“Very Cool People” and Paula Saija Release Folk-Electro-Jazz Single “Rikšiem” with New Video

“Very Cool People” together with singer Paula Saija have released a new single “Rikšiem”, which is not characteristic of the group so far, as well as its video.

It is kept in the traditions of classic folk-electro-jazz, with a roof and bass system, says Kaspars Zaviļeiskis, the band’s representative.

In the song, Laura Rosenberg, trombonist of the band “Very Cool People” joins Paula at the vocal microphone. From that moment on, Laura is known as MC Teicėju in the group.

“Rickshaws” is an ode to the strength and perseverance of human character,” comments MC Teicija. “For life to move forward and growth to happen, you have to take the reins in your own hands and just do it. Sometimes you have to leave the waiting for miracles to the world of fairy tales.”

“We were so inspired by the text and sound of the summer wedding folk song that we left the most effective accents from it in our version – the first two lines of the text and two measures of the original melody,” emphasizes Elvijs Graftsov, co-author of the arrangement and leader of “Very Cool People”.

The video of the song was made by Arvis Belov. The authors of the script are the group members themselves. The video is also made on the topic of marriages – the girls Paula and Laura with their trusty little boy – go on two-wheelers in the streets of Riga to look for grooms, meeting the most diverse stereotypes living in Latvia on the way.

“We are from Latvia and we are always very proud of it,” emphasizes Elvijs. “We have noticed that Latvian radio stations play our compositions the most during the summer solstice, so we wanted to reach even more people on the airwaves and focus at least a little on pseudo-folklore. It is a style in which our creative expressions in the direction of Latvian folklore are mixed with the most authentic folklore and the nineties dance music sound that’s back in vogue now!”

“Creating ‘Rikshis’ was a very exciting process for me, discovering new aspects of myself and my voice,” adds Paula Saija. “In the song, our own, Latvian, ethnic culture is of great importance, which this time acquired completely new colors.”

The song was created by Elvijs Graftsov, Māris Jēkabsons, Paula Saija, Laura Rozenberga and Jānis Kalve, using the motifs of the folk song “Rikšės bērīt’ es palaidu”. Producers are Elvijs Graftsovs and nineties dance and electronic music legend Jānis Kalve.

The song was recorded at “Very Cool Studio”, “Labo recording studio” and “Ciemupes Production”. The sound mix and master version was created by Jānis Kalve.