Lauris Reiniks
Encyclopedia
Lauris Reiniks is Latvia
n pop music
singer, songwriter
, television host and actor
. Lauris was educated at the Jelgava
Music college in Latvia and the University of Latvia
, but acting skills have been honed in Los Angeles
, California
. He has released 7 solo albums. As a composer and recording artist Lauris Reiniks has received more than 20 National awards and has gained international recognition. The remarkable number of views of his music videos on YouTube
has unofficially made him a "King of YouTube" in Latvia. Lately Lauris Reiniks is considered as the Baltic
artist.
The Reiniks family (mother Dace, father Arturs, sister Ruta) used to be one of the most active singing families in the country. They regularly appeared on a broadcast called "Spiets" (The Swarm) and toured around Latvia with concerts.
In 1998 Latvian Television noticed the young and attractive Lauris and offered him to host a new musical TV show called "Nošu Spēles" (Games of Music Notes).
The show brought Lauris together with the popular Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls
who invited Lauris to participate in several his music projects and record songs. This collaboration lasted for one year when Lauris realized he can write his own music and be an independent artist.
The management company Aktiv Music approached Lauris Reiniks in 2000 and offered him a record deal with Platforma Records company. That was a moment when Lauris stepped into the big scene of Latvian pop music and started his way to success and fame.
and his 2010 Baltic
smash hit "Es skrienu" (I'm running). Most of his Latvian songs are written in collaboration with Mārtiņš Freimanis
who wrote lyrics to Lauris's music.
(Viasat) and LNT
Television. Lauris has done several National TV commercials and print ads.
In 2010 Lauris gets his first National TV award "Zelta Vilnis 2009" (Golden Wave) in a nomination "TV Personality Of The Year".
Lauris Reiniks has be a host of following TV shows and projects:
On April 8, 2007 live on TV3 Latvia
(Viasat) Lauris Reiniks becomes the first season winner of Latvian "Dancing with the Stars
" (Dejo ar Zvaigzni). He was partnered by a professional ballroom dancer and many time Latin dance champion – Aleksandra Kurusova.
In the spring of 2008, an ABC Television
affiliate in California, USA presented a story about Lauris as a successful pop musician and winner of the Latvian version of "Dancing with the Stars".
in 2004/2005 and Olympus in a musical "Autoplanet" in 2005.
In May, 2007 Lauris Reiniks starts working on a motion picture "Dancis pa trim" (Three to Dance) produced by "Kaupo" film studio. He is playing Edvards, a Latvian soldier during the latter stages of World War II
. The movie comes out on big screens in 2011.
In 2010 Lauris Reiniks is playing one of the leading roles in the world famous play "Ladies Night"
(Kailie Brieži) produced by Domino Teatras and staged at National Theater in Riga. The show is still on-going.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, television host and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. Lauris was educated at the Jelgava
Jelgava
-Sports:The city's main football team, FK Jelgava, plays in the Latvian Higher League and won the 2009/2010 Latvian Football Cup.- Notable people :*August Johann Gottfried Bielenstein - linguist, folklorist, ethnographer...
Music college in Latvia and the University of Latvia
University of Latvia
University of Latvia is a university located in Riga, Latvia. Being established in 1919, University of Latvia is the biggest university in the Baltic states.-History:...
, but acting skills have been honed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He has released 7 solo albums. As a composer and recording artist Lauris Reiniks has received more than 20 National awards and has gained international recognition. The remarkable number of views of his music videos on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
has unofficially made him a "King of YouTube" in Latvia. Lately Lauris Reiniks is considered as the Baltic
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
artist.
Early years
Lauris was born in the Latvian town of Dobele, grew up in a musical family in Tērvete. Lauris' first appearance on television was at the age of five, singing in a show called Neighbors Meet. As a kid and teenager, Lauris was a soloist in a pop-rock group called “AURI” formed by his father. Together with this band Lauris gained his first stage experience; participating in different children music festivals, contests and other musical activities.The Reiniks family (mother Dace, father Arturs, sister Ruta) used to be one of the most active singing families in the country. They regularly appeared on a broadcast called "Spiets" (The Swarm) and toured around Latvia with concerts.
In 1998 Latvian Television noticed the young and attractive Lauris and offered him to host a new musical TV show called "Nošu Spēles" (Games of Music Notes).
The show brought Lauris together with the popular Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls
Raimonds Pauls
Raimonds Pauls is a Latvian and Soviet composer and piano player who is well-known and respected in Latvia and the former Soviet Union.-Music:...
who invited Lauris to participate in several his music projects and record songs. This collaboration lasted for one year when Lauris realized he can write his own music and be an independent artist.
The management company Aktiv Music approached Lauris Reiniks in 2000 and offered him a record deal with Platforma Records company. That was a moment when Lauris stepped into the big scene of Latvian pop music and started his way to success and fame.
Music career highlights
Lauris Reiniks' most popular and renowned songs are "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti", "Es Neesmu Neprātīgs", "Tik Balti", "Es Tev Apmulsis", "Tev Šodien Vienalga", "Es Esmu Tev Dzīslās" in a duet with his sister Rūta, "Pasakā" in a duet with AishaAija Andrejeva
Aija Andrejeva Aija Andrejeva Aija Andrejeva (born 16 January 1986, Ogre, Latvia, better known by her stage name Aisha is a Latvian singer.-Eurovision Song Contest 2010:...
and his 2010 Baltic
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
smash hit "Es skrienu" (I'm running). Most of his Latvian songs are written in collaboration with Mārtiņš Freimanis
Mārtiņš Freimanis
Mārtiņš Freimanis was a Latvian musician, singer, songwriter, actor and TV personality.Freimanis was born in Liepāja, but spent his childhood in Aizpute...
who wrote lyrics to Lauris's music.
- Twice Lauris Reiniks has been a winner of the annual Universality Prize, which is offered by AKKA/LAA the Latvian copyright agency for those songs that have been played most often on the radio and television in Latvia. "Tell Me" (2004) in a duet with Marija NaumovaMarija NaumovaMarija Naumova is a Latvian singer. Under the stage name Marie N, she sings a broad range of music ranging from pop to musical theatre and jazz, and has recorded several albums, with songs in Latvian, French, English, Russian and Portuguese...
and "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti" (2007) song that had received all major music awards in Latvia already in 2003. - He has been a voice of Coca-ColaCoca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
commercial in Latvia. - The 2003 album Lidot savādāk (To Fly Differently) certified Gold.
- In 2005 the Latvian edition of BBC popmusic magazine Top Of The PopsTop of the Pops (magazine)Top of the Pops magazine is a monthly publication published by BBC Magazines. It features chart information, star gossip, fashion and beauty advice, quizzes, song lyrics and posters. It is a supplementary magazine for the TV show Top of the Pops....
awarded Lauris with a title of "Latvian National Megastar 2004". - In 2005 Lauris Reiniks releases a song "And You Came" in a duet with Estonian singer MaarjaMaarja-Liis IlusMaarja-Liis Ilus, sometimes better known by her performing name Maarja is a pop musician. Maarja has achieved some chart success in a number of countries across Europe and Asia...
which becomes a hit both in Latvia and Estonia. - In 2009 marketing and public relations specialists from 7guru.lv who presented a list of Latvia’s seven most successful pop musicians ranked Lauris second, right after the band BrainstormBrainstorm (Latvian band)Brainstorm is a Latvian pop/rock band. The band became popular internationally in 2000, when they finished third in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song "My Star"....
. - His latest 2010 studio album Es skrienu was awarded the "Best Pop Album" at Latvian Music Awards 2010. The title song "Es skrienu" from the same album was officially the best selling song of 2010 on doremi.lv – the biggest mp3 shop in Latvia.
- In 2010 Lauris Reiniks's song, video "Es skrienu" very fast becomes a national blockbuster. "Es skrienu" song has been recorded and released also in 6 more languages – Estonian ("Ma jooksen"), Lithuanian ("Aš bėgu"), Russian ("Я бегу"), Italian ("Correrò da te"), German ("Ich Renne") and English ("I Will Run"), hitting the radio charts and dance clubs in all three Baltic StatesBaltic statesThe term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
– LatviaLatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and LithuaniaLithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. - With a music video for "Es skrienu" song Lauris has set the Baltic record as the first Baltic artist who has reached over 1 million views on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in a very short period of time. That happened with a Lithuanian version called "Aš bėgu". - In 2011 Lauris Reiniks' song "Aš bėgu" wins "Song Of The Year" award in Lithuania on TV3 LithuaniaTV3 LithuaniaTV3 is a television channel owned by Modern Times Group and targeted at a Lithuanian-speaking audience. It was founded on May 7, 1992 and launched on April 11, 1993 as "Tele-3" before being renamed "TV3" in 1996....
show "Vaikų Balsas 2011". - On June 1, 2011 Lauris Reiniks releases his first album in Lithuania called "Aš bėgu". The album is Lithuanian adaptation of Lauris's award winning Latvian album "Es skrienu", featuring tracks in Lithuanian from the original Latvian album as well as previously unpublished English versions of Lauris's most popular Latvian songs.
- In July, 2011 Lauris Reiniks releases his first album in Estonia called "Ma jooksen". The album is Estonian adaptation of Lauris's award winning Latvian album "Es skrienu", featuring tracks in Estonian from the original Latvian album as well as previously unpublished English versions of Lauris's most popular Latvian songs.
- September 2011, Lauris Reiniks "Es skrienu" album certifies Gold in Latvia.
Television
Ever since 1998 Lauris Reiniks has been hosting several TV shows for Latvian Television LTV, TV3 LatviaTV3 Latvia
TV3 Latvia is a television channel targeted at a Latvian language audience owned by Modern Times Group . It was launched in 1998, but did not receive a terrestrial license until 2001...
(Viasat) and LNT
Latvijas Neatkariga Televizija
LNT is a major private television company in Latvia. It was created in 1996, under the name Pica TV. LNT features shows such as Chuck, Dexter, The O.C. and Nip/Tuck....
Television. Lauris has done several National TV commercials and print ads.
In 2010 Lauris gets his first National TV award "Zelta Vilnis 2009" (Golden Wave) in a nomination "TV Personality Of The Year".
Lauris Reiniks has be a host of following TV shows and projects:
- 1998–2003: "Nošu spēles" LTV
- 1998–2001: Internation children music festival "Saules zaķis" LTV
- 2000 : Eurovision Song Contest 2000Eurovision Song Contest 2000The Eurovision Song Contest 2000 was the 45th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 2000 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden, following Charlotte Nilsson's victory in Jerusalem the previous year. It was the first time since 1996 that the contest was held on mainland Europe. The...
host and spokesperson from Latvia. LTV - 2000: VIII Latvian school and youth song and dance festivalLatvian Song and Dance FestivalThe Latvian Song and Dance Festival is an important event in Latvian culture and social life. The All-Latvian Song and Dance Festival has been held since 1873, normally every five years. During the festivals exhibitions of photography, art and folk craft, orchestra concerts, and a festive parade...
LTV - 2000: "Rīga 800"; LTV
- 2001–2005: "Kam gaišāka galva?" LTV
- 2002–2003: "Troksnis" LTV
- 2003: "SeMS" LTV 7
- 2004: "Junior Eurovision Latvia 2004" LTV; co-hosted by Rūta Reinika.
- 2005: IX Latvian school and youth song and dance festivalLatvian Song and Dance FestivalThe Latvian Song and Dance Festival is an important event in Latvian culture and social life. The All-Latvian Song and Dance Festival has been held since 1873, normally every five years. During the festivals exhibitions of photography, art and folk craft, orchestra concerts, and a festive parade...
LTV - 2005: "SeMS " LTV 7
- 2007: "Dziedi ar zvaigzni" (Sing With a Star) TV3 LatviaTV3 LatviaTV3 Latvia is a television channel targeted at a Latvian language audience owned by Modern Times Group . It was launched in 1998, but did not receive a terrestrial license until 2001...
, co-hosted by Iveta Feldmane. - 2008: "Koru kari" " (Clash of the ChoirsClash of the ChoirsClash of the Choirs is a reality talent contest miniseries that debuted on NBC in the United States on December 17, 2007. There were four episodes scheduled in the “quick competition”...
). TV3 LatviaTV3 LatviaTV3 Latvia is a television channel targeted at a Latvian language audience owned by Modern Times Group . It was launched in 1998, but did not receive a terrestrial license until 2001... - 2009: "Muzikālā banka 2008" (Latvian Radio 2Latvijas RadioLatvijas Radio is a public service broadcasting network of Latvia. The organisation was founded 1 November 1925 and is situated in the Latvian capital Riga...
Music Awards) LTV - 2009: "Latvijas zelta talanti 2009" (Latvia’s Golden Talents) LNTLatvijas Neatkariga TelevizijaLNT is a major private television company in Latvia. It was created in 1996, under the name Pica TV. LNT features shows such as Chuck, Dexter, The O.C. and Nip/Tuck....
- 2009–2010: "Latvijas ģimeņu dziedāšanas svētki" (Latvia’s Singing Families) LNTLatvijas Neatkariga TelevizijaLNT is a major private television company in Latvia. It was created in 1996, under the name Pica TV. LNT features shows such as Chuck, Dexter, The O.C. and Nip/Tuck....
On April 8, 2007 live on TV3 Latvia
TV3 Latvia
TV3 Latvia is a television channel targeted at a Latvian language audience owned by Modern Times Group . It was launched in 1998, but did not receive a terrestrial license until 2001...
(Viasat) Lauris Reiniks becomes the first season winner of Latvian "Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
" (Dejo ar Zvaigzni). He was partnered by a professional ballroom dancer and many time Latin dance champion – Aleksandra Kurusova.
In the spring of 2008, an ABC Television
KABC-TV
KABC-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, licensed to Los Angeles, California. KABC-TV's studios are located in Glendale, California...
affiliate in California, USA presented a story about Lauris as a successful pop musician and winner of the Latvian version of "Dancing with the Stars".
Acting
Lauris Reiniks's acting credits include a role of Rolf in a musical The Sound Of MusicThe Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
in 2004/2005 and Olympus in a musical "Autoplanet" in 2005.
In May, 2007 Lauris Reiniks starts working on a motion picture "Dancis pa trim" (Three to Dance) produced by "Kaupo" film studio. He is playing Edvards, a Latvian soldier during the latter stages of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The movie comes out on big screens in 2011.
In 2010 Lauris Reiniks is playing one of the leading roles in the world famous play "Ladies Night"
Ladies Night (play)
Ladies' Night, a play by the New Zealand writers Stephen Sinclair and Anthony McCarten about a group of unemployed workers who develop a male strip show. It was first performed in December 1987 at Auckland's Mercury Theatre and has been described as the most commercially successful play in New...
(Kailie Brieži) produced by Domino Teatras and staged at National Theater in Riga. The show is still on-going.
Eurovision Song Contest / Eirodziesma
- 2001 – Lauris Reiniks in a duet with Linda Leen finishes 2nd at Latvian National selection with a song "I Wish I Knew".
- 2002 – Lauris Reiniks finishes 5th at Latvian National selection Eirodziesma 2002Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002Latvia was represented by Marie N, with the song '"I Wanna", at the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 25 May in Tallinn, Estonia. "I Wanna" was chosen as the Latvian entry at the national final, Eirodziesma, on 2 March and went on to bring Latvia victory in only their third...
with a song "My Memory Tape". - 2003 – along with Mārtiņš FreimanisMārtiņš FreimanisMārtiņš Freimanis was a Latvian musician, singer, songwriter, actor and TV personality.Freimanis was born in Liepāja, but spent his childhood in Aizpute...
and Yana Kay a trio F.L.Y.F.L.Y.F.L.Y. was a Latvian band, created with purpose to participate in Eurovision Song Contest.At a party following the national finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2002, Mārtiņš Freimanis came up with an idea for the following year’s contest....
has been created specially for Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
Latvian selection. With a song "Hello From MarsHello From Mars"Hello From Mars" was the Latvian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, performed in English by F.L.Y.The lyrics are notably obscure, however the song appears to be a love song in which a pair of lovers reminisce about the way in which they met...
" they won the National preliminaries and represented Latvia at Eurovision Song Contest 2003Eurovision Song Contest 2003The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 was the forty-eighth Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Skonto Hall in Riga, Latvia on 24 May 2003. The hosts were Marie N and Renārs Kaupers. Sertab Erener, the Turkish entrant, won the contest with "Everyway That I Can", scoring 167 points. The winning...
taking place in RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. The song finished 24th. - 2009 – Lauris Reiniks's song "I wish I could pretend" performed by Kristina Zaharova finishes 2nd in Irish EurovisionEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
Finals "Eurosong 2009"Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009Ireland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. The country was represented by Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy with their song "Et Cetera".-Eurosong 2009:...
. - 2010 – Lauris Reiniks' song "Your Morning Lullaby" gets into the finals of Latvian EurovisionEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
National preliminaries "Eirodziesma 2010Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010Latvia and Latvijas Televīzija has confirmed participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, to be held in Oslo, Norway in May 2010. This came after financial instability in Latvia and LTV, which could have resulted in a withdrawal of the country...
" finishing 4th. - 2011 – Lauris Reiniks finishes 2nd at Latvian EurovisionEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
National preliminaries "Eirodziesma 2011Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011Latvia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, selecting their entry through the national selection Eirodziesma 2011, organised by the Latvian broadcaster Latvijas Televīzija .-Eirodziesma 2011:...
" with his song "Banjo LauraBanjo Laura"Banjo Laura" is a song performed by Latvian singer Lauris Reiniks. The song was written by Lauris Reiniks. The song competes in Eirodziesma 2011.-External links:*...
". The Spanish version "La chica del Banjo" of the song is being released a month later.
Discography
- Planet 42 (2002)
- Lidot savādāk (2003)
- Tik balti (2003)
- Never Look Back (with F.L.Y.F.L.Y.F.L.Y. was a Latvian band, created with purpose to participate in Eurovision Song Contest.At a party following the national finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2002, Mārtiņš Freimanis came up with an idea for the following year’s contest....
) (2003) - Debesskrāpju spīts (2005)
- Nakts veikalā (2007)
- Es skrienu (2010)
- Aš bėgu (2011)
- Ma jooksen (2011)