MANTA

MANTA (Latvia)

Manta – a recent addition to the Latvian music scene – is a musical collective that does not strive to belong to a particular trend or genre. Quite opposite – Manta unites four fearless men who let each individual song dictate its rules. Manta’s first album (a 100 % analogue recording by the Latvian music legend Mr Baušķenieks) is a proof of that – in it, synthpop is followed by psychedelic rock, minimalistic electro folk and a dreamy ballad. It might seem eclectic for sure, but the record is held together by the distinctive vocal of the band’s leader Edgars Šubrovskis (Hospitāļu iela, Gaujarts; he is also the music author and lyricist of Manta) and the overall character of the songs.

Manta are: Edgars Šubrovskis – seasoned Latvian underground scene member (Kartāga, Hospitāļu iela, Gaujarts, Zigomārs un Bronikūrs); Edgars Mākens – leader of the band Gaujarts, representing the alternative pop stage, Oskars Upenieks – electronic music enthusiast, who performs individually as EMD; and Raitis Viļumovs – graduate of the acclaimed Mediņš Music School with a punk-rock experience (Neprodukts, NRG+).

Edgars Šubrovskis – vocal, guitar, bass
Edgars Mākens – organ, piano, vocal, stylophone
Oskars Upenieks – keys, electronic drums
Raitis Viļumovs – percussions, keys