Latvia | Normunds Rutulis - "Ļauj man tevi noskūpstīt"

RECENT

Latvian star Normunds Rutulis has recently released a new single. We are talking about "Ļauj man tevi noskūpstīt". It's a smooth song with classy instruments and a very cool jazz-infused melody.

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis - "Saulaina diena"

BRAND NEW

It's always a pleasure to listen to new songs by Normunds Rutulis. So we couldn't be more excited when we learned he has released "Saulaina diena". And it totally fulfilled our expectations: it's a fresh song with an enjoyable ambience, built by great instrumentals. Normunds's amazing voice fills it all in a perfect way.

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis - "Pantu panti"

BRAND NEW

Latvian artist Normunds Rutulis is back with a new single. And we are totally into it! "Pantu panti" is a song which is set to entertain whoever listens to it, from its very first second until the end.

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis - "Ziņģe par mīlu"

BRAND NEW

It's time to go to Latvia, and check what's new with Normunds Rutulis! He has just released "Ziņģe par mīlu", and we are fully in love. It's a captivating electropop song with a very marking chorus.

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis feat. Mixmaster AG and Anmary - "Kāršu azarts"

RECENT

Meeting of Latvian stars! Normunds Rutulis has gathered with Mixmaster AG (one of the most important DJs from Latvia) and Anmary (stage name of Linda Dinsberga, born in Gulbene in 1980; Latvian representative on Eurovision in 2012) for a great single. It's "Kāršu azarts", an energetic and very involving electropop.

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis - "1-2-3"

BRAND NEW

We have travelled all accross Europe showing you the sounds of the summer in several countries. And now, it's time to meet one from Latvia! Our dear friend Normunds Rutulis has it with "1-2-3", a guitar-driven pop with a very fresh groove and which will surely keep you shaking your bones along!

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!

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis feat. Hans Antehed Quartet and Katrīna Cīrule - "Dzel manī sauli"

RECENT

It's time to remeet the Latvian singer Normunds Rutulis, who is now with a new project named Vēstule Meitenei. For it, he's gathered with Katrīna Cīrule, from Riga, and the Swedish group Hans Antehed Quartet, from Uppsala. Their most recent single, entitled "Dzel manī sauli", is pure enjoyment. Refinement and quality wrapped with beautiful voices and instrumentals!

Latvia | Lana Frančeska feat. Normunds Rutulis - "Jauna diena"

RECENT

Lana Frančeska was born in Riga and is developing a quite interesting music career in Latvia. Her latest release features Normunds Rutulis (who was featured before with "Kā pirmo reiz"), and is a quite unique track: "Jauna diena" is all Latin-influenced. Arriba!

Latvia | Normunds Rutulis - "Kā pirmo reiz"

BRAND NEW

From Riga, in Latvia, to the world, the 42-year-old Normunds Rutulis has a very classy tune to offer us. His "Kā pirmo reiz" is an amazing mix of orchestral instrumentation, Normunds's great voice and a choir of very good backing vocalists.