Singer Ivo Fomins went on his most ambitious Latvian concert tour so far “30 years on stage and in your hearts”, accompanied by guitarist Roberts Dinter.
The demand for concerts is so great that sometimes the group gives even two in one city. Consequently, there are more and more spectators who notice that one of the musicians is barefoot on stage, and this causes astonishment. The magazine “Kas Jauns” was no exception in this regard, having recently visited Fomin’s concert in Ulbrok.
The connection with Robert Ivo from Liepāja is long-standing – since making music together with Fēliks ĶiĶeli. Roberts was also present when Ivo’s first song “Vina raud” was written as a composer in 2006, which soon rose to the top of the charts. Since then, the two have been inseparable in creative life, although Robert as a multi-instrumentalist, “sound seeker” and producer also has his own independent projects, such as the release of a solo album, cooperation with the Liepaja theater and actress Karina Tatarinova, songwriting, which is evidenced by pandemics the composition “Our funeral” created during the time to highlight the problem of depression.
But, returning to bare feet, Roberts in a conversation with “Kas Jauns” reveals the reason for such a choice. “It happened a couple of years ago for a simple reason – Ivo and I played a concert in Sabile, and I had forgotten my shoes at home. Just that simple. I had come in flip-flops [iešļūcenēs]I didn’t want to go on stage like that, I decided – it’s better to be barefoot,” recalls Roberts.
“I feel very good, unusually free. I can feel the stage, how it sounds, I can hit the pedals more easily,” says Roberts. (Photo: from the archives of the Riga Vilnius publishing house)
With that, he liked being barefoot so much that the musician decided to be barefoot in the future. “After the concert, I realized that I feel very good, unusually free. I can feel the stage as it hums, I can hit the pedals more easily, especially now that I’ve changed to an effects pedal that has closer pods. It is practical and functional! Except for one time when I actually froze. That time we played on Rojas beach. In summer, besides. We started playing when it was still light and warm, but literally in the fourth song the sun went down and the stage got cold in an instant. Cold feet are terrible, but I am afraid that I will get pneumonia. Fortunately, I survived, I didn’t get sick, and since then I’ve been thinking about it – am I really not going to freeze,” says the guitarist.
Photo: from the archives of the Riga Vilnius publishing house
Realizing that “you have to be careful of this and that”, being barefoot, Roberts decided to walk around and explore the stage before the concerts. “I check if it’s not too cold, if there are no rough boards… And I’m a little sorry every time I’m forced to wear shoes on stage. I feel a little sad.” Asked if there were performances – filming, elaborate events – when being barefoot was forbidden, Roberts is negative. “It has not been so. I try to filter the events myself. I usually don’t discuss it and I don’t ask anyone if I can, I just go as it is, and there have been no problems… It’s even been the other way around when they say – I don’t want to see you on stage with shoes on,” laughs Roberts.
The musician has heard comments about himself that “Ivo’s guitarist should go and buy shoes”. Well, try it! Let’s whisper that his leg size is 44 and a half.
“I feel very good, unusually free. I can feel the stage, how it sounds, I can hit the pedals more easily,” says Roberts. (Photo: Publicity)
What does Ivo Fomin say about it?
“Yes, at first I was also surprised by it. But it has gotten so bad that seeing Roberta in shoes is no longer interesting. A lot of people said – Ivo, but give up and buy him shoes! But seriously, that’s Robert’s image. He has figured it out and is always barefoot on stage whenever possible.”
See other interesting news and events in the festive double issue of “Kas Jauns” magazine!
