Tautumeitas: Latvia’s Modern Folk Icons

Tautumeitas, the six-woman Latvian folk ensemble formed in 2015, is bringing its distinctive blend of tradition and modernity to Europe’s biggest stage. Latvia’s 2025 Eurovision entry – Tautumeitas’ “Bur man laimi” (“Enchant My Luck”) – isn’t just a song. It’s a spell: a hypnotic journey where powerful female voices weave ancient Latvian folk songs with contemporary beats and striking visuals.

“We feel immense honor, pride, and responsibility representing our nation and culture. We’re delighted that as a band we can bring Latvian culture to the world through our language, folk songs, and symbols while also staying true to ourselves,” shares Asnate Rancāne, the lead singer of Tautumeitas.

This year’s Latvian entry in Basel, Switzerland, has generated significant buzz during rehearsals ahead of the May 15 semi-final. Critics and Eurovision fans alike have praised Tautumeitas for their cultural authenticity, artistic vision, and vocal prowess. With elevated staging and a polished performance, the ethno-pop group is seizing this international platform to bring their unique storytelling to a new level.

“Eurovision is an incredible stage and festival – a space where you can tell your story not just through music, but in many other ways,” says Rancāne. “You can use everything it offers: interviews, social media, stage design, lights, screens, video, costumes. It’s a massive platform, and for several months, you’re given a megaphone to share your message with the world.”

Rancāne adds that the group has always focused on storytelling through visuals – combining costumes, movement, and sound to carry their message beyond the boundaries of language.

One of the most praised aspects of “Bur man laimi” is the stellar quality of Tautumeitas’ vocal performance. It’s the result of steady, focused work in their rehearsals as a band and in the individual singing each of them does outside the group.

“We each take personal responsibility for our vocal work,” Rancāne explains. “In preparation for Eurovision, we brought in a vocal coach to help us refine our sound as a group, but day-to-day, several of us lead folk ensembles and we all sing regularly as part of our musical practice. We’re constantly taking care of our voices, their health, their quality, and their growth.”

Tautumeitas’ songwriting process is rooted in tradition, yet deeply imaginative. Each song always begins with a Latvian folk song, which becomes the spark for their creative journey. From there, they develop everything from vocal harmonies to modern arrangements.

“We find a fitting folk song, then imagine what style it could take musically. From there, we build the vocals, often using traditional folk harmonies that shape the song’s atmosphere. Only then do they build the arrangement, usually modern, though we’ll often include folk instruments to keep the sound grounded in our roots,” explains Rancāne.

She also emphasizes “Bur man laimi” is the result of immense, thoughtful work by an extended team that Tautumeitas is proud to be a part of. And it shows – not only are they performing entirely in Latvian on the Eurovision stage for the first time in over 20 years, they’re also marking their 10th anniversary and celebrating the release of their latest album, “Zem saules” (Under the Sun). On top of that, the band is preparing for their “Rītausmas koncertrituāls” (The Concert-Ritual of the Dawn) – a special nighttime performance on June 20 running into the summer solstice sunrise of June 21.

If you want to celebrate with them, tune in to watch Tautumeitas during the first Eurovision semi-final on May 15, where they’ll take the stage as the fourth act of the evening.