REINIS Jāunais will play 20 dates around New Zealand this summer.
VIENNA, Lisbon, Seville, Zurich, Riga … Mairoa. Latvian guitarist Reinis Jāunais has entertained festival crowds across Europe and Asia. He’s played on lakes and in castles – even in a swamp– but this summer, he and his family are based at his sister’s home in a tiny hamlet outside Piopio. When the King Country News caught up with him, he was feeling awake and happy… despite a late night coming home from a trip playing concerts in Auckland and Mount Maunganui. That’s just normal for him, he said. Reinis’ current New Zealand tour includes 20 dates across the North and South Islands. He loves playing unique, underground venues. “Interesting places run independently by some punks and hippies. Once in the Netherlands, near Utrecht, people invited me to play at “Swamp”, that was the name of a little festival. “I got there, and I was like, ‘Hey! It’s really a swamp,” and then some people showed up and started to build the stage with their hands, using some recycled materials and even trash. [Those] crazy alternative, independently run places, they are probably my favourite rather than the usual venues. Reinis recently played a Latvian summer festival concert on a pontoon on a lake: people enjoyed the show from boats and kayaks. “The King Country is my favourite part of New Zealand because my sister and my relatives live over here … I feel this place is like my second home. “We love the glowworm caves and the hills and mountains and rivers and cliffs, nature. Kiritihere beach is my favourite. The first time I tried surfing was over there. It’s this beautiful place with great memories.” Reinis plays fingerstyle guitar with percussive elements and electronic looping, which he’s become interested in over the past three years. He mostly plays solo, although he does perform with Latvian cellist Andris Buikis and a crew of fingerstyle guitarists from Italy and Latvia. He has composed his own songs for nearly 20 years, across eight albums. Zeme (Earth) from 2020 was an international collaboration recorded online during Covid and featuring musicians from countries like Australia and Nepal, as well as the Baltic states. Another is Kleja from 2021. His diverse musical influences include British guitarist and songwriter Jon Gomm, although Reinis says his own sound is totally different. “There are so many musicians who inspired me, from all different styles from classical music, electronic music, heavy music and rock music as well.” On January 7 he will play at Solscape in Raglan at 7pm. Albums, music videos and tour dates are available at facebook.com/reinis.jaunais or his website reinisjaunais.com
REINIS Jāunais will play 20 dates around New Zealand this summer.
