Prāta Vētra in Kuldīga: Pre-concert anxiety never disappears, but group support helps
In an interview with Kurzemnieks, the band Prāta Vētra (Brainstorm) reveals that stage fright is a constant companion, but mutual backstage encouragement helps overcome it. They also share Kuldīga anecdotes and name the collaboration album with Gustavo, “Tur kaut kam ir jābūt,” as the most difficult to produce.
Ahead of their July 18 concert in Liepāja, the band Prāta Vētra met with Kurzemnieks at the Adatu Factory in Kuldīga. In the conversation, the musicians admitted that nervousness before every performance, regardless of size, is ever-present. Renārs Kaupers said he feels on edge a week before a show and resorts to deep breathing. Māris Mihelsons shared advice from Gustavo to ask oneself why one is nervous, but it offers only temporary relief. Kaspars Roga noted that anxiety is natural – if it disappears, the artist should step off stage, citing Raimonds Pauls as an example. Jānis Jubalts experiences it as unease that vanishes once he steps on stage.
The band emphasized that working as a team and encouraging each other backstage is a major advantage over solo artists. After concerts, Jānis Jubalts struggles to sleep due to adrenaline, comparing it to hockey player Artūrs Irbe's habit of weightlifting after games.
The upcoming Liepāja concert was described as a grand music festival for both the band and the audience. They expressed special joy about collaborating with singer Fiņķis – his father was the band’s physical education teacher in Jelgava, and his sister was a classmate. The song “Dārznieks” features Kuldīga native Toms Mikāls, whom Kaupers praised as an excellent keyboardist and friend.
Sharing memories of Kuldīga, Jānis Jubalts recalled a summer incident at the Ventas Rumba where a bride's shoe fell into the water, rescued by both a surfer and the groom. Renārs Kaupers recounted a 1990s episode when their old car “Pobeda” lost its brakes in Kuldīga, spinning in the central square until it stopped. He also commended Kuldīga for preserving its wooden window frames.
Regarding tour geography, the band typically plays five concerts in Latvia: Rīga, Jelgava, Latgale, Vidzeme, and Kurzeme, with Liepāja becoming the tour finale in recent years. Māris Mihelsons noted that accommodation capacity is a key factor in choosing venues.
The musicians named the album “Tur kaut kam ir jābūt,” made with Gustavo, as the most difficult, taking nine months with rare studio sessions. Kaupers mentioned that they have recently focused on the album “Veronika” in their sets due to audience demand.
Asked about unusual gifts, Renārs recalled a fan named Ārne from the Estonian Foreign Ministry who presented them with Swarovski whistles and a spy kit. Jānis Jubalts received a saucepan and a saxophone, which was later gifted to Mick Jagger.
