2013: PeR - Here We Go

Originally a trio, the group PeR was founded in 2007. The name apparently stands for "please explain the rhythm" and originally featured Ralfs Eilands, Emīls Vegners, and Pēteris Upenieks in its line up. The group got its big break that same year, when they took part at the Dziesma Manai Paaudzei music festival in Latvia. Later on that year they acheived considerable success in Russia, where they came fourth taking part in the talent show Minuta Slavy. They rounded off the year by taking part in the annual music festival Bildes.

2008 would be a turbulent year for PeR, with alterations made to the line up. Emīls Vegners left the trio and was replaced by Edmunds Rasmanis. The groups low turned into a high, however, as they made it to the final of the TV talent show Latvijas Zelta Talanti. This exposure opened many doors for the trio, leading to their first appearance in the Latvian selections in 2009, where they made it to the final performing Bye Bye together with Sabīne Berezina, coming ninth.

Their second attempt at Eurovision glory came the next year, when they came last in the final with Like A Mouse. They did however get to represent Latvia at the New Wave 2010 music contest, ending up in eleventh place. The following year PeR suddenly became a duo, as Pēteris Upenieks left the band and they took a year off from the Latvian selections. They burst back onto the scene the following year however, coming fifth in Eirodziesma final with Disco Superfly. During the course of their career, PeR have released nine singles, and their debut self-titled album, PeR appeared last year.

The duo have also achieved a certain degree of success outside of their native Latvia, performing at the Reiu Rock festival in neighbouring Estonia. Their single Go Get Up also saw chart action in other countries, becoming popular i both Lithuania and Denmark. Ralfs Eilands is no stranger to Eurovision, having previously attempted to represent Latvia at junior Eurovision in 2004, placing third with Dziesmiņa Par Mērkaķi.

Participant Profile

In the semi final