies, tuneful harmonies and accurate grooves. From that time period, one of my favorites was and still is Engelbert Humperdinck. Of course, my list of favorites has grown with me. When I first started to play drums at the age of 13, I also began thinking of making song arrangements in my head. But these arrangements I kept in my head, because I didn't learn this type of music in school, until I got to know computers. I discovered Jamiroquai, Simply Red, The Brand New Heavies, Al Jarreau and most of all Level 42. They are still my favorites. Nowadays, I've added many more to my list of favorites – Gregory Porter, Ed Motta, Incognito, Ole Børud, Random Soul, MAW and many more.

SE!: At what age did you start singing? Who were the first ones to acknowledge your talent with it? And how was the start of your professional career?

NR: Songs flew from my mouth since the day of my birth. I was already singing in a children's band at the age of five. One of the first songs that I sang was "Oh la paloma blanca" and various songs from the movie "The sound of music". After that, I sang in school choirs and, at the age of 13, I joined a band called The Stars Thieves. I was like two in one, both a drummer and a vocalist. As early as 1984, I was set on a musical career.

SE!: Let's talk a bit about your work. How many albums have you released by now? Do you keep count of how many songs you have recorded? And how would you describe and qualify the music you produce?

NR: Actually, all the work that I have done has been connected with music. At the age of 27, I became a radio DJ and, at the age of 30, I was a music producer. I've released eight solo albums, one greatest hits album, four albums in collaboration with Latvian iconic composer Raimonds Pauls. Just recently, I recorded an album with Swedish jazz pianist and arranger Hans Antehed. My debut album was released in 1998, and it was comprised of German schlager songs in Latvian. This is still my best selling album and it received gold album status in Latvia (20 thousand copies sold). The second album was much different and contained songs influenced by modern dance music, soul and pop. I never count how many songs I have recorded, but I know that I have released 50 radio singles. I am also proud that I am one of few Latvian soloists who has been awarded with ten Latvian Grammies (then called Latvian Music Records Awards and now Golden Microphone Awards).

SE!: We are always very impressed with the refinement of your music. Is it an objective of yours to make songs which are sophisticated?

NR: It is very nice to know that. Thanks! Yes, I am very scrupulous about music. I like refined things and as I told you before, I like great grooves. The most important things in music are harmony, groove and melody. And this is not my objective, but a necessity.

SE!: How is it to produce music in a country which, for European proportions, is not that big? Is it necessary for Latvian artists to try to expand territories to be able to make a living out of music?

NR: Yes, we are a small but very musically rich folk. Show business here is simple enough. Just make music and let it flow. Of course, charisma is a very important attribute for an artist. And thank God, I have that! Unfortunately, to survive, music is not enough. That is why most musicians have other jobs, even if they have no qualifications to do those other jobs. This makes our music market a little different.

"The most important things in music are harmony, groove and melody. And this is not my objective, but a necessity"
(Picture: official Facebook page)

SE!: You are currently on an international project along Katrīna Cīrule, who is also Latvian, and the Swedish group Hans Antehed Quartet. How did you get to know them? And how did you guys decide to work together?

NR: Hans Antehed already has three Latvian music projects. His latest project is together with myself and Katrina. Hans was looking to find a way to collaborate with me and he found it. Hans is a very musical and talented musician, who fell in love with a Latvian girl (now his wife for 15 years) and with Latvian music. He knows Latvian greatest songs very well, including folk songs. His passion to perform these songs brought us together. And finally, we produced an album and toured with 15 concerts in Latvia and two concerts in Sweden.

SE!: We know this collaboration with Katrīna and the Quartet isn't your first collective project. Can you tell us more about previous works you developed together with other people?

NR: That's right. Three of my albums were in cooperation with Kristaps Krievkalns, who arranged material and administrated the recording process. From 2004 to this recent album with Hans, I've recorded other albums and played concerts with my friends, in a band called Slavenais Rīgas Orķestris (Famous Riga Orchestra). The group members included Roberts Rasa on bass, Anrijs Grinbergs on drums, Māris Ozols on keyboards and Uldis Beitiņš on guitar. Additional backing vocals were supplied by singing trio Limonāde and the brass quintet was part of the Mirage Jazz Orchestra. 70% of the repertoire was composed by Raimonds Pauls. The remaining part was by different Latvian composers. I also wrote two songs, but that's not my main business. In addition to that, I've produced soulful house music with the nickname N'Works, which means Normunds's Works. N'Works released two remix albums: "N.O.A." (2014) and "Double B tonality" (2009), which received the Latvian Music Records Award for the best dance music album of 2009.

SE!: What are your plans for the future? What can we expect from you in a near time?

NR: I have ten new songs written by Latvian guitarist Ingus Feldmanis. Hopefully, I will find an opportunity to start to arrange and record these songs. By the end of April, we will be on a concert tour. I also have some unfinished remixes.

SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Latvian and international artists you'd like to collaborate with?

NR: I would like to collaborate with any artist with my kind of music style. From Disclosure to Michael Bublé. I hope my dream comes true!!!

SE!: We would like to post a song of yours to close this interview. What is your favorite song of yourself, and why?

NR: I have a lot of favorite songs, but I would like to introduce you to N'Works, my alter ego. This is my remix and arrangement of popular Latvian pianist of the '80s Harry Bash. I made a remake of his song "Another time" with new vocals by Aminata Savadogo, Līva Dumpe and myself. I like the original track very much and tried to give it more groove and disco elements. I like this kind of style. I hope you will like it too!