It has been one year since we released “On Fire”! It was a tough year, but it bore us the sweetest fruits. Thank you for finding out about us, for listening to our songs, thank you for your support, for your inspiring messages! Our journey is not over. It’s only the first step. Come along!
Ambassador of the Year
We won LRT Award of the Year! We received Ambassador of the Year award for being the ones who spread the name of Lithuania around the World the most. This great evaluation obligates us to carry the Lithuania flag as far as we can. We are extremely happy and thankful!
The A team is back!
Good news on the first day of the new year! The dancers (Miglė & Marijanas) will join us on the Eurovision stage once again! The A team is back on track! We are extremely excited!
The Year of 2020
The end of the year. We wanted to write about it, as usual. But. There were so many things, so many ups and downs, we faced sadness and happiness, gave and received so much love and built up our strength to survive, to bloom and to go forward. If we wrote about all of it, this post would be too long to read. But we know one thing for sure - we reached another level. So at the end of the day - 2020 was the most successful and wonderful year for us. Strange, but it's true.
5 nominees!
We have been noticed and we are happy! Lithuanian M.A.M.A. music awards nominated us in 5 categories:
1. Song of the year "On Fire"
2. Pop band of the year
3. Video of the year "On Fire"
4. Band of the year
5. Breakthrough of the year
The heat is getting higher!
Regarding Eurovision 2021
The question we were hearing since spring will be answered now - we decided to take part in the National Eurovision selection. We have a song and we have a vision. Let's hope it will become Euro-vision.
6 years old!
Today THE ROOP turns 6 years old! Let’s be honest - our journey to this point was not straightforward and easy. We thought it would be a sprint, and it turns out it was a marathon. Here, endurance and motivation are paramount. We have repeatedly heard others saying that we will achieve nothing. Some managers did not want to work with us because they said we were too old and we are not in our twenties anymore. Some people shook their heads when Vaidotas quit all his day jobs and was left with music only, with his savings one month ahead. We had to cross the rivers of sadness, climb the mountains of self disappointment, and had to experience depression. But whatever happened, the desire to create and sing arose like a phoenix from the ashes. Our advice to you is: don't be afraid of long distances towards your dream, there will always be those who want to stop you, because they stand still. Don't listen to them. Listen to those who are also running.
THE ROOP stride forward: first recording session in “Warner Music Finland”
THE ROOP band have just returned from Helsinki following an invitation from one of the top three music record companies in the world - “Warner Music”. New songs were born in the studio of this leviathan of record labels. The result is already intriguing.
“This trip was important, because it was a solid step forward. It marks the beginning of the practical international collaboration. We started recordings in a world class studio, had discussions with music producers and marketing professionals. THE ROOP got to know “Warner Music” company, which works with major music names ranging from Madonna or Dua Lipa to „Red Hot Chili Peppers“, up close. Getting into such a music pool is a historical event”, - said band’s producer Lauras Lučiūnas.
In the professional studio in Finland THE ROOP worked for four days. According to the band, Finns take the pandemic very seriously, so there were no handshakes or other direct contact, but the studio activities were organized just perfectly.
“We are happy with this experience. Working with high level professionals in another country is extremely beneficial. We can already hear good results even though the songs are not completely finished yet.” - spoke Vaidotas Valiukevičius, leader of THE ROOP.
Such business trips will happen more frequently in the future. Parallelly, a lot of work is being done remotely, so possible quarantine or travel restrictions will not stop THE ROOP activities. Currently the band is concentrating on 15 new songs, out of which 9 will be included into the upcoming record. Release is planned for next year.
It’s official! THE ROOP have signed a deal with one of the biggest labels in the world - “Warner Music Group”
Vaidotas Valiukeviučius, THE ROOP vocalist: “This is the result of long and purposeful work. We are happy. Once more we say all countries who feel they are too small - the music world has no borders. We want to inspire others not to let their hands down, not to forsake their creativity, keep on working, and we believe that many more talents will be discovered on a worldwide level”.
Warner Music Group is to strengthen its operations in the Baltics with the opening of an office in Tallinn, Estonia. It’s the first time that Warner Music Baltics , which operates as part of Warner Music Finland, has had a physical base in the region. The label is also building a local roster of artists for the first time.
The label has signed a deal with NOËP, one of Estonia’s most well-known international artists and the Lithuanian band THE ROOP, who are one of the country’s most streamed artists this year and who are also enjoying international success. The band was selected to represent Lithuania at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and went on to win Eurovision 2020 – Das Deutsche Finale, the German alternative TV final aired after the overall competition was cancelled.
Mikko Manninen, Warner Music Baltics’ Director of Operations says: “For the past few years, we’ve been following the music industry’s growth and development in the Baltics closely, as well as recognizing the international potential of artists from the region. There are many extraordinary talented artists, producers and songwriters in the Baltics. Finding new talent and developing artists will be our main focus. I’m sure our artist friendly approach will produce music that can also travel outside the region.”
Mark Fry, President of Warner Music Nordics adds: “As an international music group, we want to play our part in supporting the development and globalization of the Baltics as a growing music market.”
MATTO RESURRECTED THE ROOP’S “KEISTA DRAUGYSTE”
While the summer tour is coming to an end, THE ROOP introduce a remix of their Lithuanian song “Keista Draugystė” (Strange Friendship), made by DJ and music producer Laisvūnas Černovas, better known as Matto.
“I took on remixing “Keista Draugystė” because the original song is a great piece of work which is worth being heard and revived again. The initial idea was to adapt the song to the taste of dance music lovers, to make a remix which is not too far from the original sound, but with some electronic music taste, stronger rhythm”, - told Matto.
THE ROOP band members trusted Matto’s decisions, since they already had a chance to work with him on their hit “On Fire”, which spread beyond Europe.
“It is easy and exciting with Matto. Currently we are finishing ten new THE ROOP songs which will form the upcoming album. Shortly we will introduce one of them to the public”, - intrigued THE ROOP lead singer Vaidotas Valiukevičius.
Video for “Keista Draugystė” remix was made using material from the original video where Vaidotas and his girlfriend Deimantė filmed each other at home. The couple has been together for 13 years.
“The song itself carries a very beautiful message which almost everyone can relate to, because we are all unique and different, our friendships with others are also unique and sometimes even strange. Probably one of the reasons why I had the idea to remix this song was my personal close connection to it and its message”, - confessed Matto.
Big Concert on Vilnius Cathedral Square
You made our dream come true! Yesterday at the concert on Vilnius Cathedral Square the entire crowd sang "On Fire" a cappella! That feeling will stick for long During the whole show you were active, reactive, smiling, and we sent you lots of love. Thank you!
Shot by D.Umbrasas/LRT
#peopleonfire
The second #peopleonfire person! This time it’s a story about Ieva Krivickaitė. She is a kyokushin karate teacher helping children to get to know themselves, others and the world.
When we were filming this story Ieva still had a brown belt. Today she has already earned a black belt. Congratulations!
Creative: Viktorija Aprimaitė
Shot by: Ara Radvilė Juò
Video editor: Augustė Tomkutė
Why do children like us?
Why do children like us? Can you tell us? You send us thousands of videos of your kids listening and dancing. You visit our concerts with your families, you stop us in the strees to take pictures. This is a huge and pleasant acknowledgement. We haven't found the answer yet. Kids often just hug Vaidotas. They're eager to communicate and show the dance. Publicly it's the kids who recognize us even when we are in sunglasses or masks. That pure love is one of the biggests gifts. Thank you for it!
THE ROOP is spreading Lithuania's name
SOME FACTS. Lithuania's name mention monitoring in foreign media in 2020. “Culture topic is one of the positive dimentions in the first half of the year. Lithuanian culture and achievements of Lithuanian artists are recognized by international media, and glorifies the name of our country. Significantly positive amount of reactions was generated by this year's representatives in the "Eurovision" song contest - "The Roop" - and their victories in alternative "Eurovision" contests.”
Belarus!
We see, we hear and we support people of Belarus (Gudija), who pursue democratic elections and wish to steer the life of their country in a new direction of freedom. Huge tectonic fractures of the country are taking place. Changes are indispensable. Dear neighbors, be brave and united! And we will help as much as we can. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of opposition, is safe with us in Lithuania.
Be On Fire!
#peopleonfire
#peopleonfire – people who carry fire within them! Create, live, feel, express, experience, love, initiate, change others, change yourself. These are people who, despite age, sex, eye color, height, place of living and everything else, welcome life with open hearts.
Starting today we will be telling such people’s stories which will inspire and remind us about ourselves!
Beata Tiškevič - founder of the nebegėda.lt platform, actress, author of the book VYVENIMAS, public figure. She is a woman, who inspires for a discussion and changes!
Beata is the first #peopleonfire person who will tell about her inner fire. Let's watch!
Creative: Viktorija Aprimaitė
Shot by: Ara Radvilė Juò
We have written new international level hits
Vaidotas: I just want to say it. I can’t contain myself. We have written new international level hits. I say it as firmly as I spoke about “On Fire” from the very beginning. If these songs were performed by worldwide A-class well-known musicians, they would become total hits. However... we have the product, but we are still to learn how to package and distribute it wisely and widely. We are working on it. I really trust the universe will arrange everything in the way which would allow us to carry the name of Lithuania and THE ROOP far. Amen.
ROOPmobile
Now getting about becomes even easier. See you around in the streets and in concerts! CityBee THE ROOP car is out on the road!
The Klaipėda Sea Festival was something incredible!
The Klaipėda Sea Festival was something incredible! First of all, an interesting decision was to have a mobile stage on wheels and this way reaching more people. Thanks to the organizers who invented this idea, thanks to the police and technical crew, who escorted our whole convoy, thanks to the audience who, from the very first sounds, sent us love and with endurance followed us to the next spot. Thank you for a real festivity! We all together were on fire!🔥
Photos by Fotopolis.lt
Live video
The song which we are always looking forward to playing in our concerts. Dare to dream and fly. Live video of “Dream On” taken from our concert.