Latgalian rapper Ūga teams up with trio “Juos īluos līluos” for new track “Pikachu”

Latgalian hip-hop artist Ūga (Daiga Barkāne) has released a new single and accompanying video titled “Pikachu.” The track was created in collaboration with the trio “Juos īluos līluos,” made up of Deina Misāne, Amanda Lapa and Laura Svikša.

An unusual sound

According to Ūga, “Pikachu” departs from typical hip-hop conventions. Working with music producer Nikita Grapps, she gave the track a blues-tinged sound with a touch of avant-garde flavor. The song addresses the everyday dynamics of relationships — the misunderstandings and sudden distances couples experience — portraying love as something genuinely beautiful, yet at times exhausting.

Ūga said that as a creative artist, it's important for her to occasionally step outside her usual genre, something made possible this time by producer Nikita Grapps, whom she described as always open to bold, fresh ideas. She noted that working with “Juos īluos līluos” gives each jointly created song its own distinct sound, and expressed hope that “Pikachu” would offer listeners a breath of fresh air.

A video made entirely by the trio

Unlike a typical produced music video, the “Pikachu” clip was made completely by the trio's own members, with filming handled by Amanda Lapa. It was shot on a rehearsal day, shortly before the group's performance in Latgale, with the process focused more on genuine enjoyment and natural emotion than on a rigid shooting plan. The musicians say the result is a video that isn't overly polished or refined, but authentic and full of unforced energy.