Donatas Bielkauskas

Donatas Bielkauskas is taking part in sound art residence and festival “Sound Around” (sound art labs/workshops, residencies, closing festival).

Multiinstrumentalist Donatas Bielkauskas is a central axis of project of neofolk/ambient/experimental music titled DONIS, which is well known in Lithuanian scene. In his music authentic and modernized instruments of Lithuanian folk are used. Various guest musicians ar invited for different sessions. Sonic aesthetics of the project bears a solid, subtle, mature character with baltic features. Debut album “Deinaina” was released in audio cassete in 1998, followed by CD “Baltos Juodos Klajos” (Dangus Records, 2002), famous work “Švilpiai” (2003), collaboration between DONIS and KŪLGRINDA “Sotvaras” (Dangus Records), ambient “Vacuum” (Autarkeia, 2004), post-folk “Bite-lingo” (Dangus Records, 2006), antique-influenced “Alexandreia” (Autarkeia, 2007).

Since 1994 various collaborations have happened featuring Wejdas, Notanga, Kūlgrinda, etc.

In recent years Donatas dedicates significant part of his ouvre to electronic and experimental music. The wish and possibilities to experiment in the style of ambient/folk music unfolds in the project d.n.s.

“Sound around” project proposes a series of residencies for sound artists and organization of 3 experimental music festivals in Kaliningrad, Klaipeda and Gdansk. The project aims at multilateral exchange of experiences, practices and technologies between sound artists from Poland, Lithuania and Russia. Exploration of sound landscapes of 3 cities, Gdansk-Kaliningrad-Klaipeda, will become the basis of communication between the artists and will include creation of sound-cards, multimedia installations and experimental music concerts. Within the framework of the project there will be mutual visit exchanges for collection of the material and organization of the workshops, lectures and demo concerts. The closing final festival will consist of concert, exhibition and theoretical parts. Also, it is planned to produce project documentation in a form of a CD or a vinyl.

Sound Art residence and festival “Sound Around” is a part of the project «Close Stranger: promoting mutual understanding between population of Gdansk, Kaliningrad and Klaipeda through facilitation of exchange in the field of contemporary arts and culture».

www.donis.lt