RIGA - It all began in 2003. Lead singer Ksenija Sundejeva was only about 15 years old when her band Tribes of the City got together. She lived near a record store and spent her free time writing songs and guitar licks at home, "as young girls do."
One day, guitarist and record store employee Sergejs Jaramisjans asked to hear some of her tunes. Sundejeva was apprehensive about performing for an older, more experienced musician like Jaramisjans, but played her best riffs for him nonetheless.
Jaramisjans was impressed. He was so impressed, in fact, that he spent the next week on the phone with friends and contacts from the world of Latvian music. Within two weeks, Tribes of the City 's originally named The Movies 's was born.
Today, Tribes of the City is one of the most popular bands in Latvia. They have won best song, best music video and best album prizes at Latvian music awards, and have won praise from prominent music magazines like "Muzikas Saule."
While popular at home, the band hopes that they will soon be able to gain an international audience. In an effort to get their name out, the band regularly participates in music conferences in England and has gone on a number of tours through Russia.
"I would say so far we have been successful, but there are still many things that we want to do. We want to be known outside of Latvia," Sundejeva told The Baltic Times.
Already well on their way, Tribes of the City was recently nominated for the Best Baltic Act MTV music award, due to be presented on Nov. 1 in Munich, Germany. Sundejeva said that the band was surprised and excited over the nomination, but that they were still not quite sure what it means for them. She explained that, generally, their rise to fame has come in unexpected leaps and bounds.
The band harks back to the days of shoegazing rock. Their list of influences includes mostly British shoegazer bands like My Bloody Valentine, The Cocteau Twins, Mahogany and The Velvet Underground.
Their music is deep and emotional rock, with thought provoking lyrics and the occasional heavy guitar riff that give the songs an intense kind of energy. The liner notes from their most recent album, "For the Sleepy People," read "Recommendations for better listening - finish all your important business first, make yourself a cup of something nice and warm, put your body in the most comfortable position, relax and push the PLAY button."
A mild-mannered student by day, Sundejeva said that she is totally different when she sings. "The feeling I get when I play, it is hard to describe, but it is something really weird. I don't feel like a person, I become something different. It is magical in a way. My body, my voice and my soul are three different things, but when we play my voice and my soul are united and I don't care about the body anymore," she said.
Sundejeva was hesitant to predict what the future might hold for the band. She said that there are many ways the band could develop, and a lot of their future depends on the relationship between the six band members.
Wherever the winds of fortune may lead the band, their greatest dream is to constantly evolve 's to always strive to make better and better music. "My dream for the band is that we will never stop developing, and that we will always have a goal 's that's where the power of the music is," Sundejeva said.
Tribes of the City's two big upcoming shows 's Oct. 5 at Studentu Klubs, Riga, and Oct. 12 at Fontain Palace, Liepaja 's will celebrate the release of their new album.
Tribes of the City
Latvian shoegazer rock
Oct. 5, Riga: Studentu Klubs
Oct. 12, Leipaja: Fontain Palace
