Saying YES to New Things and Letting Go of the Past
2024 Highlights and New Song
Hello Everyone!
Happy Holidays! We hope your bellies survived the feast! First of all, we want to thank you for your support. More and more people are subscribing to our Premium membership. Today, we’re sending out the first newsletter containing exclusive content for Premium members. Become Premium yourself and join in!
In this newsletter, you’ll find:
Reflections on 2024 (Free)
An open story about the song “Simple Joy” and preparations for the Eurovision selection (half Free / whole Premium)
An exclusive snippet and video story from the studio of the unreleased song “Chica Chico.” Every newsletter will feature a new snippet! (Premium)
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2024’s Rollercoaster: New Lessons and Joys
I’m Vaidotas - singer of THE ROOP, and this story will be told by me. The year started with poor health and near-bankruptcy (read more about this in the section below about “Simple Joy”). Debts continued to weigh on us. At one point, Robertas even joked about becoming a Bolt driver.
We discussed what we could do about the situation. Of course, the easiest route would’ve been to look for a regular job. However, a new job would distract us from music, potentially ending our musical career—a dream and lifestyle none of us wanted to abandon. We decided to hold on with everything we had.
On the bright side, our song “Simple Joy” reminded us to appreciate the small things in life. The song touched many people, and we received countless messages thanking us for it. This support really helped us keep going.
Talking to the Universe
I remember lying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling. At one point, I started speaking out loud to the Universe, saying, “I don’t know what to do. I’m lost. I don’t understand the lessons and challenges you’re sending me. I surrender to the flow. I surrender to you—Universe/Life. Please, show me the way.”
Saying YES to New Things and Letting Go of the Past
One phone call changed everything. Someone invited me to join an international project called TAB. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what it was, but I decided to stay open-minded and not say “No” right away. I agreed to give it a try—I had nothing to lose.
The first meeting and workshop took place in Cannes, France. I wandered around in a daze, trying to understand what I was doing there and what was expected of me. My health was improving slightly, but my mood was still heavy. Fortunately, I met interesting people who broadened my perspective. These were good signs!
Later in the fall, at another meeting in Karlskrona, Sweden, things began to move forward. We met a Swedish music producer and songwriter, co-wrote a new song, and started planning further projects.
Awards and Mixed Emotions
We received a Gold Award for “On Fire” and a Platinum Award for “Discoteque.” While this was heartwarming, it also brought a tinge of sadness. It reminded us of the Eurovision and COVID years—times when our band’s potential for growth and exposure was underutilized.
Concerts, Stability, and Creativity
Summer concerts brought back some financial stability and lifted our spirits. Not only did we perform, but we also returned to creating new songs and working in the studio.
One highlight was performing “On Fire” with a large live orchestra at the “As Young as Vilnius” event. Hearing the song in this new arrangement was pure joy. You can watch a snippet here:
A Surprising Offer
Out of the blue, we received an email asking if we wanted to be the opening act for two of Ed Sheeran’s stadium concerts. What?! Of course, we said yes! It was an unforgettable experience, including a wonderful personal meeting with Ed Sheeran. We’ll share the full story in the next newsletter.
You can watch a snippet here:
Creativity in the Woods
In early September, we retreated to wooden cabins surrounded by nature, where we set up a temporary recording studio to work on new songs. This creative camp yielded fantastic results, and we’re thrilled with what we accomplished.
You can watch a snippet here:
“Eurovision On Tour” and a Dream Come True
In the fall, Eurovision On Tour began. It was an incredible time! Not only did we visit European cities, but we also traveled to Australia—a long-held dream finally realized. We performed three shows there, and it was surreal to see audiences who already knew our songs and sang along from the first lines. This journey was one of the year’s brightest moments.
Palanga Concert
We’ve decided to host a special concert, “Valentine On Fire”, at the Palanga Concert Hall (Palanga, Lithuania) on February 14, 2025. We’re preparing for it and looking forward to seeing you all there!
Releasing Music Without Waiting
By the end of the year, we decided not to save songs for “better times” but to release them independently this spring. At first, we thought this approach might “waste” the songs since we lack a major international music manager or resources (only big dreams and determination). But we’re working towards building that.
We’re ready to be truly international—though we still feel like an undiscovered gem. We trust the Universe to align everything. Let’s see what 2025 brings.
Winston Churchill’s words resonate with us: “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.”
Song Pick: “Simple Joy” - Collapsed Health, Near Bankruptcy, Hope
It's hard to be open because there's always a desire to appear better than you are. However, we decided to choose the path of honesty and say it like it is. It's not comfortable, but we are committed to authenticity and reality. So, here’s a very candid look at the release period of “Simple Joy.” I’m Vaidotas, and this is my diary and reflection.
At the end of 2023, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which I treated with heavy doses of antibiotics. By the time I finished the treatment at the start of this year, my body was completely off balance—I felt drained of energy and health. I started losing weight, my gut was in turmoil, and insomnia took hold. Despite all this, we decided to participate in Lithuania’s National Eurovision selection with the song “Simple Joy.”
The music video shoot was scheduled for early January. I remember feeling awful that day after yet another sleepless night. It felt like I was in a dream. I kept this to myself, but ironically, my state perfectly matched the concept of the music video. I genuinely felt like the world was ending and all I longed for were simple joys—good health, sleep, and peace. After the shoot, my health completely deteriorated, and I was bedridden for two weeks. I couldn’t socialize, prepare for the selection, or even eat properly.
We entered Eurovision not just to compete but to fully utilize the platform. Back in 2020, the event was canceled for us entirely, and when we participated in 2021, COVID restrictions were still in place, limiting our ability to capitalize on exposure.
For instance, we had a strong fan base in Germany, but extended restrictions there made it impossible to perform live or appear on TV and radio shows. We missed our momentum. This time, we hoped it would be different. Plus, multiple managers advised us that participating was essential, as there’s no other way for Lithuanian artists to be noticed internationally.
At the end of January, we had preliminary TV recordings for the competition. I wasn’t sure I could even step on stage to sing, let alone dance. At the time, I was 187 cm tall and weighed just 69 kg due to the weight loss. Somehow, I managed to get through the filming, albeit far from full strength. My health didn’t improve much after that. You can see in photos how thin I was then (69 kg) compared to now (82 kg).
We made it to the finals! Although my energy hadn’t returned, I pushed through.