The beginning of BrainStorm is dated with year 1989 even thought the seeds was found already when singer Reynard and drummer Nick danced and sang together around Christmas tree at kindergarten and later on all members of the band sang the same lines at the choir of the school they all attended in their native city Jelgava, Latvia. Through the years knowing each other and making music together already fourteen years (they were 15 years old when formed the band) the chemistry between guys has created the atmosphere of the real family: “Good old family thing, in this case just five fathers together. It’s so hard sometimes to find just one way out of five”. This is what BrainStorm said about themselves and their unique chemistry by the end of 2003. And then in May 2004 stroke of the destiny took away one of them - in the car crash tragically died original bass player of BrainStorm - Muminsh (Gundars Mausevics).

In memory of dear friend Muminsh and faith in what is band’ s calling BrainStorm decided to continue. BrainStorm by the end of 2004/beginning of 2005 has done recording of 7th studio album with producer Alex Silva with whom band recorded 2 songs on previous album. Between studios times in January band did joined American band REM as support act for 9 shows in Europe. New album will be called “Four Shores” and is set to release in autumn 2005 with Latvian version release in Latvia in May. Anton Corbijn has done photos for the artwork.

The title “Four Shores” underlines the sore place where BrainStorm has been placed after loosing the original band member and soulmate Muminsh in tragic car crash last May. The touch of the Muminsh lives through the new songs as the band started writing the songs for new album before the tragedy. It is obvious the lyrics have been influenced by this loss.

“There is this beautiful thing that great bands have something… Identity and I think BrainStorm has that,” Anton Corbijn

“There is kind of innocence to BrainStorm’s sound, something that is unique to their culture or what I imagine is unique to their culture and that made them special to me,” Alex Silva.

The experience of being citizen of Latvia who has been raised up in former Soviet Union and being witnesses of so called “iron curtain” and Latvia’ s return into Europe has made unique musical influence and background for the members of the band that reflects and goes through the music BrainStorm makes. Singer Reynard reveals: “The truly first influences of BrainStorm I can name Russian cartoons and Latvian popscene in 80-s. Talking about cartoons - I still love those songs and listen to them time after time, they have some kind of unique happiness and sadness at the same time that is hard to describe and that’s how I also see most of Stormer’s songs. And only when we were some 14 - 15 we started to learn what happens on the other side of the moon.”

BrainStorm for several years is the biggest band of the native Latvia, latest 3 records they made and “Best Of” has reached Platinum status on sales, every radio single goes straight to #1 on airplays, they gather several prizes each time nominated for Latvian Music Awards, they play as big crowds as tiny Latvia can gather and closing concert of their latest Latvian tour on 1st of September, 2003 gathered 25 000 big audience and beat the record of Skonto Stadium. But sooner or later it is time to go into international music scene and BrainStorm can be called ice-breakers in this field by being if not first that for sure one of the first band’ s from Eastern Europe to enter Western music market. Their breakthrough was on 2000 with hit single “My Star” and followed by album “Among The Suns” (with releases in 18 countries, UK, Germany and Scandinavia including), album “Online” released in year 2001 stormed over Eastern Europe (Gold in Poland) and Scandinavia with ethereally dreamy and catchy melody “Maybe”. Over 3 years band has toured Europe on their own tours as well as supporting Rolling Stones in Prague, The Cranberries in Germany, Italy, Belgium and Czech Republic, Depeche Mode in Baltic States and Supergrass in Denmark.

The previous album BrainStorm released was in 2003 – “A Day Before Tomorrow” – the slideshow of life in 12 chapters called songs that shows band’ s piece of mind and heart, the way they think and feel about this world. Here and now: “The title of the album includes the philosophy we believe in – we don’t say simply - today, because – of course you have to live in the moment you are, but also have to remember there is day after it and by remembering that you care about future, have your dreams and visions, but still – you don’ t let the beauty of the moment simply to slip away, because you value it and don’ t live only in the illusion about unknown future.”

For making of their 6th studio album “A Day Before Tomorrow” that was 3rd album for international release BrainStorm teamed with 2 producers – Echo award winner Alex Silva (his credits include successful work on Herbert Grönemeyer’ s album “Mensch”, Suede, e.t.c.) and Steve Lyon (worked with Depeche Mode, paradise Lost, Reamonn, e.t.c.). Art-directon, logo and pictures for the album sleeve and press were made by famous rock-photographer Anton Corbijn.

During 2004 BrainStorm did tour Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech and Slovak Republic, Baltic States, e.t.c.

In 2004 BrainStorm and well known Russian band Би-2 have recorded together song “Скользкие улицы” which is included in new album of Би-2 “Иномарки” released on 2nd of March, 2004 and which has taken position nr. 1 on radio charts in Latvia and Ukraine and Russia.

BrainStorm feels blessed for being able to work with people they did: “We’ve always believed in miracles, and that’s how it goes and sometimes things just happen if you believe. Who could imagine 2 years ago we will make photos with Anton Corbijn or do records with Alex Silva? But still it’s not about the names, souls are on the same wave feeling friendly and having good time together. Life is about believing in miracles.. and celebrating life, of course!

Anton Corbijn after working with BrainStorm says: “I can’t tell you how much I felt at home with them and felt we were all together trying to achieve something..” Producer Alex Silva also experience warm welcome into BrainStorm’ s world: “There is this uncomplicated thing about the band. They read books, play chess… They are very cookie bunch, they embrace people, invite into their circle that is very nice and warm. But cockie is one word to describe them all!”

Anja Rubik

Credit to SpecialNeeds

Daria Werbowy

Elise Crombez

Julia Stegner

OMG so many cute stuff

What did you buy for your first fee? A house or a car?
Cell phone and computer.

You are third in the world. How is before you? Naomi Campbell? Eva Herzigova? Karolina Kurkova?No they are celebrities. They go to TV shows, attend fashion shows like guests… You wouldn’t know the names of girls before me… they are different after every season. It depends how many fashion shows you did or how you are interesting for favourite fashion photographers. During three weeks of fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Milano I did 64 fashion shows.

Do you remember the first moment in backstage… when you saw the famous topmodels….When I saw Naomi Campbell for the first time I looked at her all the time and I had to write it to my mom. Eva Herzigova came to me and started to chat with me… They are get used to that somebody new come among them every season.

Czech models. There is a lot of Czech models in fashion. What the others (nationalities) think about that?
They asked me – Where are you from? I responsed – from the Czech rep. and they said – Yet again!? )) We leads together with Russian models….

Modeling reminds me tennis. All players are at the same place in one moment and another month the same group is at different part of the world… together again…You are right. We are such a little family We know each other. We meet every day, but not so often to give us a pain…

You’ve got season… like sportsmen…
Yes, we’ve got two: spring/summer and fall/wimter. Every season has four main fashion weeks – New York, London, Milan and Paris. And also Madrid, Tokio, …. which are not so important.

Where do you get energy?From fruit and vitamins.

What about your name? Would you be able to change it? Isn’t it too Czech for next world celebrity?
)) They call me Hana Banana abroad. It rhymes. Or Hana Suprkova instead of Soukupova. These are my nicknames, but I won’t change my name!

I’m millionairess till my seventeen

In contrast to Karolina Hana appeals to be shy. On the first sight she looks like an ordinary girl. Only her 182 cm high figure, endlessly long legs and slim body can disclose that she could be a topmodel. Her delicate cut of a jib like from impressionistic painting and her pale deep blue eyes gained the 5th place among succesful beauties. And fees in millions (dollars?), but she doesn’t like to talk about it.

We‘ve met for the first time three years ago. When your agent Lenka Jochová waited for the right moment. Today you are on the top. What has changed during the three years?
A lot. I get used to different style of living, to new job… But I still miss my home and family. Few months ago I have bought a new apartment here in America. I’m very happy about that.

You live in America many years. Why did you buy the apartment this year? You didn’t have money?
It wasn’t a main problem. I didn’t think about the future. I din’t know if I want to settle down here.

How much is an apartment in Manhattan?
I don’t have to say it, do I?

But it would be interesting for Czech readers…
I really don’t want to talk about it.

How large is it? How does it look like?
There are two bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms. Nice kitchen.

Do you live alone there?
Not yet. It is beeing reconstruceted now. I would move in next year. Till the time I live in subletting.

Why all the pretty succesful girls don’t want to talk about money?
It is the same if I asked you about your wages. It is your private thing… I just don’t talk about it.

How and when you earned your first million?
I don’t remember it…. In seventeen – maybe.

What do you spend the most of money on? Exept your apartment….
Maybe for restaurants, which I like visiting. These are quiet expensive in New York. I like exotic cuisine – Japanese, Korean, Thai.

Do you have some friends in America?
I have one American friend. She is really great!I see her almost every day.

Is she a model?
No, but we have met in agency.

Have you got a boyfriend?
No, I haven’t. But I don’t complain of free time. I can choose a jobs more… Agency accepts only the best contracts for me. For example American Vogue – just the best magazines… So I have more time for me.

American Vogue was your unrealizable dream. Because they choose the celebrities on the cover mostly…
Yes… I was seventeen. It was my dream.

It came true. What is your dream now?
I’d like some cosmetic campaign. I’ve shot for Gucci, Versace, MaxMara, cosmetic campaign for Dior…

You have the same colour and lenght of hair for various years. Is it in your contract?
Not strictly. Bur according to the contract. I wouldn’t undergo any (sharp? expressive? marked?) changes.

Have you ever have taste to cut your hair (to short hair)?
I will do it when I ended in modeling.

Do you have any idea when you finish?
I’d love to continue as long as possible. I love it!

What you want to do then?
I’d like to open an art gallery in Manhattan.

How did you spend summer?
Greatly. I went home. All the time I really enjoyed I was at home.

Have you seen any Czech movie recently?
No. I like watching news, walking dogs…

How do you keep yourself fit?
I eat everything. I go to the gym every second day for hour or two.

Your skin – is it a gift from nature?
Yes it is. Everybody is surprised that my skin is still so clean, eventhough I shoot a lot and I change make-up a lot.

What do you miss in America? What is different from home?
I miss nature and clean environmental air. Czech mentality. American people are too talkative and everything take hard. On the other hand a lot of things are on higher level – like fashion. Czech people are more conservative.

How does your usual day look like?
When I work I have to be at 9am in studio. I wake up at 6 am. I have cornflakes and fruit and nuts or eggs or yogurt. Sometimes I go to gym between breakfast and work. Then they do make-up, hair… around 11 we start to shoot. At 2 pm I have a lunch and at 8 pm we usually finish. But sometimes we finish at 2 am….

And what about your free time?
I go to the restaurant with friends. We have a dinner or we go to the cinema. I like sitting in the park and just watching people.

Do your parents think that you have changed?
I’m more communicative. I’m not so shy.

What is a best compliment you get(this word?)?
Oh my God… I don’t know! Maybe that I’m a fine girl. It wasn’t connected with my appearence. Maybe somebody liked how I was inside. I’m happy when somebody tells me that I’m fine and I’m not arrogant.