Although public events are banned due to the emergency situation, on October 7, the cultural place “M / Darbnīca” managed to experience its opening celebrations. The two-storey premises at Aristīda Briāna Street 9 are mainly dedicated to music – jazz, avant-garde and electronics – but the 1st floor also has space for photography and painting exhibitions. At the moment, “M / Darbnīca” has not locked its doors, there you can buy coffee, other drinks and snacks, as well as “Jersika Records” and “Riga Room Records” recordings. One of the owners and creators of “M / Darbnīca” is Maija Moira Mazanova.
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Anete Ašmane: To open something new at this time – is it time to have a lot of courage?
Maija Moira Mazanova: Yes, it is definitely a challenge, but are we looking for the easiest ways? Somehow it hasn’t happened to me in my life. There was a feeling that it was necessary. Riga needs such a cultural space at the European level. I look ahead, I look very positive. All the slightly sad mood that prevails around, ignorance, limitations, of course, sometimes make you sad, but I think you always have to look at the positive, forward. One small piece, step by step, we will go as we can.
I would like to add that so many fantastic jazz artists, Latvians are there, they want to play, but they have nowhere.
This was an absolutely logical start to a new journey. I would like it to be a collaboration between us all, so we also call it a cultural space.
I think everything will be fine, we will go through this difficult time. As more opportunities open up in the spring, we will be stronger and stronger. May we all have it – it’s probably that big, bright idea. Let us have music that we can enjoy and our own artists have a place to play.
Maija Moira Mazanova
Photo: Latvian Radio 3
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You have been in music management for some time now – you have both created the Grimbergen Summer Festival in Berga Bazaar and worked in the cultural area “Spīdola” in the VEF quarter. Did you want someone for your place?
Of course you wanted to! With a smile, great pride and love at this moment I can say – yes! All these experiences are huge, great, I have learned a lot. We started organizing the Berga Bazaar Summer Festival about five years ago, then I was addressed by the current head of the Latvian Restaurant Association Jānis Jenzis, he said: “Come on! Dari! ” He trusted me, not even knowing what I was going to create. We created a great festival. “M / Workshop” – it’s a little different. It is such a work of the soul for me, it is such a more creative, artistic environment. The whole building itself is already fantastic, it is a von Strick villa complex. The building, as far as I know, was all the record keeping, the accounting for the factory that was there. It all comes together so well – music, 1st floor gallery, fireplace… This is the environment I want to be in.
“M / Workshop”
Photo: Publicity image
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I create him from what I have seen. I like to travel, and I have also seen the examples of Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam. I realized that we also need such a place. Jazz had nowhere to be for a moment. “Trumpet” did a lot of work, gave some space, but there is catering, it’s a slightly different format. Here we focus on the fact that the door is open for all those who want to look, pass by, have a drink, just stay and finally meet – I want it to be a place where you all come to meet, meet me, we can to be in such a cool mood, to share good and creative ideas. I will be very happy if the place becomes a place where literature can meet together with music, new ideas, maybe some subcultures. To be a place to take a little shelter from the whole block of information and quantity and create your own ideas, new thoughts.
Especially I would like Riga to be one of the places that can be said about – yes, jazz, in Riga!
Is there a special place for jam sessions as well?
Absolutely! The place needs to be for young artists to have a “stage presence” to have a stage feel. I also see it as such a small evening school, a practical part, a practical side. Let’s see what the possibilities will be – of course, if we have a completely quiet moment and we can’t gather people, then jam sessions will wait a while. But in general, we will definitely continue on Wednesdays until it is possible.
“M / Workshop”
Photo: Publicity image
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You said earlier that you really enjoy traveling and being in different places. Why was it important for you to return to Latvia, be in Riga and open “M / Darbīcu” here?
I had probably deliberately chosen not to tie myself anywhere, so I traveled for a long time, lived in China, Turkey, and in Asia for quite a long time. I always wanted to get away from Latvia. There was a feeling all the time that you were doing something, but no one really needed it to the end, you didn’t really feel the support or the need. Then I had a son, I was still going up, but I realized I wanted to be here. If that environment is not here, then I have to create it myself. It all turned out very magically.
The idea of the need for such an environment lived with me for a long time, and then we met the other owner of “M / Darbnīca” Uģis Malinovskis, and all of a sudden it became real. I understood – it has to be done. If all this is coming now, then it must be done now.
I can’t wait for better times or anything else – now is the time.
And it gave me an even deeper inner feeling that I had to be here and create that environment here. And Latvia is a great place! We have so much good here – the sea, we are not much here, the air, the opportunity to be free. Instead of looking at what we don’t like all the time and how bad we are, we look at where we are good, creating those environments. And come together!
