Musiqq
{{Short description|Latvian musical group}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Musiqq
| image = MUSIQQ-10_v.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alias =
| origin = Liepaja, Latvia
| years_active = 2009—present
| label = MicRec
| associated_acts = Brainstorm, Giacomo
| website =
| current_members = *Marats Ogļezņevs
| past_members =
}}
Musiqq is a Latvian pop music duo from Liepāja formed by Marats Ogļezņevs and Emīls Balceris. The duo first gained exposure in June 2009 with the release of their first single “Klimata kontrole”("Climate control"), but on October 1 their second single "Abrakadabra" came out, which was a radio hit in Latvia and "SEB Musical Bank 2009" winner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.draugiem.lv/musiqq/biography/|title=Mūzika - MUSIQQ - Biogrāfija|website=www.draugiem.lv|language=lv|access-date=2018-05-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.delfi.lv/izklaide/archive/grupa-musiqq-mums-nebija-gruti-izsisties.d?id=2948435|title=- DELFI|last=Sergejeva|first=Santa|date=26 January 2010|website=www.delfi.lv|language=lv|access-date=2018-05-09}} Their debut album "Šī ir tikai mūzika"("This is just music") was released in March 2010, which included radio hits such as "Abrakadabra", "Dzimšanas diena" ("Birthday") and "Klimata kontrole" ("Climate control").{{Cite web|url=http://www.micrecmusic.lv/lv/autori/?authorId=44|title=Autori : MicRec Publishing|last=www.cube.lv|first=Cube /|website=www.micrecmusic.lv|language=lv|access-date=2018-05-09}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.delfi.lv/izklaide/dzivesstils/ballites/grupa-musiqq-prezente-debijas-albumu.d?id=30860205|title=Grupa "Musiqq" prezentē debijas albumu|last=DELFI|first=Mongo.lv|date=2010-03-26|work=DELFI|access-date=2018-05-09|language=lv}} Both singers were awarded as "Gada Liepājnieks"("Liepajnieks of the year" is a prize awarded for those, who have invested their time, effort and talent into making the city a better place) in nomination "'Music" and received three Copyright infinity prizes, because their songs are the most played on the radio, television and concerts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.platformacd.lv/musiqq/|title=Musiqq|last=PlatformArtist|date=2015-03-04|work=PlatFormaCD|access-date=2018-05-09|language=en-US}} Musiqq represented Latvia in 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Düsseldorf with the song "Angel in Disguise".{{Cite news|url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/maksla/musiqq-starte-eirovizija.a37676/|title="Musiqq" startē Eirovīzijā|date=12 May 2011|access-date=2018-05-09|language=lv}}
They are also known as Latvian rap duo called "Bermudu Divstūris", which formed in 2011.{{Cite news|url=http://jauns.lv/raksts/izklaide/169691-grupas-musiqq-saldie-zeni-soke-ar-pavisam-jaunu-stilu|title=Grupas "Musiqq" saldie zēni šokē ar pavisam jaunu stilu|date=30 December 2011|work=Jauns.lv|access-date=2018-05-09|language=lv}} The name of the rap duo is a play on Bermuda Triangle, the literal translation being "The Bermuda Digon". As "Bermudu Divstūris" the band has released three studio albums and in 2014 it received The Golden Microphone award as "Best hip-hop or dance album".
History
= 2009: Formation =
Musiqq formed in 2009, when founding member Marats Ogļezņevs left his previous group "Device" and invited Emīls Balceris to a meeting. The singers had previously met by participating in the TV show "Koru kari" ("Choir Wars") in 2008, where Emīls Balceris and Marats Ogļezņevs sang together in Liepājas red choir, led by singer Chilli. In the same year, Marats Ogļezņevs saw Emīls Balceris perform in the youth broadcast "SeMS" and decided to write him a letter with an invitation to meet and work together. At group's first meeting, they wrote four demo versions of songs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.liepajniekiem.lv/zinas/kulturvide/kulturas-pulss/skatitaju-miletie-hitu-raditaji-161266|title=Skatītāju mīlētie hitu radītāji|last=Kļepikova|first=Ilze|date=20 February 2015|work=liepajniekiem.lv|access-date=2018-05-09}}
=2010: ''Šī ir tikai mūzika''=
Musiqq released their debut album, "Šī ir tikai mūzika"("This is just a music"), on 24 March 2010, which was recorded at MicRec recording company in cooperation with the producer Jānis Kalve. Four singles were released from "Šī ir tikai mūzika"("This is just a music"), including their first single "Klimata kontrole"("Climate control") and "Abrakadabra", which won the main prize of the pop music survey "Musical Bank". Other singles from the album were "Pirmā manā Ziemassvētku sarakstā"("The first on my Christmas list"), which was Christmas themed, and the hit "Dzimšanas diena"("Birthday"), which reached number 3 in "SEB Musical Bank 2010".{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvnet.lv/muzika/latvija/307800-musiqq_debijas_albums_jau_24marta|title="Musiqq" debijas albums jau 24.martā!|date=15 March 2010|website=Mūzika|language=lv|access-date=2018-05-09}}{{Cite news|url=http://latviansonline.com/pop-duo-musiqq-releases-debut-album/|title=Pop duo Musiqq releases debut album - Latvians Online|last=Straumanis|first=Andris|date=2010-04-06|work=Latvians Online|access-date=2018-05-09|language=en-US}}
=2014: ''Vēl viena mūzika''=
After the success of "Šī ir tikai mūzika"("This is just a music"), Musiqq returned to the studio to begin work on their second album, "Vēl viena mūzika"("Another music"), continuing to collaborate with the producer Jānis Kalve. The album was released in November 2014, celebrating the 5th birthday of the group, and spawned several popular singles including "Sekundes"("Seconds"), "Cтрана без называния"("Country without name"), performed with musician Giacomo and "Angel in Disguise", which had already competed in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest selection.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lmma.lv/jaunumi/vel-viena-muzika-musiqq|title="Vēl viena mūzika" - Musiqq - Latvijas Mūzikas menedžmenta aģentūra|website=Latvijas Mūzikas menedžmenta aģentūra|access-date=2018-05-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://nra.lv/izklaide/132857-recenzija-musiqq-vel-viena-muzika.htm|title=RECENZIJA: "Musiqq", "Vēl viena mūzika"|last=Vanzovičs|first=Sandris|date=20 January 2015|website=nra.lv|access-date=2018-05-09}} To date the largest Musiqq live performance has been their fifth birthday concert in a concert hall Palladium in Riga on November 16, 2014, in which they revealed album "Vēl viena mūzika"("Another music").{{Cite web|url=http://www.palladium.lv/en/news/musiqq-invites-to-their-first-concert-at-palladium/|title=MUSIQQ INVITES TO THEIR FIRST CONCERT AT PALLADIUM - Palladium|last=www.redbird.lv|first=Redbird /|date=10 July 2014|website=www.palladium.lv|language=en|access-date=2018-05-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvnet.lv/muzika/latvija/529150-musiqq_aicina_uz_savu_pirmo_lielkoncertu_palladiu|title="Musiqq" aicina uz savu pirmo lielkoncertu "Palladium"|date=16 November 2014|website=Mūzika|language=lv|access-date=2018-05-09}}
=2015: ''Silta sirds''=
Musiqq album "Silta sirds"("Warm heart") is their first acoustic album made in collaboration with group "DaGamba", pop group "DoReMi", guitarist Uldis Beitiņš, bass guitarist Viktors Veselovs and saxophonist Alex Han. The album got his name from the lead single, also called "Silta sirds"("Warm heart"). The members of the group are very excited about this album idea being realized, because they started thinking about an acoustic album a while ago, and its title "Warm Heart" shows album emotional impression.{{Cite web|url=https://www.micrec.lv/lv/aktuali/musiqq-jauns-akustisks-albums-silta-sirds|title=MUSIQQ jauns, akustisks albums - "SILTA SIRDS" - MICREC|date=27 October 2010|website=www.micrec.lv|language=lv|access-date=2018-05-09}}
In this time Musiqq announced their first acoustic concert tour "Silta sirds" and they visited five cities in Latvia – Valmiera, Rīga, Rēzekne, Liepāja and Jelgava. Members of Musiqq performed together with the guitarist Uldis Beitiņš, bass Roberts Rasa, pianist, guitarist Edgars Jass, Viktors Veselovs (percussion), saxophonist Alex Han and back vocal - Rūta Dūduma to create an acoustic sound.{{Cite web|url=http://www.latgalesgors.lv/en/musiqq-warm-heart|title=MUSIQQ. WARM HEART {{!}} GORS|website=www.latgalesgors.lv|date=10 December 2015 |language=en|access-date=2018-05-09}}
=2019: 10=
Musiqq latest album "10" has been released in honor of the band's 10th anniversary. The album was a release of 10 tracks of which the best known are "Biļete tikai uz priekšu", "Sāc ar sevi", "Tētis var visu", "Bozies" and "Salas". On April 27, 2019 the band also held a concert in "Arena Riga" dedicated to its 10th anniversary, which was the most grandiose concert the band has ever had in its 10 years.{{Cite web|url=https://muzikaspasaule.lv/home/pop-rock/4766-musiqq-jauns-albums-10|title= MUSIQQ jauns albums "10"|website=www.muzikaspasaule.lv. |language=lv|access-date=2020-12-02}}
Musical style
Musiqq's musical style has generally been regarded in pop and R&B style. The author of the lyrics and music is Marats Ogļezņevs. They arranges and produces their own songs by themselves in three different languages - Latvian, English and Russian.{{Cite web|url=https://musiclatvia.lv/en/music/artists/116|title=Music export Latvia|website=Music export Latvia|access-date=2018-05-09}}
Band members
- Emīls Balceris – lead vocals
- Marats Ogļezņevs - lead vocals, music and lyrics author
Discography
= Albums =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Title !Label |
| 2011
|Šī Ir Tikai Mūzika |
| 2014
|Vēl Viena Mūzika |
| 2015
|Silta Sirds |Musiqq |
| 2019
|10 |Musiqq |
| 2023
|Bijis, Ir Un Būs |Musiqq |
| 2024
|Makslas Darbs |Musiqq |
Awards and nominations
Since 2009, Musiqq's songs have regularly been considered as some of the highest selling in Latvia, and their songs are often played on the radio, television and concerts, which confirms three Copyright infinity prizes, which receives author, whose works have been used the most in different ways.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/events/event/63910|title=MUSIQQ. Labāko dziesmu programma|website=www.bilesuparadize.lv|access-date=2018-05-09}} The band also received the award "Gada Liepājnieks" ("Liepajnieks of the year" is a prize awarded for those, who have invested their time, effort and talent into making the city a better place) in nomination "Music" in 2010.
Musiqq contributions to music have also received recognition with "Abrakadabra" consistently being ranked as the most "valuable" song in the Latvian Radio 2 pop and rock song survey "SEB Musical Bank 2009
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://myspace.com/musiqq Musiqq] on Myspace
{{Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2011|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Latvian pop music groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2009
Category:English-language musical groups from Latvia