Textures: A Journey of Soulful Music and Personal Fulfillment

“Music is my home. It is a place where I feel absolutely free and alive. Being around and inside music gives me an indescribably beautiful feeling and fulfillment. To me, playing music means interacting on a soulful level, letting the spirit breathe freely,” admits Kristīne Prauliņa, whose latest musical peak is the album “Textures”.

Learning to find a balance

“I started singing in the Riga Gospel Choir at the age of 12. I was little there long enough beep sound, which is just looking for its place in the chorus. Freedom and voice came later. I started my professional path in music only in 2013, at the age of 22. Now I continue to study every day». The talented musician says that the album, as well as the composition of the group «The Soulful Crew», is the fulfillment of a life dream, as well as the beginning of a new path. “There was a break between recording and releasing the album. With the arrival of the baby, everything changed in my life. Outwardly, the rhythm of the day and daily priorities have changed, at the same time great joy and a feeling of deep fulfillment of personal life have come. There is a different sense of time. It seems that it has become twice as valuable. I don’t want to spend a moment of myself on what I’m doing. Things, people, events that I don’t feel, that I don’t believe in, as well as unnecessary emotions – towards myself and towards the world. Now I can safely say that I am a different person than the one who wrote these songs and sang this album. In the songs of the “Textures” album, I have put my sense of the world, my outlook, my search for peace and my desire to continue moving, believing that we don’t even realize how big mountains we are capable of climbing. I hope that this album will inspire someone or give them a much-needed break. Maybe it will help someone to overcome a difficulty, someone to develop internal reflection. I hope this music will serve people in a truly live way. In addition, now more than ever I am aware of who I am and where my path leads. I believe that the best is yet to come. But currently, life is divided into two halves: professional development, which includes such things as social network management, planning, as well as leadership in a choir and a group, as well as, of course, singing as such, jobs – smaller, bigger. And then there is the other side – home life, the role of a mother, where it is so important to be truly present, conscious, to devote real care and attention to that little bunny. I am learning to find that balance and do both things well. Pregnancy was a very static time for me, because at the same time there was also a covid lockdown and I very rarely met anyone other than my husband. Initially I enjoyed it, but in the end I really missed human contact, exchange of experiences, especially, of course, the musical interaction that takes place in rehearsals and concerts. Therefore, I am madly searching for both music and life in general. Through this experience, I learned to admire and love my body, my mind, my life attitude, my soul. I learned to let go of the superfluous and stick to the important. I spent a lot of time in meditation, prayers, and walks.”

The presence of the maestro is inspiring

When asked about making music with Raymond Paula, the singer admits that this is a big question, although a lot has already been asked about it and a lot has been answered. “Maestro is a very inspiring person, both professionally and in a purely human sense. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play music with him, to play in music. True, live music has this miraculous ability to unleash that simple inner soulful person within us, and it has been my greatest pleasure and honor to share such live musical moments with the Maestro. It goes beyond any titles for me, even human qualities. I learned a lot from Maestro. The importance of professionalism in every detail. How important is communication, the environment you create around yourself, – a positive, easy atmosphere in the work environment. He was always direct, positive and respectful in his dealings with me. I learned from the Maestro that it is important to think about the listener and give him both what he wants and what he needs, and that as musicians we seek and play this balance all our lives. And the fact that you have to know who you are and why you do what you do, because only then can you be consistent in your actions, in your sound, as well as the fact that great professional achievements come with a huge amount of work and an endless flow of work, planning. In the life of a maestro, after each completed project comes the next, again and again new collaborations, ideas, gusts. It gives liveliness to him, refreshes the environment around him and ultimately brings great joy to the listeners, to the entire nation of Latvia. Also, thinking about what it takes to make it to the big stage, I can say that these days it seems that being distinctly musical or talented is not that important. We live in a time when people have accustomed themselves to fast, loud, bright information that instantly gives the much-desired doses of good hormones. We are masters of lying to ourselves, trying to replace real emotions and experiences with small ones for plastic emotion pills in the form of jingles, funny videos and beautiful pictures. Living in such a world, it is more and more common to feel that true, soulful, fragile beautiful things are no longer seen or appreciated, the loud, obvious and superficial things are buzzing all around. Consequently, what, in my opinion, should be the most important thing in music, the music itself, its life, emotion, soulful significance, spiritual values, apparently becomes insignificant, invisible. On the other hand, trivial texts, emotions, cheapness, vulgarity float to the surface and bask in the sun of fame. This same chain makes quality and musicality irrelevant. The main thing is to have that quick, sticky emotion in, Is not it so? You must be either intelligent enough or confident enough. And you have to know how to work. Also, in my opinion, the healthy way is not to put breakout as its main focus. I like the saying that I often repeat to myself «The main thing, let the main thing be the main thing». I believe that the motivation and higher purpose with which we do anything in our lives has a great, guiding meaning. And it is very important to keep yourself focused on what are your priorities in life. There will always be a sea of ​​opinions around, including within ourselves – emotions, storms of circumstances, but only by clearly knowing your foundation and meaning can you do great, inspiring things. I would like to hope that the main thing for a musician is music. And Latvia, in my opinion, is a distinctly creative country with many bright talents to shine all over the world. Latvian music still has everything ahead of it, new colors and breadth are unleashed every year.»

Music is a calling

“I don’t know why, but it seems that someone once sowed the seed of a blues tree in my veins… And most of all, the love of gospel music has blossomed in me. This music is still stirring ants, soulful excitement, spiritual fulfillment, like nothing else in this world. Soul music is right there, close. Although in the past, thoughts came to me that I should throw music aside. I often emotionally burn out – after every high mountain came an emotional pit. There are moments when it is difficult to see the meaning of what I do. Whether it be in gospel music with a choir, or in soul music with “The Soulful Crew” (which are the two leading collectives of my life, in which I am the leader and in which I put my whole heart), – from the beginning there has been a sense of pioneers here in Latvia. And of course it still is. Purely human, it is often difficult to push and push, pass new projects, songs, concert ideas over and over again, giving yourself everything and then finding yourself at the starting point again. Wish it wasn’t! Every step leads to something new, but all the time there is that feeling – you have to dig, dig, dig, because this is not only what I do, but who I am. Then it is logical that sometimes it is difficult psychologically, you have to let it all go, give it to God and find strength in Him for the further journey. The good news is that He never disappoints. However, at that time I had not yet fully realized the deeper meaning of music in my life. Now I just know that music is my calling and I want to serve it all my life. But its burning out and renewal again is in a way a natural course of human nature. Usually, such stages come with their own reflections and insights, which ultimately strengthen and continue to lead in the right direction. I’m on the right track and doing what I need to do. Storms and hardships are necessary for me to truly appreciate and be passionate about what I do. To continue to do from the heart, with fire, not for applause and praise. Strengthened by God’s promises. However, speaking about my childhood, I know that I wanted to be like Anatolys Kreipans – our legendary sports commentator. I was sure that he knew everything. I still think so. I am one of those people who easily indulge in not so positive thoughts, and a monotonous life makes me extremely boring. It is necessary to move in order to have colors in life. And the more you paint, the more colorful the whole environment becomes. Be it sports, conversation, music, creative process, exchange of ideas, planning, time in nature, relaxation, reading a book – any kind of positive movement of body, mind or soul is the greatest source of joy in life. Also, I can be very strict and categorical, which is not always appropriate, but I know that these very qualities help me to be a good leader. I would say that my strong point is confidence and determination, but other times it prevents me from seeing the wishes of others and being properly empathetic. Other times I’m too emotional and feel like I’m in the dark roller coasterbut I know that this very breadth of the spectrum of feelings allows me to create songs and sing them with such deep feeling.»

«Gratitude is the key to happiness»

“I have had several important life teachers, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for each of them. Parents – Ieva and Jānis Prauliņi. Simple, intelligent people for whom faith is the guiding principle of life. Brothers – Jānis Āboliņš and Roberts Kārlis Prauliņš. Robert is especially instrumental in my development as a person, growing up and now, as an important part of the support team both in planning and as a graphic designer and just always reliable the rear. Raili Orrava was my first and only vocal teacher, a brilliant, (in a good way) crazy woman. Artis Orubs noticed me and introduced me to the first big opportunities in my professional career. Kärlis Vanags believed in me and has given me many great platforms and opportunities. Maestro Raymond Paul, of course, has given me the greatest school of professional development. My husband Tom Lisment has been a driving force, an inspiration, personally and in every other way. At the moment, my biggest teachers are Donald Lawrence and the global family of gospel music, and “The Soulful Crew” group, through whom and with whom we grow and develop everyday. I am also grateful for life as such, for the breath that is in me. It comes with so many different possibilities, no matter what difficulties we go through. In addition, the pandemic and the war have made me personally value the relationships, the people in my life much more closely. How powerful it is to do things together, dream together and experience life together. Speaking of the insights I have come to understand. First, life is beautiful if we choose to look at it that way. Second, we each shape the environment we are in and the life we ​​live. Third, gratitude is the key to happiness. And fourthly, music is a sacred language, the less your ego will be in it, the more clearly God will be able to use you.”

2023-07-09 16:41:27
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