Aarzemnieki says thank you all for voting and for the love

Even though Aarzemnieki didn't qualify to the final last night, they had a great time on stage. After the show they said they really felt the love and support from the audience in the B&W Arena and they was very happy with their performance. We definitely think so as well! Their performance was 300% musical power, with authentic flavour and no extra sugar added, and they filled their cake with love and shared it with Europe.

Family members of the group and many other contestants (like Conchita and Hersi) came to congratulate the band for an amazing performance. The groups said they have no regrets about the outcome, they send their love to all their competitors that went trough to Saturday's Grand Final, and want to thank all those who voted for them. They feel every competing country gave it their best last night in the love for the music, and that's what it's all about. Now, they will enjoy the rest of their stay in Copenhagen and cheer for all of their competing friends on Saturday! Go Team Cake, we are proud of you!

Meet Aarzemnieki before the big semi-final tonight

Tonight is the first semi-final in Eurovision Song Contest 2014 - and we're very excited to see the Latvian Aarzemnieki perform! They will be singing as number two - and the song is of course "Cake To Bake". Here's our interview with the group.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience when you won the competition in Latvia? Was it a big surprise for you or had you expected to win?
J: It was a total shock to win!
K: In the heart we felt that it was possible to win, but that we actually won was so shocking!
J: We were not the favourite to win. Some of the other artists entered the Latvian competition for the second or third time, and I feel bad for the second and third place because they have tried and tried to make it to Eurovision several times - but now this time Aarzemnieki came and took their place.
K: I think I can talk for all of us and say that we are very happy to represent Latvia this year.

Has it changed anything in your daily life in Latvia now that everyone know who you are?
J: Katrina lost her job!
K: Well, after end of February my life’s title has changed to Eurovision Song Contest, so it’s great to have this experience and it’s interesting to work with people and to get to know who knows Eurovision and who don’t. Also to find out how it works in Latvia and which’s fights you have to fight because of that.

Can you feel that your country is supporting you?
J: We feel that on the social networks. After the final the interest has become very high and nowadays everyone knows us on the streets and come and say hi and what a good job we have done – or if someone gives us bad feedback we just return it in a positive way.
R: for the first couple of weeks people didn’t get it, didn’t get us. But then we went to Amsterdam, and there we did our thing and people began writing good things about us. And now it has actually become a lot better, and I feel that we have become more appreciated.

How has it been to travel together as a band?
J: Most of the time it has actually not been possible. For promotion gigs we decided to focus on a few but special places like Belgium, Amsterdam and London, and to some of those places I went alone.

How was it to meet the other Eurovision artists?
J: In Amsterdam we had a great time! There was a real Eurovision atmosphere there, and everything was professionally arranged. We had a great time!
R: Yes, it was very funny, and since Jöran knows so many languages it was great fun to sing songs in other languages.

Yes, how many languages do you know, Jöran?
J: I can speak five languages, but in school I was also taught languages like Spanish and Latin, but those I don’t know very well nowadays. But I think I can do songs in nearly every European language.

What are your plans as a band for the future?
J: Right now we’re not thinking about the future. We take it step by step. Everything is going in such a high tempo and there’s so much media attention. But we don’t really plan that much, I think you can count the number of rehearsals we’ve had on one hand.

Do you have a special message that you’d like to convey with your song?
All: (singing)

”Mix some dough, add some love, let it bake, wait for it
Mix some dough, add some love, let it bake, wait for it
Mix some dough, add some love, let it bake, have some cake
Mix some dough, add some love, let it bake!”
J: Another message is that we’d like to challenge people. We’re not hoping people will be thinking our song is only “I love you so much and we’ll be together forever and always”. We want people to think “who are these guys, what are they all about?”

Jöran, we’ve learned you speak Danish?
J: Yes, in 2008 I was working on a Danish farm close to Saltum in Aalborg. It was close to Faarup Sommerland and I learned all the songs from there. (singing) “Der er så fuld af sjov, inde i en skov….”. I was also listening a lot to Rollo & King, so maybe I can sing some Danish songs for you at some time.

We’d love that! Thank you so much to all of your for the interview!

Special greeting to you from Aarzemnieki

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A Eurovision Cake to the winner

Aarzemnieki visited Dessertdragens kageværksted in Copenhagen and met the owner Nanna, who was generous to share a few baking tips (does Aarzemnieki how to bake by now?). We'd like to thank Nanna and Dessertdragen for taking the time to meet us all.

Later Jöran and Nanna delivered a Eurovision cake to the lucky winner of the Eurovision cake competition that Dessertdragens kageværksted and LTV had arranged. The cake was a special Eurovision Song Contest cake with the logo handpainted on by Nanna. She explained to us that she always uses ingredients according to the season, and for the Eurovision cake she had used rhubarb as the main ingredient. The winner, Jacob Lentz, was very surprised to see Jöran and Nanna showing up at his work place - and of course it was a musical delivery!

How to use the Latvian paper fan

Have you noticed the very nice and very useful Latvian paper fans? Want to know how to use them? Watch here!

Aarzemnieki visiting La Glace

Aarzemnieki visited Copenhagen's oldest bakery La Glace in the centre of Copenhagen on Saturday May 3rd. It was a big party of music and good times! The group surprised Marianne from La Glace with a very special song. Watch the video below to find out which one it was.

A big thanks to La Glace for the kind invitation and the yummy cakes!

Special greeting to San Marino

Special guest star: The Cajon from 4Sound

We want to present this very special instrument, who joined the group for a few days! It's beautiful and it has amazing sound. May we present: The Cajon!

We want to give a special thanks to 4Sound in Copenhagen for lending out this cajon to Aarzemnieki! 4Sound is the best shop for musicians to turn to, when they need instruments, studio and performance gear and anything in between. Lots to choose from and lots of knowledgeable staff to help pick what's just right for you.

Raitis used the cajon from 4Sound at the group's performance at EuroClub Wednesday night and for the Latvian reception on Thursday. Doesn't it look great in action? Well, we think so - and to say the least, Raitis knew how to handle this box with excellence!

Once again: THANK YOU SO MUCH 4SOUND FOR LENDING AARZEMNIEKI THIS BEAUTIFUL CAJON!

Big musical cake day @ Tante T

Thursday it was time for the Latvian reception at the best and prettiest tea lounge in Copenhagen: Tante T in Museum of Copenhagen. We were so lucky that Tante T was willing to lend us their beautiful Garden Lounge and sponsor tea, coffee and cakes for all the invited guests. The day before Tante T had just opened their outside terrace, which the guests had the pleasure of enjoying. Additionally, Museum of Copenhagen gave everyone free admission to the museum as well.

The doors opened at 14 and 30 minutes later the lounge was packed. Jöran, Katrina, Raitis and Guntis were looking sharp as ever, and warmly welcomed all the guests. Besides the special invited international press delegates, also the Eurovision participants from Estonia, Lithuania, Albania and Armenia also guested the reception.

Aarzemnieki had brought their instruments for some acoustic surprises, and entertained with several tunes before they opened up for a jam session on the stage. Hersi from Albania jumped into an improvised version of "Vivo Per Lei", and well - brave girl!



Tante T had been busy and baked a table of lovely cakes for us! All home made with quality ingredients. As a tea lounge the place is famous for their many kinds of tea, and we have to say one of our favourites is the Cool Mint flavour!

The 50 first guests were even given a small goodie bag from Tante T - so we must say that Tante T were as generous as ever, and it was in every way thinkable the perfect location for this event!

The musical entertainment included a sing-a-long performance of "Paldies Latinam". 2Pixies was struggling with the words, since their Latvian is not that great - yet.



Later also Aram MP3 from Armenia was ready for some cakey jamming fun with the band.




We had a wonderful day and want to give a HUGE thanks to store manager uncle Anders and the lovely aunties at Tante T, Museum of Copenhagen, LTV Latvijas Televīzija and of course to Aarzemnieki for a great afternoon!