Inguna Galvina of the Los Angeles Latvian community center tried to get me to meet you over 10 years ago with the idea we would like to collaborate creatively. Let's just say I got soured to the idea, when I saw a video you made of her and others in the community that seemed like how Sacha Cohen used Romanians in Borat. Nevertheless, your Latvian train music video was pretty good, good enough for me to want to tell you so. Latvians (and also the Jews there) suffered greatly for so long. I estimate that I'm about 4% Jewish. The sadness you captured in your video seems very authentic, and I think everyone of Latvian heritage carries at least some of that sadness deep down.
hey arnie - Inguna invited us to perform there , I certainly didn’t intend to be using Latvians by performing and having fun singing with everyone - but very glad you were able to see this new video and feel the spiritual kinship of it all! :)
I'm sure no harm was intended. I'm sorry about your father passing, and how you almost lost Ethan around the same time. I am glad that you have gotten along with various Latvians. Us Latvians are in many ways strange and (I think) wonderful. National Geographic in 1992 correctly described Latvians as "Poet Scientists," in that we have a dual nature, one foot in the arts, and one usually in science or something else very concrete. Most Latvian boys are told that they are to either be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. I ended up being an engineer.
I learned today that your dad was a beat poet in San Francisco. Interestingly enough, I had an older Latvian cousin who was a fairly famous beat poet who also lived in San Francisco. Ivars Lindbergs, who your father must have known. His poetry is as dark and sad as is possible. My path on spirituality fortunately took me off that road of total despair at one point.
Well, I'm happy for you on your successes. I hope for your sake, it does not simply go all to your head. I have known far too many people in the entertainment biz to think they became gods, even people just on the fringes of it. The Los Angeles Latvian center definitely attracts successful Latvians who think that they became gods. Sadly, this is one reason I really don't hang out there much any more.
Nothing's gone to my head.... it's too much of a daily struggle! I'll check out Ivars Lindbergs - I wish I could ask my dad about him. And yes, one of the reasons I like Latvia is even the non-artists seem to have artist souls. I like the description "Poet Scientists." Darkness can be an addiction, though - I'm glad you found a little more Līgo in your soul.
Good to hear that your struggle is daily. I won't bore you with my story of my own struggles. And yes, darkness can be an addiction, and especially a confusion, when the darkness finds a way to produce a false light. I certainly wouldn't mind being a resource of information in helpful ways on this and other things. I have aspired to be a polymath ("Renaissance Man") and this path has led me to an understanding of things that (as arrogant as this sounds) is probably more important than anything you can imagine. Ever hear that saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none"? Polymaths are the proof such a saying is wrong. Knowledge is synergistic, in that the combination of multiple sources of different kinds of information is greater than the mere non-integration of its parts.
I also have lots more I can tell you about the Latvian psyche, both good and bad, but I think that in order to avoid being the target of my fellow Latvians, I would have to take that very interesting conversation offline. Suffice it to say, but my crazy upbringing as a Latvian-American was enough to provide a lifetime's worth of creative inspiration for my artwork of any sort.
LOL, you use "līgo" in a way I'm not familiar with. It of course is tied to Midsummer's festivities, something I only was involved with once. Found out you don't drive a km/hr over the speed limit in Latvia on holidays (got a speeding ticket). I'm guessing the Latvian who used that word that way might have been referring to a similar word, līgot, which means "to sway." Lots of ancient Latvian songs talking about swaying, similar to how a baby is rocked in the old cradles. I will take a wild guess that this could either mean finding my rhythm or balance in life. I would say that I have found that in wonderful ways, and a big purpose of my life is to help other people find that kind of līgo . Ar Labu Nakti and shalom.
This is such an inspiring share on every level. Thank you for writing this and sharing your journey. I’m writing about my own father’s death and sometimes wonder if it even matters. You proved that art matters. I connected to my story and thought of yours and how our journeys, while so different, are unified in the depth of swirling feelings and humanness of trying to make sense of it all. And the music video- wow. I’m watching it over and over again. So may gorgeous shots and the longing and depth of isolation in a moving train … whoa. This was the most beautiful start to my day in believing in the power of art and music and expression.
Thank you Samantha. Yes, each life matters, each death matters. It's confusing because with all the strife in the world, sometimes I'm like "why am I putting out this hyper-personal art"? But yes, it's (hopefully) not about me, but a reminder of humanity for everyone who stumbles on it...
Dude…. Very poignant you shared this on the eclipse today. Smash up of your brother’s words your visuals and this larger story breaks my heart open even wider. I can feel your processing, the grief, the joy, the blood, sweat, shit and tears. What a gift you offer to be in the vulnerability and messy parts of life with you. The photos of you and your dad bring me back to the moments I shared with my own as he transitioned. I think I wiped more shit off his balls than any daughter “should”. The best part of it all in a sense was the fact that he wasn’t even really aware that it was me doing it. Small mercies bring huge rewards in a random way. Being able to care for him in some of his final moments are strangely some of my most tender memories.
Thank you for this exquisite piece of art and creativity. My mind races to how does one get this to the world to see. It’s pure magic. My black wolf and I loved it. Thank you to you both and keep it coming. Much love , your neighbor and comrade in courageous creativity for conscious souls. ✌🏼 Toni xxx
I'm glad you caught the magic - my brother unlocked the video during the first minute of the eclipse, and my story dropped at 4:44 latvian time.... too much magical thinking can hurt the brain, but sometimes it's good to work underneath surfaces. Thank you for sharing that you went down that road with your father too - we are lucky if we can take care of our elders.
So fun to be playing in between worlds with you. I was awake all morning even though it was cloudy in New York. The downloads came in my sleep a minute i close my eyes and rested my mind. Such fantastic fun -reminding me of exactly what you both encapsulated in your story and video… we are here to love. We’re here to dance. We are here to feel to share those reflections.. thank you for offering me the way to see myself in all of your worlds. Toni xx
This is so poignant and well written. I am blown away by the emotion it invoked. My condolences on your loss, may your dad's memory be a blessing.
Thank you Bill. My hope is that sharing stories this intimately, which some people find strange, is a counterweight to anxiety-click-culture.
Inguna Galvina of the Los Angeles Latvian community center tried to get me to meet you over 10 years ago with the idea we would like to collaborate creatively. Let's just say I got soured to the idea, when I saw a video you made of her and others in the community that seemed like how Sacha Cohen used Romanians in Borat. Nevertheless, your Latvian train music video was pretty good, good enough for me to want to tell you so. Latvians (and also the Jews there) suffered greatly for so long. I estimate that I'm about 4% Jewish. The sadness you captured in your video seems very authentic, and I think everyone of Latvian heritage carries at least some of that sadness deep down.
hey arnie - Inguna invited us to perform there , I certainly didn’t intend to be using Latvians by performing and having fun singing with everyone - but very glad you were able to see this new video and feel the spiritual kinship of it all! :)
I'm sure no harm was intended. I'm sorry about your father passing, and how you almost lost Ethan around the same time. I am glad that you have gotten along with various Latvians. Us Latvians are in many ways strange and (I think) wonderful. National Geographic in 1992 correctly described Latvians as "Poet Scientists," in that we have a dual nature, one foot in the arts, and one usually in science or something else very concrete. Most Latvian boys are told that they are to either be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. I ended up being an engineer.
I learned today that your dad was a beat poet in San Francisco. Interestingly enough, I had an older Latvian cousin who was a fairly famous beat poet who also lived in San Francisco. Ivars Lindbergs, who your father must have known. His poetry is as dark and sad as is possible. My path on spirituality fortunately took me off that road of total despair at one point.
Well, I'm happy for you on your successes. I hope for your sake, it does not simply go all to your head. I have known far too many people in the entertainment biz to think they became gods, even people just on the fringes of it. The Los Angeles Latvian center definitely attracts successful Latvians who think that they became gods. Sadly, this is one reason I really don't hang out there much any more.
Nothing's gone to my head.... it's too much of a daily struggle! I'll check out Ivars Lindbergs - I wish I could ask my dad about him. And yes, one of the reasons I like Latvia is even the non-artists seem to have artist souls. I like the description "Poet Scientists." Darkness can be an addiction, though - I'm glad you found a little more Līgo in your soul.
Good to hear that your struggle is daily. I won't bore you with my story of my own struggles. And yes, darkness can be an addiction, and especially a confusion, when the darkness finds a way to produce a false light. I certainly wouldn't mind being a resource of information in helpful ways on this and other things. I have aspired to be a polymath ("Renaissance Man") and this path has led me to an understanding of things that (as arrogant as this sounds) is probably more important than anything you can imagine. Ever hear that saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none"? Polymaths are the proof such a saying is wrong. Knowledge is synergistic, in that the combination of multiple sources of different kinds of information is greater than the mere non-integration of its parts.
I also have lots more I can tell you about the Latvian psyche, both good and bad, but I think that in order to avoid being the target of my fellow Latvians, I would have to take that very interesting conversation offline. Suffice it to say, but my crazy upbringing as a Latvian-American was enough to provide a lifetime's worth of creative inspiration for my artwork of any sort.
LOL, you use "līgo" in a way I'm not familiar with. It of course is tied to Midsummer's festivities, something I only was involved with once. Found out you don't drive a km/hr over the speed limit in Latvia on holidays (got a speeding ticket). I'm guessing the Latvian who used that word that way might have been referring to a similar word, līgot, which means "to sway." Lots of ancient Latvian songs talking about swaying, similar to how a baby is rocked in the old cradles. I will take a wild guess that this could either mean finding my rhythm or balance in life. I would say that I have found that in wonderful ways, and a big purpose of my life is to help other people find that kind of līgo . Ar Labu Nakti and shalom.
This is such an inspiring share on every level. Thank you for writing this and sharing your journey. I’m writing about my own father’s death and sometimes wonder if it even matters. You proved that art matters. I connected to my story and thought of yours and how our journeys, while so different, are unified in the depth of swirling feelings and humanness of trying to make sense of it all. And the music video- wow. I’m watching it over and over again. So may gorgeous shots and the longing and depth of isolation in a moving train … whoa. This was the most beautiful start to my day in believing in the power of art and music and expression.
Thank you Samantha. Yes, each life matters, each death matters. It's confusing because with all the strife in the world, sometimes I'm like "why am I putting out this hyper-personal art"? But yes, it's (hopefully) not about me, but a reminder of humanity for everyone who stumbles on it...
Dude…. Very poignant you shared this on the eclipse today. Smash up of your brother’s words your visuals and this larger story breaks my heart open even wider. I can feel your processing, the grief, the joy, the blood, sweat, shit and tears. What a gift you offer to be in the vulnerability and messy parts of life with you. The photos of you and your dad bring me back to the moments I shared with my own as he transitioned. I think I wiped more shit off his balls than any daughter “should”. The best part of it all in a sense was the fact that he wasn’t even really aware that it was me doing it. Small mercies bring huge rewards in a random way. Being able to care for him in some of his final moments are strangely some of my most tender memories.
Thank you for this exquisite piece of art and creativity. My mind races to how does one get this to the world to see. It’s pure magic. My black wolf and I loved it. Thank you to you both and keep it coming. Much love , your neighbor and comrade in courageous creativity for conscious souls. ✌🏼 Toni xxx
I'm glad you caught the magic - my brother unlocked the video during the first minute of the eclipse, and my story dropped at 4:44 latvian time.... too much magical thinking can hurt the brain, but sometimes it's good to work underneath surfaces. Thank you for sharing that you went down that road with your father too - we are lucky if we can take care of our elders.
So fun to be playing in between worlds with you. I was awake all morning even though it was cloudy in New York. The downloads came in my sleep a minute i close my eyes and rested my mind. Such fantastic fun -reminding me of exactly what you both encapsulated in your story and video… we are here to love. We’re here to dance. We are here to feel to share those reflections.. thank you for offering me the way to see myself in all of your worlds. Toni xx
Wow. Somehow I missed updates and didn’t realize the timing or severity of things for Ethan. So grateful he pulled through. Love you both so much. 🫶
Wow - what a song - what a story - what a video!! Fantastic work bros!!
thanks j mar!!
Poignantly beautiful. I refuse to give up in the hope of humanity...Thank you for sharing.
thank u
Thank you Ari for this moving moment. - I'm amways Sad - The music, Ethan's lyrics, and the video touched me deeply.
Best regards,
Richard
i’m very glad, Richard, my brother and I of course creatively fight a lot but it seems to push to deeper places!