Rīga, January 26, 2024 – Latvia’s post-folklore scene is kicking off the year with a vibrant energy, as the band “Rikši” celebrates 15 years of weaving customary Latvian sounds into a modern tapestry. The group, known for their innovative approach to folklore, recently marked the milestone with an anniversary concert titled “On five.”
A Fifteen-Year journey of Sound and Spirit
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“Folklore is like friendship, it needs to be cultivated, and through that cultivation, both lifestyle, wisdom, and values become right,” say the members of “rikši.” The group, largely formed from childhood friendships within the folklore group “Vīteri,” currently consists of five musicians – Ēriks Zeps, Madara Brolišs, Ivars Utāns, Mārcis Lipskis, and jurgis Lipskis – and boasts at least five instruments, all showcased in their “On five” anniversary concert.
The Story behind the Name
The band’s unique name,”Rikši,” emerged organically from a deep dive into Latvian folk songs. As Ēriks Zeps explains, “We were chewing through the book of folk songs, and someone mentioned the word ‘truopa.’ Fate intervened when we came across the song ‘Rikšei fun’ – we read ‘rikši’ – yes. It felt like a sign, a life finger pointing us in the right direction.”
From Albums to a New Generation
“Rikši” has released three albums to date: “First first” (2014), “Sieju sēju” (2016), and “trickly!” (2020). They are currently working on a fourth album, a shift in focus reflecting a change in priorities.Madara Brolišs shares, “The fourth album will be specifically for children, as the time came when children started being born. Life changes, priorities shift, and we began playing songs that interested children.”
A Maturing Viewpoint
Over the past 15 years, the musicians have not only honed their musical skills but also deepened their values and sense of humor. Ivars Utāns notes, “We’ve started thinking more, things have changed in fifteen years.Now we approach things with more awareness, otherwise you can stumble.”
Preserving and Promoting Latvian Folklore
Speaking to the broader landscape of post-folklore in Latgola and Latvia, Ēriks Zeps highlights the importance of education, stating, “In Rezekne, there’s a Traditional Music Department at the music secondary school where you can learn this music.”
He emphasizes the enduring relevance of folklore, adding, “No matter how much we think a folk song is tucked away in Daina’s closet, it’s right here.Folklore is a collection of lifestyles, worldviews, the Latvian perspective on the world, on nature, on our surroundings, how we’ve researched, how we communicate, and the values we’ve known for centuries through folklore. We don’t even realize we are products of all our grandparents’ and grandmothers’ opinions, and we can’t escape that.”
What exactly *is* post-folklore? It’s a modern take on traditional Latvian folk music, blending ancient melodies and lyrical themes with contemporary instrumentation, arrangements, and often, a healthy dose of irony and self-awareness.
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