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Brainstorm (Latvia)
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May 14, 20:00
Glavclub 
 The Story of BrainStorm is that of best friends who grow up together, went to the same school, shared the same dreams and together fulfilled them. Born in Latvia which was then part of the giant Soviet Union, they experienced a Soviet upbringing, the battle for a freedom and were part of the first generation to embrace new possibilities the freedom brought. Experiencing these two radical systems has shaped their musical style.
After they conquered the hearts of music lovers in native Latvia and became a household name, the band took a chance on reaching the audiences beyond the borders of their motherland. First internationally released album „Among The Suns” with its catchy single “My Star” in year 2000 proved the ambitions were satisfied. “My Star” finished third in Eurovision Song Contest 2000. Album got released in Europe and particularly Belgians, Scandinavians and Baltic people embraced BrainStorm’s piece of work. „My Star“ for 16 weeks remained on Belgian national airplay charts. Band toured with own sold out shows and played festivals across Europe.
During their career BrainStorm have released albums in Europe and Russia, supported bands like R.E.M., The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, e.t.c.. World-known photographer Anton Corbijn has made photos for three albums and designed the logo of the band. As A.Corbijn has described: “There is this beautiful thing that great bands have something… Identity and I think BrainStorm has that”.
Inspired by such a welcoming reception BrainStorm recorded album „Online“ (2001). Ethereally dreamy single „Maybe“ brought BrainStorm to other part of the Europe. Radios in Eastern Europe and especially in Poland couldn’t get enough of the song.
For recording of the next album „A Day Before Tomorrow“ (2003) BrainStorm choused to work with two producers - German’s Echo award winner producer Alex Silva who brought more of a rocky sound in and Steve Lyon. Photographer Anton Corbijn stepped in to create the artwork and pictures. The final show of album support tour in Riga, Skonto Stadium was seen by 25 000 people and broke the record of the attendance of this stadium that previously belonged to Depeche Mode.
In 2004 BrainStorm in collaboration with well-known Russian band Bi-2 recorded a song „Skolzkije Ulici“ that was featured in Bi-2 album „Inomarki“. The cooperation proved to be successful. The song peaked number one position in Russia, Latvia and Ukraine and safeguarded BrainStorm’s breakthrough in Russia.
In 2005 BrainStorm once again teamed up with producer Alex Silva who this time worked on the whole album recording „Four Shores“. BrainStorm continued to work on the photos and artwork with A.Corbijn who has became a good friend and advisor. In between the recordings BrainStorm jumped into a tour bus and traveled ten European cities to support R.E.M. Album „Four Shores“ through the gateway duet with Russian Bi2 secured entered the Russian market. In Latvia album support tour was taken to the next level and final show in Riga took place in the biggest outdoor venue „Mezaparks“ selling 40 000 tickets.
In 2006 first ever Best Baltic Act nominee was introduced on annual MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony and the decision of MTV viewers were unambiguous - the trophy belongs to BrainStorm. Latvian version of the next album „Tur kaut kam ir jābūt“ released in 2008 sees the new direction of the sound since band teamed up with well-known local hip-hop artist Gustavo. 2009 the same album with Russian/English lyrics was released in Russia and Ukraine. Sold out solo shows and appearances in Russian leading festivals followed.
English version of the album titled „Years and Seconds“ was released in 2010. Fran Healy (Travis) contributes lyrics for the song „Count My Fingers“ and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) also has written lyrics for a track "Begging For Your Starlight" while British rapper Mercury Award nominee Ty is featured on the recording. With “Years and Seconds” album release band performed at leading global music industry festival SXSW in USA; supported The Magic Numbers in London, UK and had 2 sold out solo shows in such London’s venues as Jazz Café and The Relentless Garage; played main stage at major festival in Beijing China “Modern Sky Festival” and returned to Helsinki, Finland with sold out show in club “On The Rocks”. At the last quarter of the 2010 BrainStorm released last decades “Best off” in Latvian (sold Platinum) and had 2 sold out shows at Arena Riga in total selling 24 000 tickets.
In 2011 the band returnes to studio and works on a new album that is released in 2012. “Another Still Life” was written and recorded in the historic town of Hudson, in the Hudson valley upstate NY, and was mixed in a small studio beneath Radiohead's management office in Oxford, England. During the summer of 2012 BrainStorm toures in native Latvia gathering 89 500 people in 7 dates. In autumn of 2012 they toured Russia in support of the album release there. On the festival season of 2012 BrainStorm played following festivals - The Great Escape (UK), Music Matters (Singapore), Rock For People (Czech Republic), Nashestvije, Kubana, Krilja and Red Rocks (Russia), Watergate (Estonia), Sziget (Hungary), Vilnius Music Week (Lithuania), Culture Collide (USA), Live Sessions Day (Spain), e.t.c. In June of 2013 BrainStorm played in the “Glastonbury Festival” and so became the first band from the Baltics to be playing in this world known festival.
At the start of 2015, the band completed a new album, with Alex Silva as the producer, who has worked with BrainStorm before, on the 2006 album “Four Shores”. The work on the new compositions took place in Berlin, at the legendary Hansa Studio. Traditionally, the first releases of their albums are always held in the mother country of the band - Latvia. And on 10 February 2015, the first single “Ziemu apēst” from the Latvian version of the album named “7 soļi svaiga gaisa” (“7 Steps of Fresh Air”) was released. The same day ticket sales for the summer tour of the band were launched. On 19 May, two versions of the new album were released simultaneously - “7 soļi svaiga gaisa” for Latvia and ”7 Steps of Fresh Air” for Russia and the CIS.
On April 25th 2018, Prāta Vētra released their 13th record with the title "Par to zēnu, kas sit skārda bungas" (latvian version)("About the boy who plays the tin drum" english version and "Wonderful Day" russina version). It features songs in Russian, English and Latvian. To create the art work for the new album, BrainStorm have yet again co-worked with the legendary photographer and director Anton Corbijn. On the eve of the record release, i.e. on 12 April, BrainStorm also released two new music videos. In the Russian-speaking territory and internationally, a video clip for the song "Wonderful Day" was released, whose fragments were shot at the International Space Station by the Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryazansky.
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