Evaldas Azbukauskas AKA Giriu Dvasios makes completely unique and haunting music that ranges through different terrains of dub techno, ambient, techno, Lithuanian folk and much more. His genre-shuffling music was too unusual to be noticed by other record labels, so ten years ago he created his own label and ever since then has been championing unique underground electronic music from artists throughout in the world.
My name is Evaldas Azbukauskas, I’m 33 and a music producer, making music under the name Giriu Dvasios
I also run the underground electronic music label Cold Tear Records. I live in Vilnius, Lithuania. In my early teens I was very curious and creative and I was exploring all the things you can do with a computer.
I don’t want to put my music into a box, I believe it’s for everyone. To give some idea – it’s electronic dub and dub techno, sometimes mixed with Lithuanian folk music and all kinds of other styles.
Thanks Content Catnip for saying that my music is very different. I can’t be objective when I talk about my own music. I don’t know what you mean with saying it’s very different, but I’ll take that as a compliment because I think being unique is an advantage. I think my job is to make music, not describing what it is.
My most significant work is my album “Ratu”, it was very successful, it got amazing amounts of attention…
Ratu was my first album dedicated to Lithuanian ethnic music, and somehow it resonated not only with Lithuanians, but with a lot of people from all around the world. I think it also may be my most beautiful, spiritual and meaningful album I’ve made. It’s very hard now to do anything as succesful as that album was.
Ratu by Giriu DvasiosI came across some music-making software and I realized that it’s possible to make tracks that sound as good as what was on the radio or what I had on cassettes…
That really motivated me and I had the most fun you could ever have, so I never stopped since then. In 2010, I decided to start my own label Cold Tear Records, where I could release my own music and music of other people as well. Early on I was looking for a label that would be interested in releasing my music. This seemed like a very unproductive thing to do, as I never got any replies from them, or I was told that it’s not their style. Running a label was always an intriguing idea to me anyway.
Aidai by Giriu DvasiosIt could be long list, the artists who have influenced me are…
Other dub techno artists, especially Rhythm & Sound, Babe Roots, Heavenchord, Yagya.
I’ve also been greatly influenced by Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, 90’s east-cost hip-hop, bebop jazz and ambient music.
Aphex Twin
Boards of Canada
I read a lot and I like to gaze at visual art, but It’s hard to tell if that’s exactly what inspires me to make music
Maybe in some indirect way. I’m always in a creative mood, all I need to do is to sit down and start putting down notes and sounds. Over many years I have learned to control my creative energy. Although inspiration is a thing that can come unexpectedly and it’s hard to tell what causes it.
Forests and everything that live in them inspire me to make music…
If I was to speak to my younger self, I would say:
‘I know it may be tough right now, but believe me, it will get better, and you will do great things, you will find happiness, just keep going.’
However, knowing what I was like back then I probably wouldn’t have listened. Because I just always knew what I want to do and I did it despite what anybody said or thought!
My advice for other artists on how to live and stay positive during the time of Covid…
If you feel like your calling and mission is to be involved in music, then just do that! I strongly believe that if you stay oriented towards your mission you will feel like your life is meaningful. Which in my mind is more important than becoming successful. But if you stick with your mission in some way you probably will be successful. And also take care of your family!
Giriu Dvasios feat. Vikarija – Visi by Giriu Dvasios feat. VikarijaObviously, right now we don’t have any tours and gigs planned because of Covid…
However, I have an album due to be released on April in 2021. Via Cold Tear Records of course.
Content Catnip 
Very nice ~ reminds me of Matmos and a few other artists whose names escape me, I’d have to go digging through the music archives because I don’t have a musician’s memory! Listening to AIDAI right now…
Thanks CC for another great musician spotlight!
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How amazing is AIDAI! I just love the Lithuanian folk chanting in their music, such an unusual combination, but it just works so well. I am so glad Lani that it resonated with you, I’m off now to find Matmos as I haven’t heard of them before. Hope you are having a good week 😘🙂
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Oooo. Well, they are quite experimental. Like they created a whole album using just sounds from rhinoplasty surgeries and dishwasher sounds. 😀 But yeah, actually, listening to AIDA now… very soothing. You too, thanks.
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