Baltic indie music looks west, makes Prague debut

Ask your average local hipster what they know about Estonia and the most you'll hear is a mumbled mention of Baltic Tigers and Eurovision. That will change May 29 when Estonian pop composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Vaiko Eplik visits Prague for a show at Strahov's Club 007.

Eplik is the type of inventive young musician one is tempted to call a prodigy. Though little known outside his native country, he has been in the spotlight since 1986, when he won an Estonian singing competition at the age of 5, and went on to become the only male singer in Estonian Television's children's choir. Eplik says everything changed for him when he was introduced to MTV in 1993. Immediately, he began to write his own songs on guitar, many of which found their way into the oeuvre of his Brit pop group Claire's Birthday. The band became a national pop sensation, touring the Baltics with Alice Cooper and winning the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest with "80's Coming Back." Eplik, explaining that the band entered the contest as a joke, went on to articulate his thoughts about his music career.

"First of all, I wouldn't really call it a career," he said. "My only wish is to be better at music and as a person."

These days, Eplik plays with Eliit, a backup band consisting of keyboards, guitars and synthesizers. Eliit lays a mellow foundation for Eplik's vocals, which are reminiscent of a younger, happier Nick Cave. Known for their improvisational sets, the band recreates the layered, richly melodic sound found on their three albums, which Eplik composed and recorded alone in a studio set up in his parents' living room. Citing the Beach Boys, David Bowie and Frank Zappa as some of his primary influences, Eplik explained what makes his music Estonian and how Estonian music is different from what's being played in much of Europe.

"One thing that differentiates our music from our neighbors is that we play mostly in major scales," he said. "Apart from that, we're a very young country with a lot of work to do to get our music out in Europe."

Eplik's visit to Prague was made possible by the support of the Estonian Embassy, which first considered financing Eplik and Eliit's trip when local musician Flanna Sheridan, singer and keyboardist of Ocean Versus Daughter, approached them after hearing one of Eplik's CDs.

"Some Estonian friends played me the CD, saying, 'This is our indie pop,' " she said. "I was blown away. It's not your typical indie music. It's more intricate; it has something special."

With previous dates in Finland and Poland and concerts booked in Luxembourg and Ireland later this year, Eplik could certainly be jaded about playing in one of Prague's smaller albeit hipper clubs. Instead, he remains humble, emphasizing enthusiasm.

"I'm just very happy to be visiting Prague at last. I've been a Čapek fan for years, and I love Jolana guitars, so it's a dream come true of sorts," he said. "I hope some people will show up and like my music."

Prague's own Ocean Versus Daughter will open for Eplik and Eliit, crossing the cultural bridge with catchy, inventive melodies and intelligent lyrics which blend humor, poignancy and passion.

Stephan Delbos can be reached at
sdelbos@praguepost.com