This is the 15th year that the Latvian Music Information Centre (LMIC) is taking part in the World Music Expo WOMEX which is being held digitally from 21st till 25th of October. LMIC is organizing a virtual video stand where an ethnomusic compilation “Native Music. Traditional / Folk / World-Music Latvia” is being presented.
This album was compiled by ethnomusicologist Lauma Bērza and it includes recordings of the groups "ZeMe", "Tautumeitas", "Laiksne", "Auļi" (in cooperation with the groups "Suitu sievas", "Suitu vīri", "Suitu dūdenieki", "Vilkači ","Tarkšķi ","Vilkači","Dūdinieki un bundzinieki"),"Iļģi","Dārdi","Saucējas", "Jauno Jāņu orķestris", "Sventava” with Māris Muktupāvels, "Rikši", as well as musicians Ansis Jansons and Kārlis Rudra Jirgens. The designer of the album is Vadims Kožins and cover photo authors are Gatis Indrēvics and Mārtiņš Milevskis. This year, for the first time, the compilation in cooperation with the national record company "Skani" is also available to a wider audience both in music stores in Latvia and on all music streaming services in the world.
WOMEX is the world's largest international music forum, bringing together nearly 3,000 musicians, publishers, producers, festival organizers and other music industry professionals from around the world for 26 years. Also this year, WOMEX gives the world's music experts and interested people the opportunity to meet virtually, participate in conferences, seminars, as well as listen to and watch showcases and films.
The compilation as well as the participation at the digital edition of WOMEX of the representatives of the LMIC, Culture Management Center "Lauska", World Music Festival "Porta", music groups "Tautumeitas", "Saucējas", "Dagamba", "Very Cool People", "ZeMe" and "Māsas Dimantas" is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation.