Unfurling a magical, hypnotic aural universe, New York-based jazz vocalist and composer Arta Jēkabsone builds an aural experience that’s incredibly heartwarming and euphoric, a nugget of fable-like charisma delivered by folklore-driven vocals and cathartic choirs. Threading the fine line between folk and jazz sensibility, ‘Dziesmu Kamoliņš (Garland of Songs)’ packs eleven wondrous and elegant pieces, all written by Jēkabsone in the Latvian language, yet with a global appeal.
Rallying a talented lineup of musicians from all around the world, the award-winning Latvian hero pens a record that’s personal and reflective, yet expansive and relatable. The focus is on folk as a cultural movement, and the way that traditional songs are passed down generation after generation. In doing so, the material often morphs and evolves, deeply influenced by each specific moment in time. Such a meaningful ethos seeks to celebrate Jēkabsone’s own Baltic roots, but with a modern, Western twist. We suspect that living in a culturally rich city like New York has played a pivotal role in that.
Delving deeper into the album, Arta Jēkabsone explains: “It’s not only a musical tribute to Latvia’s cultural heritage, but it’s also an invitation to experience Latvian folk songs through a new and borderless lens.” The record has been supported by the Latvian Foundation and the Culture Fund and Council of the World Federation of Free Latvians.
Recommended! Discover ‘Dziesmu Kamoliņš (Garland of Songs)’ on Spotify:
