How did you choose the band’s name?
In the early days, we were called Tu’n’es. Back then, we mostly played covers of popular songs at school events, and the name felt fitting. But we always had the idea of changing it to "The Tunes" when we moved to original music. That moment came sooner than expected, and along with the name change, we developed the first versions of our current logo. The name “The Tunes” came about quite spontaneously. We never really settled on one hundred percent where it came from, but one possible inspiration could have been a graffiti in Riga that said “Tune.” It stuck in our minds and resurfaced when we needed a name. Interestingly, there’s still one of those graffiti near our rehearsal space in Old Riga.
What were the main challenges when starting your new project, "The Tunes"?
We could divide the "start" into two parts. The first was the birth of the band, back when we were called Tu’n’es. The challenges then were mostly uncertainty and doubt about how to proceed. When we began writing our first original songs, our skills didn’t always match our ideas, which is one reason we didn’t debut publicly until much later. We needed time to refine our songs to a level that we felt comfortable presenting live and on recordings. At the beginning, we weren’t quite sure, but by February of this year, we were 110% ready. That February marked a new beginning – we released our debut single, “Range,” and started performing where people wanted to hear us. A major change was also our lineup. Last fall, Matīss Kokins joined as our drummer, which helped us close one chapter and start a new one. Finally, we had a stable lineup, and it felt like we could take the next step confidently.
How would you describe the sound and lyrical themes of your upcoming debut album "Range of Discovery"?
Thematically, we wanted our first album to convey a message about not being afraid. "Range of Discovery" tells a story about the courage to explore yourself and the world around you. It’s about recognizing your own boundaries and the world’s, and realizing that both are meant to be challenged. The lyrics capture the emotions we felt while writing the songs, and we believe our listeners will be able to unlock that same feeling. However, the story itself is open to interpretation, allowing listeners to paint it in their own colors. We see this as part of the magic of The Tunes’ music – we leave an ellipsis at the end of the sentence…
What’s the songwriting process like for you?
Most often, the guitar department – Varis Vilciņš and Daniels Bērziņš – surprises us with something new during rehearsals. They frequently provide the foundation for new ideas, and then we all work together to develop the song. We finish songs as a group, The Tunes, and we share the credit equally. At the end of the day, we all contribute the missing puzzle pieces that complete the song. Varis and Daniels have their own unique perspectives, while Rihards Uztics adds his distinct bass touch, and Matīss Kokins rounds it out with his drumming. We work like a well-oiled machine, and no matter who’s doing more or less at any given moment, we wouldn’t function without all four of us.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how do they impact your work?
Each of us has a different set of influences. Varis Vilciņš finds inspiration in the guitar sounds of Arctic Monkeys, Pink Floyd, and Jimi Hendrix, but his stage persona is more aligned with Chris Martin (Coldplay) and James Hetfield (Metallica). These influences help him open up and express himself in ways he might otherwise hold back.
Daniels Bērziņš draws from classic rock and listens to AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and other legendary bands. Describing Daniels is tricky, though – he’s the Joker of the band. You never know what he’ll do at a concert or an interview, but you always know it’ll be brilliant and unexpected.
Matīss Kokins has the most eclectic music taste, which he doesn’t hide. On a 20-minute drive home from rehearsal, he might listen to anything from overseas hip-hop to soft German pop, with stops in Latvian music and his other bands, Revolvika and Midnight Projects. This eclectic taste shows in his stage presence, where a rose crown around his neck has become a signature part of his concert attire.
Rihards Uztics brings some order to the rhythm section with his clear sense of what he wants to hear and where he finds inspiration. He loves Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and Bob Dylan, but also sees a lot of value in older recordings by Raimonds Pauls. He’s been motivated to keep growing in music thanks to his interest in friends’ bands, like Embark. In his case, it's more peer motivation than peer pressure.
How do you prepare for concerts, and do you have any pre-show rituals?
Preparing for concerts involves a lot of fixing mistakes – we try to note areas where we can improve and stick to those. We also craft the setlist to suit each concert. At one point, we were performing twice a week in Riga, so we had to think about how to keep our shows fresh for regular attendees. We’re always adding new elements to keep things interesting for both the audience and ourselves. Falling into a routine is easy, but the audience can sense that too. We don’t have a specific pre-show ritual, though. Each of us prepares in our own way, whether it’s warming up, enjoying some quiet time, or chatting with fans. Before the show starts, we come together for a moment, wish each other a good concert, and then for an hour, we become an indivisible unit.
As "Tu’n’es," you performed cover songs. Did you ever encounter any funny incidents on stage?
We were performing a concert in Laubere, and at one point during the show, we blew the venue’s power. It was total darkness in the middle of the performance. We don’t remember exactly how we resolved it, but we’re still welcome guests in Laubere!
Is there any music genre you would never play, and why?
Our primary focus is rock, but we often incorporate elements from other genres. "Range" includes some blues elements, while "Mercy" has a touch of modern electronic music injected by Rihards Uztics. Our double single "Vasaras Prāts / 14 Reasons to Love" has strong pop influences. There’s no genre we’re strictly against. We try to avoid going too commercial, but we don’t see a reason to completely avoid a genre just because it’s not our favorite.
What’s your biggest goal or dream as a band in the music industry?
We’d love for people to one day say, “Did you know those guys are from Latvia?!” We want to stand out as Latvians without pushing it too much – we want people to find out for themselves. We hope to achieve this specifically within guitar-driven music, perhaps riding a wave when it finally picks up full steam.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music that help you relax or find inspiration?
There’s no one magic formula. It changes depending on the season and the person. For some of us, it’s sports, for others, it’s taking in other people’s stories through books or films, or just relaxing with a trip near or far. We see it as essential to maintain interests outside of performing and rehearsing to avoid burning out before our opportunity comes.
What kind of entertainment events do you enjoy attending? Any special places in Riga you’d recommend to our readers?
Among us, we have a special love for quieter spots. With all the regular performing, we tend to prefer calm places over loud parties and big crowds. We gravitate toward places where we can be with ourselves or chat in a small circle of friends. We’d mention Vinyl Bar and Nurme Brewery as favorites, but we also visit other spots where we can swap the noise for a more peaceful atmosphere.
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