Kamanių šilelis
Kamanių šilelis (Pinewood of Bumblebees) is a band that creates minimalistic, rhythmic and gently psychedelic music surrounded by folklore motifs. The group consists of two members, theatre director Kamilė Gudmontaitė and actor Mantas Zemleckas, who can be described as electrified indie-folk who have gathered a considerable number of Lithuanian listeners over 10 years and are also attractive to an international audience. In their recordings and live performances, Kamanių šilelis use traditional instruments from near and far – the ukulele or didgeridoo and occasionally everyday objects too. Their delicate, barely audible folkloric shades are complemented by electronics, repetitive and meditative themes, dirty guitar sounds and synthesizers. As a result, the music of this evolving project enjoys a crossover audience and lures fans who don’t usually listen to conventional folk, post-folk, or even world music.
Viskasteka - Žuvų šukelėm
Viskasteka - Kol mano tėveliai
Viskasteka - Lygumos
Biography
Kamanių Šilelis (The Pinewood of Bumblebees) is among the most original acts in the current Lithuanian music scene. The duo consists of Kamilė Gudmonaitė and Mantas Zemleckas, two young multi-instrumentalists who draw their inspiration from both Lithuanian folk music and world music with a twist of indie pop. Didgeridoo, Jew's harp, melodica, kazoo, berimbau and the one and only “Kamiliphone” (Mantas' self made instrument-gift to Kamilė) – these are only few of the instruments that Kamanių Šilelis uses to perform their quirky songs.
Started in 2011, the duo has already attracted a lot of followers. Four of their DIY videos have received over 50,000 views on YouTube each, the number of their Facebook fans has recently reached 6,000. On 2017 Kamanių Šilelis released their second album “Namai” (Home), which received favorable reviews by critics and fans. One of the critics suggested that Kamanių Šilelis is the band that should be shown to those foreign listeners who are interested in hearing unique Lithuanian music: “They sing in Lithuanian, but their lyrics sound mesmerizing even to those who don't understand this language.”
„The minimalistic, rhythmic, and gently psychedelic music of the Kamanių šilelis duo could be described as contemporary electrified indie folk with an internationally appealing sound. However, what distinguishes it from most of the output in a similar vein, predominantly sung in English, is that the lyrics are often traditional Lithuanian folk songs, instantly recognizable yet treated in a novel, laidback vocal manner by the singer Kamilė Gudmonaitė. Recently, though, the duo have been gravitating increasingly towards original lyrics, which nevertheless still sound folk-like. In their records and live performances, Kamanių šilelis use traditional instruments from near and far, such as ukulele and didgeridoo, and occasionally even everyday-use objects. As a result, the music of this evolving and innovative project enjoys a crossover audience, and attracts fans who do not usually listen to more conventional folk, post-folk, or even world music.“
Jurij Dobriakov