An intriguing application with a versatile offer
The summer of this year marks exactly ten years since the musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jānis Šipkēvics dared to go on a musical quest, calling his sonic expedition solo project Shipsea. In honor of this event, on June 6 and 7, the opening of the new album “Great Expectations” will be celebrated, as well as the release of a documentary short film, and these concerts will also open the season of concert events at the KK von Strick villa. To intrigue the listeners, the first composition from the upcoming album – “I Carry Your Heart” has already been released. It was inspired by the poetry written in 1952 by the American poet and painter Edward Estlin Cummings. It is recommended to listen to this while watching the video version of the song, as it will get you into the mood of the Shipsea project much more accurately.
The first and only time ten years ago
It seems that such a project has existed and has been operating for years, the reason being that Jānis presented his other masterpieces to the listeners under the Shipsea sign, including ambitious concert events with the program name “Siltā gaismā”. This, however, is a completely different story for Shipsea. The album “Great Expectations” will include compositions created ten years ago at the “Milk Festival” in the “Ziemeļblāzma” cultural palace, when the musical union met for the first time, which performed only once and at that time premiered its own songs – guitarist Matīss Čudars, master of percussion instruments Ivars Arutjunyans, master of keys Rudolphs Macats, divine harpist Elizabeta Lāce and excellent cellist Lennart Heindels. “This year, after ten years, guided by memories and musical synergy, the musicians have reunited to record and release an album of experimental pop music.”
“When on June 8, 2014 we met for the first time on the same track in such a composition – with high hopes, unfinished songs, open minds, it seems that the world was different, and so were we. Significant changes took place in me at that time – both in my personal life and musically. Like every crisis, this one was also an opportunity to become something new, risky and life-affirming. What we started then is being completed now. And it will probably always continue,” says Jānis Šipkēvics in the official explanation to the media.
Amazing openness about past events
On the other hand, on the social network Facebook account, Shipsea is even more direct and open about the mentioned June 8 concert – so direct and open that it would be a sin not to quote it in full: “It was the concert where I was the least prepared for what would happen to me. The whole time was complete madness and beauty at the same time. What Bruka intended, dissolved the beliefs, messed up “Instrumenti” and my relationship, but against the background of all this, as always, crises bring unprecedented revelations to you. And the courage to do what you could never do. At such moments, we tend not to flinch suddenly, jump out with a parachute, get heartily drunk, tattoo three blue stripes, cut off the “zero”, and finally say something. And I did some of this and everything else during that time. But next to all that, I also waded into some really unusual musical waters.”
“I went where I felt completely awkward, I tried to just go somewhere to stay afloat and continue to be. I was ready to let go of the fear of improvised music, much more daring to allow myself to do with the piano, with my voice. I allowed myself to approach creating music more freely. In general, I dared to look at my always, in my opinion, messy compositions as something potentially valuable. Because there was no choice – it was the only thing I had left, the only thing that was really mine.”
“Perhaps I still had my body left, but it was also very funny at that time – I experienced a kind of spilling out of my usual body, I had frighteningly stepped out of my previous self and my past as well. And it was probably the famous vegetative dystonia on top of everything, but it was also something very, very beautiful at the same time.”
Šipkēvics and Sejana will return to “Arena Riga”
Here’s how harsh winds of contradictions, as it turns out, tore at Jānis’ soul, besides, he finally said out loud what there were completely justified suspicions about at the time, that is, “Instrumenti fell apart”. Fortunately, it didn’t fall apart, and now the group has announced a concert. Rūna Rīga”, which will take place on October 26 in “Arena Rīga”, strengthening this application with the song “I like”.
“Instrumenti” is currently working on new songs, and “Man përë” was the third single from the upcoming album “Rīga Speaks” – its title song was second in the already mentioned “Golden Microphone” in two nominations, after last year’s undoubted favorite song “Rocket Science”. It is scheduled to be released in the second half of this year. “In my life, Tools is a workshop of miracles. That’s why I’m so happy to meet again in this music, this feeling and this energy. And the arena suits the songs that we have created for the new album so much,” states Jānis Šipkēvics. It should be reminded that for the first time “Instrumenti” gathered a full arena at the end of 2011 as part of the concert series of their debut album “TRU”, but after that the group’s big concerts took place in the Mežaparks Great Stage and in the “Daugavas” stadium.
Reinis Sējāns agrees: “Songs often come to us complete with a vision of how they sound and look on a huge stage in front of many thousands, and Arena Rīga appears very often in our visions, because this place is an extremely important stopping point in the life of “Instruments” . About ten years ago, we experienced an unforgettable concert in the overcrowded “Arena Rīga”, in which we were convinced that we must return there one day. And that day is coming.”
Currently living in Sweden, but ready to return
Currently, Jānis Šipkēvics, aka Shipsea, is studying contemporary music production at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm, where he moved with his wife and two children at the end of summer last year, is learning Swedish and often travels to Latvia (relatively often seen in concerts), however, for the magazine “Privatā Dzīve” admitted that he could not really feel at home in the foreign land. “Yes, it was enough for me to throw myself into the abalone, now I’m learning to swim in other waters. Even though the fatigue has accumulated, I am aware that it is only two years after which I will have achieved the goal of my life – having learned the essence of sound, production. It can be tolerated,” says Shipsea conciliatoryly. And most importantly – the musician is sure that he will definitely return to Latvia after his studies!
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2024-04-14 05:26:15
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