"The Briefing was quite interesting band. They played their own compositions which seemed to be made in an interesting way."
-Peter Shulcze, the artistic director of Berlin Jazz Festival. Germany.
"Most of all I liked The Briefing. I heard Kristina in Tallinn and already then I was convinced that she’s a very talented young singer who could participate in jazz and also in rock festivals."
-Himmo Hippa, the director of the Turku jazz. Sweden.
[taken from showcase review at festival Rigas Ritmi '06"]
The Briefing is five musicians from Latvia based in the city of Liepaja. The band exists from 2002. Their music is a mix of jazz, funk, rock and pop elements with electronic sounds and expressive beats. Some critics compare their music style to such bands as Moloko and Bjork. The band live performances perfectly fit driving dance club atmosphere filled with power that comes from drum'n'bass and breakbeat rhythms with electro and jazzy moods. The Briefing simply rocks in open air festivals!
The voice you hear over the music of The Briefing belongs to Kristina who is a lead vocalist as well the author of the lyrics. All songs are in English. Kristina writes about everything that comes to her mind, that’s why the lyrics sometimes are ironic and funny. She performs with a lot of passion. You can just feel those different characters created by the songs by watching her dancing and singing on the stage. Before writing new lyrics for a new song, the goal is always the same - the lyrics and music has to go side by side creating a new emotional experience. The biggest Latvian Daily press "Diena" has called them as one of the most progressive Latvian jazz bands, but now the band is moving closer to a more alternative feel in their sound.
In June 2008 the band has released their debut album called "Funny Thoughts" under the Record Label "Antena". "Funny Thoughts" includes 11 original songs in english, arranged by The Briefing and includes radio singles such as "My World", "In the Mood of Love" and "Do I know You". Special feature on album design is art works from comics and street art artist Nate Van Dyke from California (worked also with Slayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Funny Thoughts had nominated as one of the best Latvian alternative albums 2008.
Download album from www.platforma.lv. Click on the album image and enjoy! No worries about the Tom's external link alert - it's clean!
Current line-up (from left): Raimonds Dobelis (bass), Sandis Volkovs (drums), Kristina Dobele (vocal), Kristofers Knesis (keyboards), Uldis Melkis (guitar).
The Briefing ir Liepajas grupa, kas darbojas no 2002. gada. The Briefing muziku raksturo eksperimentala pieeja, kombinejot dzivo izpildijumu ar elektroniku. Stilistiski The Briefing muziku ir gruti ievietot kada laucina. Lai devetu The Briefing par acid jazz - parak daudz taja jutams rock un electronica iezimes. Attiecigi prieksh pop un mainstream The Briefing ir parak neordinari, gruti saprotami un sagremojami plasaakai auditorijai. Pilnigi noteikti, nav analoga Latvijas muzikaa.
Grupa darbojas Latvijas meinstrimaa, bet komercialos panakumus vienmer par spridi kavejis speciga underground ietekme. The Briefing raksturo spitiga nostaja darit pec saviem ieskatiem un nepaklauties komercijas spiedienam, ka, piemeram, dziesmas veidot latviski utjp.
Grupa aktivi koncerte klubos Latvija un kaiminzemes, ka ari tiek aicinata visos lielakajos komercalajos, ka ari undergound festivalos.
The Briefing visizteigtak uzskatama par koncertu grupu, kur ari lielakoties savakusi savu fanu auditoriju. Darbibas laika ir izdoti vairaki radio singli, ka, piemeram, Nothing, My World, In the Mood of Love un sobrid Come as you Are. Fanu auditorija izveidojusies vairaku gadu garuma, sniedzot neskaitamus koncertus un radot pardomatu un gaumigu muziku, nevis ir kada peksna singla vai cita maksliga burbula efekts.
Pagajusajaa gadaa grupa izdeva savu debijas albumu "Funny Thoughts", izdevniecibas Antena pasparnee. Albums tika izvirzits titulam - labakais alternativais 2008. gada albums.
