Fomins & Kleins was a Latvian rock group formed in 2002. Its members Ivo Fomins and Tomass Kleins were already accomplished and recognized rock musicians. Both are from the western Latvian port city of

Liepāja Liepāja (; liv, Līepõ; see other names) is a state city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea. It is the largest-city in the Kurzeme Region and the third-largest city in the country after Riga and Daugavpils. It is an important ice ...

Previous collaborations

Both have worked together previously, in Soviet times forming the

underground Underground most commonly refers to: * Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth Underground may also refer to: Places * The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston * The Underground ( ...

group "Saldās sejas" (Sweet Faces), which also featured well known Latvian musicians Zigfrīds Muktupāvels and

Guntars Račs Guntars is a Latvian masculine given name and may refer to: *Guntars Antoms (born 1960), Latvian chess international master *Guntars Deičmans (born 1983), Latvian swimmer *Guntars Krasts (born 1957), Latvian politician; former prime minister of ...

— with whom a creative relationship continues to this day, since Račs himself is the author of the

lyrics Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer ...

to all of Fomins & Kleins' songs.

Ivo Fomins

Singer Ivo Fomins, also educated as a chef, has taken part in many musical projects in Latvia, performing together with the band "Liepājas Brāļi" (Brothers of Liepāja) and as a solo artist. At the

Jurmala Young Pop Singer Competition The Jurmala Young Pop Singer Competition ( lv, Jauno dziedātāju konkurss „Jūrmala”, russian: конкурс молодых исполнителей эстрадной песни "Юрмала"), has been held almost annually during 1986-1993 ...

Ivo reached 3rd place in 1989 and received the viewer's choice award. Ivo's older brother

Igo Igo or IGO may refer to: * Intergovernmental organization * Igo language, a Kwa language of Togo * Igo, California, a small town in the United States * iGO (software), a satellite navigation software package * iGo Inc, an American technology comp ...

is a popular Latvian singer and is well known throughout the

Baltic countries The Baltic states, et, Balti riigid or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term, which currently is used to group three countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three countries are members of NATO, the European Union, the Eurozone, ...

and Russia due to his work with the

maestro Maestro (; from the Italian '' maestro'' , meaning " master" or "teacher") is an honorific title of respect (plural: maestros or maestri). The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera, in line with the ubi ...

Raimonds Pauls Ojārs Raimonds Pauls (born 12 January 1936 in Iļģuciems, Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian composer and piano player who is well known in Latvia, Russia, post-Soviet countries and worldwide. He was the Minister of Culture of Latvia from 1988 to 1 ...

, which led to the formation and massive popularity of the band Remix.

Tomass Kleins

Tomass Kleins is the group's guitarist, as well as the author of all the group's music. In his time, he has formed many groups and has played in the famous group "Neptūns" (Neptune), led by " Zodiaks" (Zodiac) producer and composer

Jānis Lūsēns Zodiac (russian: link=no, Зодиак, lv, link=no, Zodiaks) was a Lativian space disco music band that existed in the 1980s in Latvia, then a part of Soviet Union. The band was extremely popular in the Soviet Union and has been credited by crit ...

Eurovision

The group's debut album "Muzikants" (Musician) was released in 2003, and the album's title track became a huge hit after the duo successfully performed at the Latvian National Eurovision Competition and finished in second place. In 2004, they again found themselves singing the only Latvian-language song in the country's Eurovision pre-selection. This time they won, and the song "

Dziesma par laimi Latvia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "Dziesma par laimi" written by Tomass Kleins and Guntars Račs. The song was performed by Fomins and Kleins. The Latvian broadcaster Latvijas Televīzija (LTV) organised the n ...

" was selected as Latvia's entry for the

Eurovision Song Contest 2004 The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was the 49th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Istanbul, Turkey, following the country's victory at the with the song " Everyway That I Can" by Sertab Erener. Organised by the European B ...

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

. Due to the poor result of the previous year's Latvian entry, Fomins and Kleins had to take part in the novelty of a Eurovision semi-final, in which they failed to achieve the top-ten placing needed to advance to the grand final, finishing 17th in a field of 22.

Membership

Together with Ivo Fomins and Tomass Kleins, the group is rounded out by bass guitarist Egils Mežs, drummer Valery Inutin and keyboardist Jānis Lūsēns Jr., and drummers Nellija Bubujance and Tālis Gžibovskis.

Discography

Albums

*''Muzikants'' (Musician) – 2003 *''Dzimis Latvijā'' (Born in Latvia) – 2004

Radio singles

*"Sniegs" (Snow) – 2002 *"Solījums" (Promise) – 2003 *"Muzikants" (Musician) – 2003 *"Kur esi tu" (Where are You) – 2003 *"Tālu prom" (Far Away) – 2003 *"Man vairs nav vienalga" (Now I Care) – 2004 *"Aizejošās dienas" (Departing Days) – 2004 *"Nekas" (Nothing) – 2004 *"

" (Song of Happiness) – 2004

Videos

*"Solījums" (Promise) – 2003 *"Tālu prom" (Far Away) – 2003 *"

" (Song of Happiness) – 2004

External links

Fomins & Kleins homepage
{{Authority control Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Latvia Musicians from Liepāja Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2004 Latvian rock music groups Romani in Latvia Romani people