Velga Vitola: “Sirdsdziesma” is just one of the contests you participated in, what spirit made you challenge?
Sandris Dubov: It is an opportunity to show my musical skills, because I prepare hard, so I can get good results.
I’m actually an aspiring musician.
Maturity has already come to feel good on stage.
What was the first race?
High school music teacher Valmiera Viestura encouraged me to learn music well, I also won 1st place in the Olympics, she gave me confidence. That’s how I applied for the “Young Stars” contest. There was a great excitement, because Viktors Lapchenok, Margarita Vilcāne and other legends were on the jury, but I was inspired by the fact that I had prepared well, I had learned everything and it was time to show my best.
You also performed in the cult contest of enthusiastic Latvian singers “Song for my generation”
Yes, the accompaniment was played by the group “The Favorable Type”, I was 16 and I performed the song “Courtesy’s Bonfire” by “Dakota”.
Such a serious teenage song!
I had bought the album “Dakota” and I really liked the song, and it was also the moment I started performing at parties where everyone wanted to hear the song.
You also participated in the TV show “Koru Kari”.
Once with the “Cēsus White Moon Choir” directed by Ingus Ulmanis, but we quickly finished the competition, the second time with the “Cēsus Karmīnkrāsa Koroga Choir” and Marta Kristianas Kalniņas, then we won 2nd place, conceding only to Normunds Zuš and the “Rēzekne Green Hills Choir”.
The second time around, I wasn’t stressed that much and everything was fine. We went to Priekuļi Culture House every night, we had to not only sing, but also prepare the choreography. We got home around three in the morning, but we were happy with what we had done.
You play the trumpet and the trombone, how did you choose your instruments?
The same teacher from the Visiting School noticed my passion for music, so he suggested that I try to learn to play the trumpet at the music school, but after a while it became clear that it was quite difficult for me to play in the upper register. , so I had to switch to playing the trombone. At first I was not happy with it, tears were also falling, but I have overcome the moment of weakness and now I am happy.
Have you always dreamed of becoming a professional musician?
I had two choices: to become a professional footballer or a musician.
Maybe my mother, who is a Latvian language teacher, also played a role, I probably saw the pedagogue’s line too. Now I work at the Valmiera Music School as a teacher and conductor. For a while I was also the director of the Mazsalaca brass band and it was an honor to prepare the band for the Song and Dance Festival in Mežapark, it was a great challenge.
Sandris Dubov
Photo: From a private archive
So your mother, being a teacher, must have looked after you and maybe even trained you properly in your studies?
Well yes, the parents were rigorously educated. In childhood there was an orderly regime.
Have you ever been scolded by your parents as a child?
I was able to get it from my father when my brother and I arrived home an hour later than we had agreed. Once I got double in math my dad and mom were also very angry …
But where has football gone?
I still play football with my colleagues, it’s a nice relaxation after a long day at work. In ten years we have been more champions of the Valmiera amateur championship. However, music plays a central role in life.
When did you start dreaming of your first solo album?
In 2016 I had the opportunity to go to the successful Bīriņi festival, film the songs, which were then broadcast on TV, and meet like-minded musicians.
When I wrote the song “On this day”, I realized that I wanted to release an album, it was my springboard.
This also happened! Two years later, on my birthday, my first solo album was released.
Why do you write songs specifically about love?
Love inspires people.
Are you a romantic by nature?
Yup!
irrecoverable?
I am a dreamy romantic!
What music do you listen to?
I have a large collection of CDs. I listen to rock, pop and also foreign and Latvian hits. In the fall, I like to listen to something more alternative: “Satellites LV”, “Zig Zag”, etc. So such a state of mind.
But what’s your favorite season?
I like the summer because then the teachers have eight weeks of vacation.
Who is Sandris Dubov at home?
I like watching TV shows, cooking stews. I also like taking 10,000 steps.
So when the bell rings on the phone on the number of steps completed, is the task completed?
Yup! Goal achieved!
Do you sing in the shower too?
Not at home, but if I go to the SPA I sing because the acoustics are better there. In the past I worked at the Omite: the Valmiera water pipe had the best acoustics, I loved singing there.
Do you sing at parties, what have you observed, what songs do Latvians like?
They used to be slow songs, but now people like bouncy tunes that can be danced in circles. After the pandemic, everyone wants to have fun. My audience is varied, recently an 18 year old guy approached me on the street and told me that he really likes my new song “There is still nothing”. I was on break!
If you could throw a party for yourself and you could afford whatever your heart desires, what would it be?
The party will take place by the sea, so that anyone who wants to can also swim. I would sing “My Song” and “Between Two Suns” with Renard Kauper.
Is there a life event or turning point that changed you in one day?
By the time my daughter was born, she is already 15 years old. She had to become responsible. My daughter did not follow in my footsteps: she likes drawing and dancing more.
Many may not even know that you sometimes play and sing in services at Old St. in Gertrude parish. How did you meet God?
I like going to church on Sundays. I am a person of faith, God is guiding me towards the events I have experienced.
My inspiration is Pastor Krists Kalniņš, the Praise Ensemble gave me satisfaction. Thanks to my grandmother, the church has been there since she was a child.
How do you see yourself in 10 years? What do you want to accomplish?
I want to win one of the seasons of “Latvijas Sirdsdziesmas”, enter Latvian Radio 2’s list of most played songs and start a family, but I would like to do it sooner.
