Brainstorm

Early Years in Latvia (1989–1990s)

Brainstorm (Prāta Vētra) is a Latvian pop-rock band. It formed in 1989 in Jelgava, Latvia, when four school friends – Renārs Kaupers, Jānis Jubalts, Gundars Mauševics, and Kaspars Roga – started the group, soon joined by keyboardist Māris Mihelsons. They released their first single in 1992. A debut album, Vairāk nekā skaļi, followed in 1993. By the mid-1990s Brainstorm had become a household name in Latvia. Their song “Tavas mājas manā azotē” (“Your Home Under My Wing”) topped Latvian airplay charts for nine weeks in 1996. The band’s upbeat pop-rock sound drew inspiration from groups like U2 and R.E.M.

Eurovision 2000

In 2000, Brainstorm earned international fame by representing Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest with the catchy song “My Star.” They achieved an impressive third place in the competition. This breakthrough put the band on the global map. “My Star” became an international hit, reaching the top 10 in Belgium and charting in Sweden. Off the back of Eurovision, Brainstorm toured extensively across Europe. They also released an English-language album Among the Suns in multiple countries, introducing their music to a broad audience.

Rising International Fame and Loss (2001–2005)

Brainstorm continued to build on their Eurovision success. Their 2001 single “Maybe” became a hit and even reached No. 1 in Poland. The band regularly toured abroad and played at festivals across Europe. In 2003, they opened for The Rolling Stones at a concert in Prague, even gifting a saxophone to Mick Jagger for his birthday.

However, tragedy struck in May 2004 when bassist Gundars Mauševics – nicknamed Mumiņš – died in a car accident at age 29. Despite the loss, the remaining members decided to carry on. That same year, Brainstorm collaborated with Belarusian rock band Bi-2 on the song “Skol’zkie Ulitsy,” which topped radio charts in Latvia, Ukraine and Russia. In 2005 they released the album Četri krasti (“Four Shores”) with a new bassist, drawing 40,000 fans to a landmark concert in Rīga’s Mežaparks park.

Global Reach and Recognition (2006–2015)

Brainstorm’s momentum continued with international accolades and multilingual releases. In 2006, the band issued an English version of Četri krasti as Four Shores, featuring the single “Thunder Without Rain” which gained airplay on MTV Europe. That year Brainstorm won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Baltic Act.

The group embraced a multilingual discography, releasing albums in Latvian and also in Russian to connect with a wider audience. Their 2008 Latvian album Tur kaut kam ir jābūt and its Russian edition Šag (Step) in 2009 set the stage for an English album Years and Seconds in 2010. Brainstorm toured not only Eastern Europe but also Western Europe. They even attracted UK listeners with their melodic indie-pop style. In 2012, they triumphed at Latvia’s Annual Music Recording Awards. They won in three categories. The next year, Brainstorm became the first band from the Baltic region to perform at the famed Glastonbury Festival in England.

Continuing Legacy (2016–Present)

Decades into their career, Brainstorm remains one of Latvia’s biggest music acts. They still fill arenas at home and in neighboring countries. They continue to release new music in multiple languages and tour widely. Recent albums like Wonderful Day (2018) and Gads bez kalendāra (2021) came out in both Latvian and Russian versions. The albums showcased the band’s bilingual appeal. Brainstorm has also collaborated with various international artists, including a high-profile duet with Lithuanian singer Daddy Was A Milkman in 2019. In 2025, the band released another studio album, marking over 35 years of an ongoing musical journey. With energetic live shows and an ever-growing discography, Brainstorm continues to celebrate commercial success and critical acclaim across Europe and beyond.