Leon Somov & Jazzu is a contemporary Lithuanian band. They refer to themselves as pop/electronica, but their music has a deep, soulful edge that transcends and defies those genres. They sing in both Lithuanian and English.
The group was created by Leonas Somovas (Leon Somov) and Justė Arlauskaitė (Jazzu) in 2007. Somov is the band’s leader and composer; he has a long history as an electronica composer and producer, and, before that, as a musician in a metal band. He produced a number of other Lithuanian bands before starting his own, and has also worked in theater. In 2012 he worked with popular Lithuanian singer Jurga Šeduikytė, known as Jurga, on their song “Laiko nėra” (“No Time”), which was supposed to lead to a full album (it doesn’t seem to have materialized). He’s also worked with renowned Lithuanian theater director Eimuntas Nekrošius, writing music for Nekrošius’s 2014 production The Book of Job.
Jazzu is a jazz and electronic singer who has been performing since she was 13; she studied at music schools and conservatories in Lithuania and the UK. In addition to her collaboration with Somov, she’s reportedly working on a solo album and has acted in two movies, including 2013’s We Will Riot (the film is in English), which has been called Lithuania’s first gay film.
The band has released seven studio albums to date, the most recent, Moments (title in English), in 2016. They’re an extraordinarily decorated band: they have cleaned up the M.A.M.A. (Lithuanian music association) awards every year since 2011, winning Best Band, Best Album, and many other awards consistently. They were also named the Best Baltic Act at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards. Since 2008, they have toured with a five-person live band, and have performed across Europe.
“Ka Tu Su Manim Darai?” (“What Are You Doing With Me?”), 2014:
Lyrics:
Susitikom, netikėtai
Ir supratom,jau regėjom kažkur
Vienas kitą, prisiminę
Patylėjom ir išėjom abu.
Rodės būsim, kiek norėsim
Lig rytojaus arba amžinai
Abejingai nusispjausim,
Į kiekvieną, kuris žiūri keistai.
Priedainis:
Ką tu su manim darai?
Kam aš tau ar pats žinai?
Skamba oras, skrenda mintys,
Myli protas ir dainuoja širdis.
Visos natos išsibarstė,
Surinkau jas, ar tu tai girdi?
Priedainis:
Ką tu su manim darai?
Kam aš tau ar pats žinai?
(2 kartus)
Ką su manim darai?
Ar tu pats žinai?
Su manim darai
Tu ką su manim darai?
Ar tu pats žinai?
Su manim darai.
Priedainis:
Ką tu su manim darai?
Kam aš tau ar pats žinai?
(2 kartus)
“Nieko Nesakyk” (“Don’t Say Anything”), a newer song:
Lyrics for “Nieko Nesakyk”:
Krentu į bedugnę vis gilyn, egzistuoju.
Noriu lengvumo, kaip ir tu pakilt į orą.
Tu man neleidi patikėt, tavo žodžiais.
Aš tuoj pavirsiu pelene, nemeluoju.
Tuščias figūros šviesoje, abejingos.
Aš paskendau tavam kvape, nepaspringus.
Aš kaip paklydusi rūke, baimė stingo.
Kodėl tavo žvilgsnis jis aštrus? Kaip peilis sminga.
Nieko nieko nesakyk, drasko kūną.
Bus sunku tu pražudys, netikrumas.
Skauda sielą ir mintis, negaliu jau jau.
Nieko nieko padaryt, laikas pasirinkti.
Aš įsikibus dantimis, į tavo sielą.
Noriu tik užsikimšt ausis, kad negirdėčiau.
Žodžiai kurie skirti ne man, aš išprotėsiu.
Žaidimo kurio aš nesuprantu, pralaimėsiu.
Nieko nieko nesakyk, drasko kūną.
Bus sunku tu pražudys, netikrumas.
Skauda sielą ir mintis, negaliu jau jau.
Nieko nieko padaryt, laikas pasirinkti.
(Aaaah) (Aaaah) (Aaaah) (Aaaah)
Nieko nieko nesakyk, drasko kūną.
Bus sunku tu pražudys, netikrumas.
Skauda sielą ir mintis, negaliu jau jau.
Nieko nieko padaryt, laikas pasirinkti.
Nieko nieko nesakyk, drasko kūną.
Bus sunku tu pražudys, netikrumas.
Skauda sielą ir mintis, negaliu jau jau.
Nieko nieko padaryt, laikas pasirinkti.
“Lower Than the Ground,” the group’s most popular English-language song:
