MC Mesijus

He writes poetry, works in the advertising industry, raps and has even dabbled in stand-up comedy. Mesijus (previously known as MC Messiah, real name – Žygimantas Kudirka) is both talented and busy. He's also widely known as the most original rapper in Lithuania, although his music can't easily be pigeonholed as hip hop; avant-garde rap is a more accurate description. Surreal lyrics, lines that don't necessarily rhyme, invented words, eclectic experiments – these are just some of the arrows in his quiver. Mesijus started his musical career in 2002. Four years later, the debut album Antimaterija (Antimatter) was delivered (which won the Best Album gong at the Lithuanian Hip Hop Awards). This was followed by well-received performances featuring a 10-strong live band, the Messiah Goes Mad Orchestra. Even wider recognition came with Nelieskit mėlynojo gaublio (Don't Touch The Blue Globe), an innovative video that raised environmental awareness, won a Lithuanian music award M.A.M.A. (in the Best Music Video category) and was presented at several international festivals (including the prestigious Oberhausen Short Film Festival in Germany). The ironically-titled second album, Paskutinis repo albumas (The Last Rap Album), was released in 2013, followed by the artist's victory at the European Poetry Slam Championship in 2014. Yet another step into experimental waters came with the 2015 release #uzgrotu, recorded with Lithuanian electronic music maverick Münpauzn. It was followed by EP Pomirtinis (2016) - presented as the first esoteric rap album in Eastern Europe. Mesijus x Münpauzn collaboration began in 2014, with debut release published online - Piurė Futurè. The newest project is a collaboration with experimental jazz and electronic music artist Adas Gecevičius and striking visual artist Asta Ostrovskaja. It is called Vilniaus Energija - that is the name of a huge Lithuanian corporation of energetics. Artist found a loop-hole and legally registered this name as a new music band in town. In 2017 they released their double album DDVVIIGGUUBBAASS (DDOOUUBBLLEE). Artist performs in Lithuanian, English and artificial languages. Has made performances in Latvia, Estonia, Finland, France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. From poetry events to music festivals, this extraordinary, distinctive performer stuns audiences anywhere he turns up.