Arnis Mednis

Arnis Mednis (born 18 October 1961) is a Latvian jazz, funk and pop singer, pianist, and songwriter. He rose to fame in the 1980s with his soulful blend of genres. The singer began his music career as the keyboardist. Later he became lead vocalist of the jazz-funk band Odis, one of Latvia’s first groups to perform Western soul and funk music. Mednis gained international attention when he represented Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 with his self-penned song “Too Much”. Over the years, he has released seven studio albums and numerous singles, becoming a respected figure in Latvian music with a distinctive jazz-influenced style.

Early Years and Jazz-Funk Beginnings

Arnis Mednis was born in Riga and grew up in a musical family. He studied classical music at the prestigious Emīls Dārziņš Music School and later at the Latvian State Conservatory, developing strong piano and composition skills. In 1986, he co-founded the band Odis, which quickly stood out in the late Soviet-era Latvian scene for its vibrant mix of jazz, soul, and funk. Mednis started in Odis as a keyboard player, but soon became the lead singer as he honed his vocal talent. Notably, he was among the first Latvian artists to perform songs in English, aligning with Odis’s soulful, funk-oriented sound at the time. By the end of the 1980s, Odis had built a reputation for lively, genre-blending performances that brought a fresh, Western-influenced energy to Latvian pop music.

Rise to Fame in the 1990s

In the early 1990s, Arnis Mednis and Odis achieved significant success at home and abroad. The band won top honors at the Liepājas Dzintars music festival in 1990. That is a major Latvian competition. They even organized their own “Raimonds Award” where Mednis was repeatedly voted Best Singer by fellow musicians. Odis’s popularity led to concert tours in the United States and across Europe, and in 1993 Mednis earned 1st place as a vocalist at the Jūrmala young musicians’ contest and at the renowned Sopot Festival in Poland. That same year, in recognition of his contributions to music, he received Latvia’s prestigious Great Music Award (Lielā Mūzikas Balva) in 1993. By this time, Mednis had firmly established himself as one of Latvia’s leading male vocalists. His background in jazz and funk gave him a distinct musical identity, earning him nicknames like the “Latvian Ray Charles”.

Solo Work and Notable Collaborations

By the mid-1990s, after Odis had left its mark, Arnis Mednis pursued solo projects and collaborations that further expanded the Latvian music scene. He became passionate about uniting Baltic talent, launching the project Amber Voice. This is a music festival that showcased top blues and jazz artists from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Alongside this, Mednis produced a compilation album Amber Blues in 1996 featuring musicians from the three Baltic states.

As a songwriter and producer, Mednis also wrote songs for other Latvian artists. He penned music for pop groups like 4. elements and Cafè and helped nurture new talent emerging from music contests. His work extended to theater as well. He composed original music for stage productions such as the children’s musical Pepija (“Pippi”) and Superdetektīvs Blumkvists (a detective story adaptation), blending pop and jazz elements into theatrical songs. During this period, Mednis recorded and released several solo albums, showcasing his versatility. Notable releases included Spaceman (2005), which ventured into pop and funk, and Mana tautasdziesma (2019), an album of contemporary arrangements of Latvian folk songs. By the turn of the millennium, Arnis Mednis had become a multi-faceted music figure.

Eurovision Song Contest 2001

Arnis Mednis is best known to international audiences for his appearance at Eurovision 2001, which capped off his success in Latvia. He first entered Latvia’s national Eurovision selection (Eirodziesma) in 2000. Mednis returned the next year with a catchy, upbeat song called “Too Much.” In February 2001, Mednis won the Eirodziesma 2001 competition, securing the honor of representing Latvia on the country’s second ever participation in Eurovision. The song “Too Much,” was a funky pop number with jazzy swing influences that reflected his musical roots.

At the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 final in Copenhagen, Mednis performed “Too Much” 9th on the night. Despite his engaging presentation, the entry finished 18th out of 23 countries. He was involved in promoting his song beyond Latvia’s borders as well, underscoring his dedication to the Eurovision experience. 

Later Career and Recent Activities

After Eurovision, Arnis Mednis continued to be an active presence in music and entertainment. In 2002, he released the album Pepija, featuring songs from the musical he composed. He remained involved in recording music through the 2000s. In 2008, Mednis opened a jazz club in Riga’s city center, creating a new platform to showcase live jazz and blues in Latvia’s capital. That same year, he appeared as a celebrity choir leader on the TV show Koru Kari (“Clash of Choirs”), conducting the Riga Yellow Choir in a national competition. While that TV venture had limited success, it exemplified Mednis’s willingness to engage with new musical projects and mentor young performers.

Stroke

In 2011, Mednis faced a serious health challenge when he suffered a sudden stroke that left him in a coma for weeks. He survived and spent several years in recovery, emerging with partial paralysis that made performing more difficult. Despite this setback, Mednis’s passion for music never waned. By the mid-2010s, he adapted by focusing on studio work and composition. He even released an EP revisiting “Too Much” in 2014 and kept writing new material in his home studio. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Arnis composed an orchestral piece titled Tālavas taurētājs (“The Bugler of Tālava”) in 2018 to celebrate Latvia’s centenary, and in 2020 he created music for a multimedia project about medieval history. These works showed that even offstage, his creativity continued to flourish.

In recent years, Arnis Mednis has made a heartwarming return to public appearances. In 2024, the legendary Odis band reunited for a special performance at the Latvian Zelta Mikrofons (Golden Microphone) music awards ceremony, where Mednis joined on stage at the keyboards. Although he no longer sings due to the effects of his stroke, his presence brought the audience to its feet. The loudest applause of the night was for him. This emotional reunion underscored the lasting impact of Mednis’s music. Even after nearly four decades in the industry, he remains an inspiring figure. He continues to stay involved in music production and occasionally mentors up-and-coming artists, all while managing his health with determination and optimism.