| Instrumenti | |
| Genre: | Indie pop |
| Origin: | Rīga, Latvia |
| Label: | Instrumenti |
| Years Active: | 2007-present |
| Associated Acts: | Cosmos, Sigur Ros, M83, Mike Oldfield, Muse |
| Current Members: | Jānis Šipkēvics Reinis Sējāns Gatis Zaķis |
Instrumenti are an Electronic Indie Pop music band from Latvia, Riga, originally formed by two academically educated musicians Shipsi (Jānis Šipkēvics) and Reynsi (Reinis Sējāns). In 2014, band's producer Gatis Zaķis became full member.[1]
During the years various musicians and visual artists from Latvia, Sweden, Finland, France and Iceland at some point have called themselves Instrumenti members.[2]
Instrumenti, a two-piece electro indie pop band, has proven to be amongst the best Baltic live acts of the decade.
The band published their first single "Life Jacket Under Your Seat" in summer 2008, which immediately caught attention of Latvian radio stations.[3] However, the group was officially formed only in 2009.[4] Shipsi (vocals/keyboards) has one of the most impressive falsettos today's music has to offer while Reynsi (drums/ keyboards/vocals) has a genuine talent of creating incredibly rich and warm sound backed up with beautiful harmonies. Instrumenti sound has been described as a mix of Muse, Sigur Rós and Michael Jackson.
In August 2011 Instrumenti released their debut album TRU recorded at the Greenhouse studios in Reykjavik, collaborating with producers and arrangers who've worked on most of Sigur Rós, Björk and Jónsi's records.
Being one of the most sought-after Baltic acts, Instrumenti have played the biggest venues in the Baltic states and have taken part in numerous festivals and showcases all over Europe (Germany, Austria, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Poland, UK, France, Belgium, Czech Republic etc.) - SXSW, The Great Escape Festival, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Heineken Opener, Positivus Festival, Rock For People, Waves Vienna, Tallinn Music Week among others.
What makes Instrumenti captivating is the duo's natural wit, charisma, creativity and skills that allow them to delicately blend different styles and genres, creating an enjoyable aural and visual adventure.
In 2013, Instrumenti participated in a number of European festivals, playing alongside Friendly Fires, Keane, The Vaccines, Hurts and Skrillex among others.
Instrumenti received two Music Awards at Annual Latvian Music Awards 2010 – Best Song for "Apēst Tevi" and Best Debut for "Pandemiya" EP.[5]
Instrumenti have performed in Germany, Austria, Iceland, Norway, Poland, UK, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, USA, UK.
| Title | Album details | Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRU |
| LV Gold | |
| PROCRASTINATION |
| ||
| Iekams |
| ||
| Atkala |
| ||
| Cilvēks |
|
| Year | Song | Album | Chart | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Zemeslodes | TRU | 1 | |||||
| Apēst tevi | 1 | |||||||
| (Back of Your) Drawer | Pandemiya | 20 | ||||||
| Life Jacket Under Your Seat | 30 | |||||||
| Kvik Myndir | 46 | |||||||
| 2010 | Born to Die | TRU | 2 | |||||
| 2011 | Pilnīgi viens | TRU | 1 | |||||
| The Time Is Now | 14 | |||||||
| Lie Down (Viss ir otrādāk) feat. Gustavo | 18 | |||||||
| Pieturi mani sev klāt | 24 | |||||||
| 2013 | Don't Hold Onto Me | PROCRASTINATION | 24 | |||||
| Latvian Airplay Top | ||||||||
| Song | Director | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apēst tevi | Ksenija Sundejeva-Zaķe | 2009 | |
| Kvik myndir | Ksenija Sundejeva-Zaķe | 2010 | |
| Pilnīgi viens | Ivars Trautmanis and Eduards Zaiganovs | 2011 | |
| Aeon River | Ksenija Sundejeva-Zaķe | 2013 | |
| Don't Hold Onto Me | Uģis Olte | 2013 | |
| Heartcore | Indriķis Ģelzis | 2013 |