Wellness month and hobbies – how do our experience creators spend their free time? Music

2024-10-29T14:37:30

As part of our well-being months, we continue to introduce the hobbies of our employees, which help keep their minds sharp and their spirits high, ensuring balance and creating the best experiences for our guests.

This time, our story’s heroes have found their passion in music. Sharing their stories are Ainārs Gricius, Restaurant Manager at Tallink Hotel Riga, Ainārs Brumermanis, Maintenance Manager, and Guntis Nurža, Sales Manager.

Ainārs Gricius, Restaurant Manager at Tallink Hotel Riga

What is your hobby?

I am a vinyl record DJ.

How did you find your way to this hobby?

I consider myself more of an enthusiastic wannabe DJ—being a DJ requires a great sense of rhythm and sound, while I simply enjoy listening to loud music with others! Above all, I’ve always been a huge admirer of hip-hop culture—I loved graffiti as a kid and learned breakdancing. I saw vinyl DJs in music videos and always dreamed of having my own turntable and vinyl collection. My favourite music genre is 90s hip-hop, which I believe is made for vinyl.

I shared all of this with my wife, and she gifted me a turntable for my birthday. Since then, I’ve been collecting vinyl records. Some time ago, I saw an ad about evenings for vinyl enthusiasts in my hometown, where people with turntables but no DJ equipment could join. I really wanted to participate, but I was also quite nervous. My wife and friends encouraged me, and it all turned out well! After the event, the organisers said I wouldn’t even need to register in advance for future events. That’s when I started looking for more and more events to join.

What makes DJing enjoyable for you, and what added value does it bring to your life?

At my first event, seeing long-haired guys dressed in black who seemed to prefer metal music clapping for my 40-minute hip-hop set gave me a lot of confidence. I really enjoy sharing my vinyl collection and taste in music with others—it’s what makes me happy after a set! And when everything goes smoothly without any mistakes, it’s the best feeling!

What is your most memorable experience related to DJing?

I haven’t had many performances, but my most memorable experience was when I shared an upcoming event on Instagram and found out that my colleagues were interested and planning to attend. It was an amazing feeling to see my former and current colleagues and family members, who didn’t know each other, all coming together with my 90s hip-hop set playing in the background! It felt like a great home party reunion!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start DJing but is afraid to take the first step?

Don’t overthink it like I did. I knew I would regret it if I didn’t try, and now I’m glad I did! I met like-minded enthusiasts, and now we keep meeting at events, even if our music tastes differ. It’s important to find your genre and direction—I’ve received several compliments for sticking to my style. Nowadays, there aren’t many DJs who play 90s hip-hop. But the most important thing is to enjoy the whole process and the music! See you at one of my sets?

Ainārs Brumermanis, Maintenance Manager at Tallink Hotel Riga

What is your hobby?

I run the largest Silent Disco events in the Baltics.

How did you find your way to Silent Disco? What makes Silent Disco enjoyable for you, and what added value does it bring to your life?

I grew up as a simple policeman in the 90s and advanced to a high-ranking State Police officer by the 2000s. After that, I left the police force and started working in private security organisations until I became a DJ on ships. At the same time, I became and remain a certified alpine ski instructor, often working in Finland. Since 2010, I’ve been the security and maintenance manager of Tallink Hotel Riga. Throughout my career, I’ve always aimed to find a balance between work, private life, and hobbies. My hobbies were often a means to earn extra money and support my family. I frequently rely on my instincts, and my years of life experience guide me.

I got into Silent Disco by being in the right place at the right time and seizing the opportunity. In 2009, I was invited to perform at a Silent Disco in Europe. I immediately saw the potential and realised this was the future. By 2012, I could afford to buy my first 100 wireless headphones. At that point, I had no idea what the two words “Silent Disco” truly entailed. If I had known then how much was involved, I might not have started.

What are your most memorable experiences related to Silent Disco?

As I mentioned, the first two years of Silent Disco were a complete failure. People looked at me as if I were foolish. My instinct told me to reach out to people within the Tallink group. I began organising Silent Disco events on all Tallink-Silja ships because it was something new and unseen. This small hobby gradually turned into a small business. At this point, I have to express my deepest gratitude to many people within the Tallink group who believed in me, enabling me to stand on firm ground today.

Guntis Nurža, Sales Manager at Tallink Hotel Riga

What is your hobby?

Music, and my band “Laika Upe.”

How did you find your way to the band?

Music has always been an important part of my life, and I wanted to do something even more meaningful with it.

What makes participating in a band enjoyable for you, and what added value does it bring to your life?

Music is a big part of my life and serves as a means of self-expression. Right now, it’s my professional hobby, and I want to pursue it at a certain level, having set specific goals for myself.

What is your most memorable experience related to the band?

Every moment spent on stage with the band is special and significant. I believe the most memorable moments are yet to come!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a band but is afraid to take the first step?

The main thing is to genuinely want and love what you do, and then everything will fall into place. The key is to work towards your goal without being afraid of the challenges you may face along the way. After all, without difficulties and trials, we have nothing to learn from to become stronger and achieve our goals.