We love a meaty press release. And the producers behind Latvia’s Supernova 2025 have dropped a juicy one. It reveals the 20 semi-finalists for their national selection, which will consist of a semi-final on February 1, and a final a week later on February 8.
Among the acts are two Eurovision veterans. Citi Zēni (“Eat Your Salad”), who placed 14th in their semi-final at Eurovision 2022, and Justs (“Heartbeat”), who placed 15th in the grand final of Eurovision 2016.
Another familiar name on the list is Markus Riva. The Latvian singer, TV personality, and Only Fans star has competed in nine editions of Latvia’s national selection, coming second in 2015 (“Take Me Down”) and 2019 (“You Make Me So Crazy”). This will be his 10th appearance.
You’ll be able to hear all of their songs on December 4. You can also watch all of them in our thread on Blue Sky and X.
PRESS RELEASE
The jury of the Latvian Television (LTV) song contest “Supernova” has selected 20 participants for the semifinal, who will compete in a live broadcast on February 1, 2025, for a spot in the final. The winner of the contest, determined by the jury and viewers in the final vote on February 8, will have the opportunity to represent Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest in May in Basel, Switzerland.
In the semifinal, viewers will have the opportunity to get to know the participants and evaluate their song performances live, while in the final, they will choose the winner of the contest. Both in the semifinal and final, the roles of the viewers and the jury will be equally important – the winner will be determined based on the combined results of the audience’s call and text vote and the jury’s vote.
Latvia: The Supernova 2025 semi-finalists
Adelina with the song “Electric Love”
(Music – Adelina Jurevica and Nicolas Jirahos (Purple Juice), Lyrics – AdelinaJurevica)
A versatile Latvian musician who has been developing her talent in London for over ten years. Her international recognition was boosted by the success of the song “One World.” The song was produced with the participation of Grammy Award winner RedOne and the pop group “Now United.” Adelina considers herself a citizen of the world and takes pride in representing the community of female music producers. Her uncompromising spirit encourages the fight against stereotypes and inspires other women in the music industry to follow their own path.
Chris Noah with the song “Romance Isn’t Dead”
(Music and Lyrics – Krists Indrišonoks and Kristofer Harris)
A Latvian musician who blends indie and pop music elements, gaining widespread recognition for his unique voice and melodies. His 2016 single “You” became one of the most-played songs in Latvia and won the AKKA/LAA “Copyright Infinity Award” in 2017. In 2018, his mini album “What About Tomorrow?” was nominated for the “Golden Microphone” in the Best Debut category. In 2020, he released the mini album “Distance,” and in 2022, “Red Light.” Chris Noah also writes songs for other artists, including Lithuania’s Eurovision representative Monika Linkytė, whose song “Stay” placed 11th in the final.
“Citi Zēni” with the song “Ramtai”
(Music – Toms Jēkabs Kagainis, Emmy Kristine Guttulsud Kristiansen, Oscar Immanuel Mathisen, Mikus Frišfelds, and Dagnis Roziņš, Lyrics – Jānis Pētersons, Dagnis Roziņš, Toms Jēkabs Kagainis, and Mikus Frišfelds)
Band whose music is described as “first shaking and then opening a fresh tonic can.” Explosive performance energy and an eccentric style are the band’s trademarks. “Citi Zēni” has released two studio albums – “Suņi iziet ielās” (2021) and “Cits līmenis” (2024). The band’s hits have gained recognition from both listeners and critics, earning a “Golden Microphone” and triumphing at the “Muzikālā banka” awards. In 2022, the band represented Latvia at Eurovision with the song “Eat Your Salad.” The band consists of Jānis Pētersons (vocals), Dagnis Roziņš (vocals & saxophone), Toms Jēkabs Kagainis (drums), Krišjānis Ozols (guitar), and Reinis Višķeris (synthesizer).
Emilija with the song “Heartbeat”
(Music – Emilija Bērziņa, Niels Sakko, and Kaiya Campbell, Lyrics – Emilija Bērziņa, Niels Sakko, and Kaiya Campbell)
A musician and songwriter whose debut single “Sirds pelnos” became a hit, while her second single “Noticēt sev” entered the top charts of Latvian radio stations in the spring of 2024 and was widely streamed on various music platforms. Emilija’s unique vocal timbre and music performance style have captured the hearts of many listeners. She continues to create new music.
Grēta with the song “Monster”
(Music and Lyrics – Grēta Grantiņa, Emma Gale, Kristaps Ērglis, Jēkabs Ludvigs Kalmanis, and Simon Davis)
A musician who has appeared on stage relatively recently, yet she has already signed a contract with “Universal Music Group.” She has released her debut album “Vēl aizvien man sapņos.” For her first single “Pāries,” Grēta Grantiņa won a “Golden Microphone.” Her most popular song is “Pēdējais piliens,” which has reached over 600 thousand streams on streaming platforms.
JULIANNA with the song “Something In The Water”
(Music and Lyrics – Julianna Tīruma)
Having studied classical music while also exploring gospel music, the singer began writing original music during her jazz studies. In her final year of studies, Julianna turned to music production, collaborating with producers and DJs in Spain. She developed a love for electronic dance music and began DJing in various European cities. Currently, Julianna is working on two albums – one of them, created in collaboration with producer Artis Boriss in Tallinn, will feature R&B and house music styles. Two songs, “My Name” and “Moon Phases,” are already available on music streaming platforms. In her second album, the musician will focus on acoustic sounds and highlight the lyrics of her songs.
Justs with the song “Fit Right”
(Music – Justs Sirmais, Aluel Ayok-Loewenberg, Oskars Uhans, and Rūdolfs Budze, Lyrics – Justs Sirmais, Aluel Ayok, and Oskars Uhans)
The musician began his career as a street performer. A few years later, he was invited to join the Latvian hip-hop group “Gacho,” where he performed at concerts and contributed to the creation of the album “Smaids līdz ausīm.” In 2016, Justs participated in the Eurovision final in Stockholm with his debut single “Heartbeat.” Continuing his solo career, he released several singles and his debut album “Here I Am” in 2018. In 2019, Justs began studying music production at the BIMM music institute in Bristol, and later returned to Latvia, performing both with his band and as a solo artist.
Katrīna Gupalo with the song “Scarlett Challenger”
(Music – Katrīna Gupalo and Edgars Vilcāns, Lyrics – Katrīna Gupalo)
A singer, composer, and pianist who has studied music in California, London, and Riga. She has performed in various countries and at major concert halls in Latvia. In 2018, she released her debut album “Gentle and Done” and participated in the “Supernova” semifinals. In 2020, Katrīna released the music album “7 skumjas zvaigznes” by Imants Kalniņš. Her song “Resistance,” in support of Ukraine, brought together over 40 musicians and was also nominated for the public media’s cultural award “Kilograms kultūras.” Last year, her song “The Cat’s Song” placed 3rd in the “Supernova” competition.
“KoBra” with the song “Zelts”
(Music and Lyrics – Katrīna Kovaļuka and Krišjānis Brasliņš)
Krišjānis Brasliņš and Katrīna Kovaļuka, students at the Latvian Academy of Arts, met in 2023 and formed a duet. Combining Katrīna’s skills in audiovisual communication with Krišjānis’ talent in fashion design, they have created their own original music and began performing in the summer of 2024. For their debut single “Aizbiedēt,” the musicians directed and filmed the music video themselves. The “KoBra” duo is ready to introduce the world to Latvian music.
LEGZDINA and “Bel Tempo” with the song “The Water”
(Music – Andis Ansons, Jūlijs Melngailis, and Elīza Legzdiņa, Lyrics – Elīza Legzdiņa and Jūlijs Melngailis)
LEGZDINA began her creative journey in London, participating in poetry nights with DJ James Massiah and collaborating with Bianca Oblivion and Idris Elba. “Bel Tempo” is an indie and electronic music duo consisting of singer Jūlijs Melngailis and producer Andis Ansons. The duo’s mini album “Pessimismus” was nominated for the “Golden Microphone” in 2023 as Best Electronic Music Album and Best Debut Album of the Year. The musicians had previously collaborated on the track “DeepBluSea,” which is featured both on the “Bel Tempo” mini album and in a short film of the same name.
LUKA with the song “Stronger”
(Music and Lyrics – Philippus Jacob Kumerling, Kaspars Ansons, and Elizabete Lukaševiča)
LUKA (Elizabete Lukaševiča) studied at the Riga Dome Choir School, where she sang in the school’s gospel choir, the ensemble “Momo,” and the studio “Tev un man.” She has been a participant and laureate in various young vocalist competitions and has taken part in concert programs such as “Mana roka tavējā,” “Ir klusa nakts,” and “Pūt vējiņi,” as well as performing at Jānis Lūsēns’ 60th anniversary concerts. Currently, she is involved in the concert performance “Galms PaGalmā,” directed by Rēzija Kalniņa, and is studying pop vocal techniques with vocal coach Annija Oueijan.
Markus Riva with the song “Bigger Than This”
(Music – Markus Riva and Roman Nepomiashchyi, Lyrics – Markus Riva)
A versatile artist, Markus Riva is a singer, songwriter, producer, DJ, actor, and TV host. He has released pop and electronic dance music albums and singles in several languages. His hits, such as “Take Me Down” and “Kamēr vien mēs esam,” have gained popularity in Latvia and beyond. In 2024, Markus Riva released the album “Bigger Than This” in collaboration with Warner Music Poland. He has participated multiple times in the “Supernova” song contest, securing second place in both 2015 and 2019.
Marta with the song “Lovable”
(Music and Lyrics – Marta Grigale, Michaela Stridbeck, Joel Werner, Jānis Jačmenkins, and Reinis Straume)
Marta Grigale is a singer and songwriter. She studied at the London Music College and has released several albums, gaining recognition in both local music charts and the hearts of her listeners. Since 2023, Marta has begun taking her first steps into the international music scene, writing songs in English and establishing international musical collaborations.
PALÚ with the song “Delusional”
(Music – Roberts Memmēns, Lyrics – Olga Palušina and Jorens Daugulis)
The singer PALÚ (Olga Palušina) participated in the Lithuanian show “Lietuvos Balsas” in January 2023, where she received positive feedback from the jury and joined the team of Eurovision participant Monika Liu. The musician continues to actively develop her musical career, creating songs that reflect her personal stories.
Rūta Dūduma with the song “Chemical”
(Music – Jēkabs Ludvigs Kalmanis, Tilde Wall, and Rūta Dūduma-Ķirse, Lyrics – Tilde Wall)
A laureate of several international competitions, Rūta Dūduma is the lead singer of the vocal group “Framest” and the musical collective “Vintāža.” She actively performs, participates in various theater and musical productions, and teaches vocal lessons. She won the jazz vocalist competition “Nomme Jazz” in Estonia (2013) and placed 3rd at “Riga Jazz Stage” (2018). The musician has previously participated in the “Supernova” song contest in 2015 and 2016. This year, the singer will release her debut solo album “Pajums.”
“Sinerģija” with the song “Bound By The Light”
(Music and Lyrics – Madara Fogelmane)
A duet consisting of vocalist, cellist, and songwriter Madara Fogelmane and kanklės player Marte Līce has been performing for eight years. Madara writes songs incorporating Marte’s instrumental play, creating concert meditations. Currently, they are working on their first studio album “Būs miers” in collaboration with producer Jānis Narbuts. The musicians are actively performing and have released two singles – “Visas zemes zāle zied” and “Gaismu tumsā.” Madara Fogelmane holds a master’s degree from the Amsterdam and Brussels conservatories and participated in the “Supernova” competition in 2018 with the song “Esamība.” Marte Līce is a music therapist who has mastered the ethnographic kanklės playing technique and leads musical meditations. She studied art therapy at Riga Stradins University, earning a master’s degree.
“Tautumeitas” with the song “Bur man laimi”
(Music – Asnate Rancāne, Aurēlija Rancāne, Elvis Lintiņš, and Laura Līcīte, Lyrics – Latvian folk song lyrics).
An ethno and pop music group that combines Latvian folk song melodies and lyrics with modern beats, creating a strong Latvian sound. The group expresses itself creatively by developing its visual image, where costumes and crowns reflect how close both traditional and futuristic values are to the musicians. Several members have studied ethnomusicology, so the group’s music shows the influence of folk music from various countries. The group’s debut album “Tautumeitas” won the “Golden Microphone” award for Best Folk/World Music Album of the Year in 2018, while the album “Dziesmas no Aulejas” (2020) won the award for Best Folk/World Music Album. The group has performed not only in Latvia but also in China, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, France, and Poland.
“Tepat” with the song “Sadzejot”
(Music – Krišjānis Laizāns, Madara Dzene, Eduards Bariss, Enriko Luiss Korvisons-Rohass, Andris Žabris, and Matīss Barons, Lyrics – Madara Dzene).
A six-musician ensemble performing music in the neo-soul genre, while also experimenting with other genres. The group was formed in early 2024 and consists of Madara Dzene (vocals), Matīss Barons (keyboards), Eduards Bariss (guitar), Krišjānis Laizāns (bass guitar), Enriko Korvisons (saxophone, vocals), and Andris Žabris (drums). All the members have received jazz education, and their greatest musical and stage experience has been gained in this genre. Madara, Enriko, Krišjānis, and Matīss have known each other since studying at the Jāzeps Mediņš Riga Music High School, while they met Eduards and Andris while studying at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. The group constantly searches for new sounds, improvises, and experiments. In 2024, they released their debut single “Nepietiekami tuvu” and mini album “Saldāks par vīnu”.
The Ludvig with the song “Līgo”
(Music – Jānis Ķirsis and Ārijs Šķepasts, Lyrics – Jānis Ķirsis and Jēkabs Kalmanis).
Jēkabs Ludvigs Kalmanis a.k.a. The Ludvig gained widespread recognition in 2017, becoming the youngest participant in the “Supernova” competition and securing second place with the song “I’m in Love with You.” He has released several well-received songs, collaborated with the band “Triānas Parks,”Raimonds Pauls, Rūta Dūduma, and other artists, and is also actively working as a producer and DJ.
Toms Kalderauskis with the song “Domāju, tu nāc”
(Music – Toms Kalderauskis, Lyrics – Toms Kalderauskis and Kate Elpo)
Latvian musical theater actor, singer, and songwriter. He has won award placements in various vocal competitions and graduated from the Jāzeps Mediņš Riga Music High School. Toms Kalderauskis made his pop music debut in 2017 with the song “We Won’t Back Down.” To date, he has released seven singles, participated in music competitions and shows, and worked in musical theater. Currently, the musician is creating his first solo album, with the song “Domāju, tu nāc” serving as its preview. Toms Kalderauskis takes pride in singing in Latvian and is convinced that the Latvian language should be heard in Europe and around the world.
All of the semifinal songs will be available for listening in full lenght from December 4th of this year in supernova.lsm.lv and “LTV Supernova” YouTube account.
The inclusion of songs and performers in the “Supernova”competition semifinal was determined by a jury selected by LTV, consisting of representatives from Latvia’s music industry, event industry, and television, as well as international professionals. For security reasons, the names of the LTV jury members will only be revealed after the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
The “Supernova” semifinal will take place on February 1st at 9:10 PM on LTV1 and REplay.lv.
