I
Ainars Mielavs
(+ Jauns Mēness + Mielavs un Pārcēlāji)

About:

10 September 1960

Ainars Mielavs, born in 1960 in Riga, Latvia, is one of the most popular artists in Latvia. He is a singer-songwriter in the modern folk genre. He released several albums, both as a solo artist and together with other artists like Imants Kalniņš or in bands like Jauns Mēness (‘New Moon’) and Mielavs un Pārcēlāji. Mielavs has won seven Latvian Music Awards to this date.

Mielavs has evolved as a creative modern folk artist. His style is very distinctive: simple, straight forward melodies, an true and honest voice, an acoustic guitar and drums. And naturally there are great lyrics - poetic yet direct, sometimes critical regarding society, sometimes very witty and sometimes emotional.

From 1987 to 1999 he was lead singer of the group Jauns Mēness (‘New Moon’), which he founded together with Gints Sola. The group played Latvian folk-rock music, also refrerred to as ‘Baltic rock’. The group did not really have a constant line up, Mielavs and Sola were the constant factor. Jauns Mēness is one of the very few groups that started in the pre/soviet days and have managed to maintain popularity. In 1991 they visited the U.S.A. and performed on famous venues like New York's ‘CBGB's’ and Boston’s ‘Metro Cabaret’. Mielavs gradually became one of the most popular Latvian singers.

In 1997 he participated on the album ‘Par lietām, kuras tā arī nekad nepāriet’ (‘The things that never moves’) by Letvian legend Imants Kalniņš. It contained the popular song ‘Tā’ (‘It’) sung by Milevas in duet with Agnese Baroni. In 1999 he participated on Kalniņš’ album ‘I love you’ (entirely in Latvian language by the way).

In 1999 Jauns Mēness break up and Mielavs persued a solo career. In 2000 his first solo album was released, ‘Es nāku uz taviem smiekliem’ (‘I am coming to your laughter’). The album contained several popular songs and became a success, both commercial and artistic. It also contained a cover from the Waterboys song 'On my way to the big light' with guest perfromance from Mike Scott himself on vocalas and guitar. Mielavs won the Latvian Music Awards in 2000 in the category best pop & rock song.

In 2002 Mielavs released his second solo album ‘Ar dzimtenes sajūtu miegā’ (‘The feeling of home sleep’). At the same time it was released in Russion language as ‘С чувством родины во сне’. The song ‘Tu saviļņoji mani’ became very successful and won the Annual Award for best pop song and the best video clip. In 2003 Mielavs third solo album ‘Dzīvais porcelāns’ (‘Live porcelain’) was released, again both in a Latvian and a Russion edition.

In 2005, Ainars Mielavs and former Jauns Mēness members Gynt Sola and Juri Kroiču formed the group Mielavs un Pārcēlāji. That same year their first album, ‘Parunā ar sevi’ (‘Speak of yourself’), was released, followed by ‘Tad kad pasauli pārdos’ (‘Then, when the world will sell’) in 2006 and ‘Bezgalīga lēnā deja’ (‘Endless slow dance’) in 2008.

In 2009 they released the album ‘Nospiedumi’ (‘Prints’), which contained songs from writers that the group much admire. Among them, eastern authors like Boris Grebenshchikov, Mikael Tariverdijevs and Bulat Okudžava, but also songs from western composers like Cat Steven, Paul Simon, Gilbert Bécaud and even Dead Can Dance.

On the web:

- Official website of Mielavs un Pārcēlāji: http://www.parcelaji.lv

If you like this, you probably like... / european counterparts:

Pliatsikas, Filippo & Pyx Lax (Greece)

Joaquín Sabina (Spain)

What do we think:

PR: When you are in a Latvian music shop browsing through the cd's it is obvious that Ainars Mielavs - and the groups that he participated in - are very popular in this country. After getting some advise from the shop owner I bought several of his albums. And I have to admit: they are very good. I had to get used to the folky style, but after some time I really learned to appreceate the fine melodies and simple but fresh arrangements. It is music that really makes me happy and some of Mielavs songs have found a permanent spot on my i-Pod.

DB: When in Riga we raided the local record store browsing for Latvian artists. As PAUL ROYAL says it was obvious Mielavs is the big star over there. And the staff gave us the thumbs up for good taste (thank you). Mielavs has that darkbrown pleasant voice that would get him far if he was not born in the Baltic states. A poetic artist that deserves more international attention.

Albums:

With Jauns Mēness:

Aizlaid šaubas negaisam līdz - 1991

Izrāde spogulī - 1993

100 + 1 vēlēšanās - 1995

Sirdspukstu intervāls - 1996

♪♪♪ - Garastāvoklis - 1997

♪♪♪ - Dzīvotājs - 1998

With Imants Kalniņš:

♪♪♪♪ - Par lietām, kuras tā ar nekad nepāriet - 1997

♪♪♪ - I love you - 1999

Solo albums:

♪♪♪ - Es nāku uz taviem smiekliem - 2000

♪♪♪♪ - Ar dzimtenes sajūtu miegā / С чувством родины во сне - 2002

♪♪♪♪ - Dzīvais porcelāns / Живой фарфор - 2003

♪♪♪ - Koncerts Nacionālajā teātrī (live) - 2004

With Mielavs Un Pārcēlāji:

♪♪♪ - Parunā ar sevi - 2005

♪♪♪ - Tad, kad pasauli pārdos - 2006

♪♪♪♪ - Bezgalīga lēnā deja - 2008

♪♪♪ - Nospiedumi - Отпечаткио - Impressions - 2009

♪♪♪½ - Letviešu romances (with Karīna Tatarinova) - 2011

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided