Latvia kick off their annual national selection Supernova this weekend, and it promises to be another strong season of alternative and unique musicians. One act that would certainly be unique to the Eurovision bubble is Rahu the Fool, a specially authentic folk band from the capital, and we got the chance to speak to them!
Hello Rahu the Fool!
First of all thank you for your time talking to us. How are you? Can you introduce yourselves? What can you tell us about yourselves?
We are fine, thanks! We are a four piece band from Riga, Latvia, and we play music inspired by our grandfather’s tales of love and war, one-liners by the bar and little bit of everything that surrounds our daily life.
The song that you will be presenting for Supernova is “Oh Longriver”. What can you tell us about the song?
It is an ode to a special place we share together in our musical adventures – it is our soloist Pēteris’ summer house in a small Latvian village called Garupe, which literally means “long river”. That place, located near the sea and surrounded by pine tree forest and a lake that looks like a river, has done lots of good things to us and our friends. Lots of good parties, to be exact. And some UFO sightings too!
What was the inspiration for the song, and did you write it specifically for Supernova and Eurovision?
Inspiration for the song is the beauty and mysteries of Garupe, and all the good times we have had there.
What is your impression of the Eurovision Song Contest in general? Do you watch it every year? What is your favourite entry?
We’re not big fans of it, to be honest! First impression of it – it is bright and with lots of lasers on stage. We don’t watch it every year, and we don’t have a favourite entry.
Do you think performing at the Eurovision Song Contest will have a positive impact on your career?
Yes, definitely!
What is the best bit of advice you have ever been given?
None that we can remember. Many bits of advice have passed our ears, none of them of any significance.
What’s the one thing that might surprise people about you?
Hard to tell. We are a very ordinary band. The double bass player might surprise people sometimes, because she is a pretty girl who likes to get into fights, and sometimes she has a black eye. Imagine a 5 feet short girl, playing double bass, with bruises on her face!
Can you tell us about your first experience with music?
Long time ago, when we were small children, we all went to a gypsy astrologer, and she showed each of us a special star constellation that would lead us further in our lives. When we did bring all the four constellations together, they formed what looked like a band of four with music instruments. So we decided to form a band, and do what the astrologer lady said, which we are doing ever since – music and all the other things which we can’t mention, as they are very private, he he.
We would like to thank Rahu the Fool for their time talking to us and wish them best of luck in the first semi-final of Supernova tomorrow!
What do #YOU think of Latvia’s Rahu the Fool? Share your thoughts with us on our forum HERE or join the discussion below and on social media!
