Latgale band "Nu munys sātys" presents debut album of folk songs recorded in Līvāni municipality
The six-member band "Nu munys sātys" presented its debut album of the same name on 30 October at the Turki community hall in Līvāni municipality, Latvia. The album contains only folk songs recorded in the municipality, with arrangements made by the band members themselves.
On Friday, 30 October, the band "Nu munys sātys" presented its first album at the Turki community hall in Līvāni municipality, in Latvia's Latgale region. The album shares the band's name and features folk songs recorded exclusively in Līvāni municipality, with arrangements created by the band's own members. The release concert was the first full concert the band has organised this year.
Who plays in the band
The band has six members: Jānis Māsāns (vocals), Ingus Paeglis (kokle, drums, vocals), Rita Rubene (flute, vocals), Jānis Daugavietis (accordion), Rēzija Māsāne (mandolin, vocals) and Madara Māsāne (violin, vocals). The group has performed before, but the Turki concert was the first of this scale this year.
Ingus says the band came together from people who were already making music somewhere or wanted to. He thanked Rēzija and Madara, who encouraged the others to join.
How the idea came about
Madara says everything began with Rēzija's idea to record an album. At school, Rēzija had studied project writing and management, and the assignment was to prepare an application to the State Culture Capital Foundation. That application did not work out, but her father, Jānis Māsāns, who also plays in the band, mentioned that small grant projects are also administered by the Preiļi–Līvāni municipalities partnership. Only a few days remained before the deadline, but the application was written and submitted, and word later came that it had been approved.
Rita admits that almost all members had played together before, including in the folklore ensemble "Turki", which is still active. The band was formed so that its members could express themselves more freely than a folklore ensemble allows, as such groups must stay close to authenticity. The band does not plan to perform ditties or hit songs, focusing instead on ethnic music.
The album and what's next
The album is available only in digital form. Asked whether a physical release might follow, the members joked that anyone who wants one can invite them over. The band does not intend to stop at a single album. Ingus says they currently perform a 16-song repertoire, and the selection criteria were that songs had been recorded or sung in Līvāni municipality and that the members liked them. Jānis Māsāns says they want others to hear how songs are sung in this area.
