Dons (singer)
Artūrs Šingirejs (born 10 April 1984), better known as Dons, is a Latvian singer and songwriter. He is one of the most popular singers in Latvia, having won the Latvian Music Recording Awards' Top Radio Hit award eight times for most played song. He is set to represent Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with "Hollow".
Dons | |
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Dons performing at Summer Sound on 28 July 2017 at Jūrmalas Park in Liepāja, Latvia | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Artūrs Šingirejs |
| Also known as | Art Green, Art Singer |
| Born | 10 April 1984 Brocēni, Latvia |
| Genres | Pop, pop rock |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Platforma Records, DonsMusic, Universal Music |
He has released eight solo albums and has won numerous awards including Latvijas Radio's Muzikālās Banka (lit. 'Musical Bank') Song of the Year five times. At the Latvian Music Recording Awards, he has won Best Pop Album twice from five nominations for Varanasi (2014) and Tūrists (2020). He has won Best Rock Album once from two nominations with Lelle (2008) and has been nominated once for Best Pop-Rock Album with Signāls (2013). In 2024, he won the Supernova song competition with his English-language single "Hollow" to represent Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest. Previously, he attempted to represent Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest twice with the songs "My Religion is Freedom" (2010) and "Pēdējā Vēstule" (2014), finishing in second both times in the Latvian national finals.
Born in Saldus, Latvia, Dons began his career in the Latvian reality show Talantu Fabrika (lit. 'Talent Factory') in 2003. He released a duet album, Viens Otram (2004), with fellow contestant Lily (real name Linda Kalniņa, m. 2009; div. 2013). His first solo album Lights On (2006) was mostly in English. He found success releasing his next seven albums in the Latvian language: Lelle (2008), Signāls (2013), Varanasi (2014), Sibīrija (2015), Tepat (2016), Namiņš. Kaste. Vārdi (2018), and Tūrists (2020). In 2021, he signed with Universal Music and will release his first album Laiks on the label in August 2024.