Latvian indie-rock trio Bēdu Brāļi is back in the spotlight to enchant listeners with their explosive new single "Pieskaries," recently released on September 3 through I Love You Records. The Riga-based band's latest offering intertwines a profound sense of anguish with hints of hope, drawing comparisons to the likes of The Twilight Sad, The Cure, and Radiohead.
The main theme of "Pieskaries," which translates to "Touch," explores the complexities of loneliness and desolation. "It's one thing to have people around you who are true to their words and actions, and you can become a better person. But it's another to be with people who lie, leading you to lie to yourself, ultimately resulting in a sense of isolation, even when surrounded by others," explains lead vocalist Oskars Tu.
This profound narrative resonates deeply with the complexities of current reality, where society is increasingly disconnected. Despite being surrounded by people—both physically and digitally—many experience a profound sense of loneliness, highlighting the need for genuine connections in an era dominated by superficial interactions.
The accompanying music video is directed by the internationally renowned Riga-based artist, curator, and musician Kaspars Groševs. Groševs fronted one of the band's formative influences—In.Stora—in the mid-00s and owns the first artist-run gallery in Riga.
The pulsating composition mixes footage from the recording session with imaginative mutations of musical instruments, heraldic imagery, and abstract signs that flow throughout the video as visual reagents that echo the dynamics of the song.
In a creative retreat, the band took a three-day trip to a residential studio in Valmiera, a town in northern Latvia, where they wrote and demoed the single. Upon returning to Riga, they finalized the track in their own rehearsal space and studio, with drummer Pēteris Ozols handling the mixing and engineering duties. The mastering was entrusted to Latvian underground icon Girts Laumanis, also known as "Lomiks."
The new track follows their previous release, "Ikdienas-dzive" ("Daily Life"), a propulsive desert rock-inspired single described by Montreal media outlet Pan M360 as "a great and fuzzy driving song [...] that is like Osees meets Chairs Missing era Wire." Both "Pieskaries" and "Ikdienas-dzive" are part of their eagerly anticipated second album, "Lauskas" (Shards), set to be released in 2025.
After winning the best rock/metal album award at Latvia's prestigious Zelta Microfone ceremony with their debut, the bar is set high for Bēdu Brāļi’s next release. However, the early signs indicate that the band is prepared to exceed these expectations with their new material, showing both growth and artistic maturity.
About Bēdu Brāļi
Bēdu Brāļi was formed by friends Oskars Tu (Vocals / Guitar), Jānis Liepiņš (Bass), and Pēteris Ozols (Drums) in 2012. When they first started making music together, Oskars and Jānis weren't living in the capital city, so they would hitchhike more than 100km in all weather to play gigs. The Latvian indie scene of the mid-00s with the likes of Zidruns, In.Stora, and Bērnības Milicija inspired them to start a band of their own.
With their second album on the horizon and an exciting lineup of international tour dates ahead, Bēdu Brāļi are gearing up for a monumental 2025. Before that, they will take the stage at the Viva Sounds festival in Gothenburg this November 2024.
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