Tautumeitas are deflecting all hexes and curses, and heading to the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. They’re bringing back ethereal pop, representing Latvia with the song, ‘Bur Man Laimi'.

The road to Basel

Tautumeitas’ name might mean they’re full of beauty, feminine power, and cultural pride, but this band from Latvia had to compete for their place in Eurovision, just like most. And the competition was tough in the Baltic national final.

They took to the Supernova stage, where Latvia decide upon their Eurovision entry, against 9 other finalists. Tautumeitas performed their song Bur Man Laimi, which means “A chant for happiness,” in amongst a floaty fringe curtain and a series of rainstorms. They delivered catchy folk pop with a dreamy vibe, tight dance moves, and some impressively high notes. Both the public and jury were rightly impressed. But when all the votes were counted, the points were tied three ways.

Luckily, there are rules in place for this eventuality. Tautumeitas had the most public votes from the top 3 songs, and so they took the crown. Which we like to think would be a flower crown.

With Supernova conquered, they’re on their way to Basel.

Growing a band

Behind the sound of Tautumeitas are 6 talented musicians, the perfect number for the Eurovision stage. They are Asnate Rancāne (vocals, violin), Aurēlija Rancāne (vocals, drums), Laura Līcīte (vocals, violin), Gabriēla Zvaigznīte (vocals), Annemarija Moiseja (vocals, melodica, percussion), and Kate Slišāne (vocals, mandolin, clarinet).

They’re used to performing in front of big audiences, and have sung at festivals all across Europe, including Glastonbury, which is their most memorable experience to date. They’ve also been on their own tour, after the release of their latest album Skrejceļš, which blends folk, traditional sounds, and even a few hip hop beats.

Their live shows are immersive experiences. Expect Latvian folklore, influences from pagan heritage, storytelling, and incredible costumes. We can’t wait to see what they bring to the Eurovision stage in Basel.

Getting to know Tautumeitas

If Tautumeitas could choose one emoji to represent them, they’d go for the fairy. They say it’s because they are “gentle, mystical beings who can enchant and charm with our feminine power.” They say their most-used app is WhatsApp, and we like to think their group chat is full of unicorns, mermaids, and sprouting plants.

Given their connection to the natural world, we’re not surprised to hear that the band are animal lovers. They have a lot of pets between them, including cats, dogs, ducks, and sheep. And not just a few sheep – 150 of them. They’ll all be at home, cheering Tautumeitas on. Baaaaah-sel! Baaaaah-sel! Baaaaah-sel!

The Tautumeitas folk also have a pretty bad shared habit – leaving their costumes wrinkled on the floor until their next performance. Someone put the Eurovision costume room on high alert, quick sharp.

Soaking up Eurovision history

The band’s earliest memory of Eurovision is seeing Latvian contestant Marie N winning the Contest in 2002 with funky pop song I Wanna. Catchy chorus, smooth dance moves, white suit (for most of the performance, at least!). What more could you want from a Eurovision winner?

They say: “She brought the Eurovision song contest to Latvia and showed that a small country can dream big and make those dreams come true.”

They’re also big fans of Aminata, who sang Love Injected for Latvia in 2015 and who finished in a very respectable 6th place. They love how she showcased her talent and brought something fresh and unique to the Contest.

Nurturing their sound

Tautumeitas have a background in ethnomusicology, the study of the cultural aspects of music.

And that shines through in their songs. They draw on ancestral chants and Latvian sounds, mixing it all with more contemporary rhythms.

They wrote Bur Man Laimi in collaboration with their pianist and producer, Elvis Lintiņš. The song is about helping an oak tree grow. While bridges rust, that oak tree keeps on growing. They also sing about how they won’t be phased by hexes and curses. Which will be useful if Bambi Thug reappears this year.

Their playlist of favourite songs is in tune with their sound. One of their favourite tracks is Saudade Saudade, the spine-tingling song performed by MARO in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 for Portugal. They also love AURORA’s The Seed, Björk’s Venus As A Boy, and Stromae’s L’enfer.

If you want to get these mystical folk up on the dance floor, there are two tracks guaranteed to get them moving. In contrast to everything else we’ve told you about their chilled vibe, they can be found throwing shapes to Stromae’s Alors on danse and The Chemical Brothers’ Galvanize.

Ready for the great indoors

When they think about Switzerland, Tautumeitas have visions of fondue, mountains, fresh air, and chocolate. But they’re most excited about stepping onto the Eurovision stage for the first time and meeting the other participants.

Listen out for Tautumeitas on the Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast .

You can learn more about Tautumeitas from Latvia right here .