Kamaniu Silelis

About

" Poetic songs, that turn heartbreak into something beautiful. "

Kamanių šilelis means “a forest of bumblebees“ in Lithuanian. A fitting, poetic name for this duo which, since 2011, has been mesmerizing Lithuanian audiences with their unique blend of gentle indie folk, electronica (that sometimes explodes into full-on techno jams) and light, melancholic psychedelia. However, there’s an extra layer to the meaning – “kamanių“ is an amalgam of their names, Kamilė Gudmonaitė and Mantas Zemleckas. And yes, they met at a festival which happened in a forest.

It‘s essential to explain that there‘s a special personal dynamic going on here. Kamilė and Mantas started making music as lovers and partners in crime. Their romantic relationship fell apart several years ago, however, but the couple decided to keep making music together. Arguably, some of their best work was created during this transformation – quite possibly inspired by the heartbreak.

It‘s difficult to categorize Kamaniu Silelis. Early reviews of their debut album ‘Viskas teka‘ (‘Everything Flows’, 2014) mentioned both folklore and Radiohead influences. Performing both original lyrics and tunes inspired by old folk songs, Kamaniu Silelis create something totally new. From synthesizers to instruments such as ukulele and didgeridoo (and field recordings) – this is music that‘s always evolving, attracting fans who do not usually listen to folk, post-folk or world music.

The band‘s sophomore album ‘Namai‘ (‘Home’) was released in 2017, followed by ‘9‘ (2020) and ‘Žiūrėti į saulę‘ (‘To Look at the Sun’, 2023). Their audience grows with every release – summer of 2023 saw Kamilė and Mantas performing both sold-out shows and the biggest Lithuanian festivals. 

It probably makes sense to mention that both Mantas (a popular actor) and Kamilė (one of the artistic directors of the Lithuanian national drama theatre) are well-known and respected in the theatre world. However, one can‘t help but feel that Kamaniu Silelis is not a set of imagined roles and scenarios – this is music that feels very true, open and honest.

To discover more about Kamaniu Silelis, our Band of October and Spotlight Prize winner, watch our interview :