Aistė Smilgevičiūtė

Aistė Smilgevičiūtė is a Lithuanian singer. She gained international attention by representing Lithuania in the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest with the folk song “Strazdas”. She has been performing since the 1990s and blends rock, jazz, and Lithuanian folk music in her repertoire. Smilgevičiūtė also holds a degree in classical philology. She has starred in several musical theater productions.

Early Life and Education

Aistė Smilgevičiūtė was born on 29 October 1977 in the town of Plungė, Lithuania. She grew up in the Samogitia region and showed an early passion for music. Later, she pursued higher education at Vilnius University. Smilgevičiūtė earned a degree in Classical Philology. Her academic background in classical languages and culture left a deep imprint on her songwriting and creativity. This scholarly insight helped shape the rich lyrical themes in her music, often drawing from mythology and history.

Music Career Beginnings

In 1993, Smilgevičiūtė’s unique voice first gained public attention. That year, she formed a small rock group and performed at the “Aukštaitija 93” music festival. The following year, she won the “New Discovery of the Year” award at the Western Lithuania Music Awards. This early success led to more recognition in national music competitions. In the mid-1990s, her musical style evolved beyond rock. She began exploring folk and jazz elements, developing an ethno-jazz fusion sound in her performances. By 1996, Aistė had joined the Lithuanian alternative band Skylė, becoming its lead vocalist. Her powerful singing and poetic lyrics quickly became a defining part of the band’s identity.

Eurovision 1999: “Strazdas” for Lithuania

In 1999, Aistė Smilgevičiūtė reached an international audience when she represented Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 in Jerusalem. There, she performed the modern folk song “Strazdas,” which she sang in the Samogitian dialect of Lithuanian. Aistė’s entry finished in 20th place among 23 countries. However, her distinctive vocals earned praise and positive attention from audiences. As a result, the Eurovision appearance introduced many European viewers to her voice and to Lithuania’s folk music heritage.

Skylė Band and Musical Projects

After Eurovision, Smilgevičiūtė continued to build her music career with the band Skylė. The group’s music blends rock with Baltic folk influences and mythological themes, creating a unique sound. In addition, Aistė’s contribution added authentic folk elements to Skylė’s style. Over the years, Skylė became one of the most admired bands in Lithuania. In 2008, listeners of Lithuanian national radio voted the Skylė song “Baltas Brolis” as the most popular song of the year.

Smilgevičiūtė and Skylė have released numerous albums together, including Povandeninės kronikos (“Underwater Chronicles”) in 2007 and Broliai (“Brothers”) in 2010. For example, Broliai is a conceptual album honoring Lithuania’s World War II-era partisans (the “Forest Brothers”). It showcases Aistė’s evocative vocals in a historical theme. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, she also participated in special music projects. For instance, she joined a world music project “ZAP. Four Elements”. She performed with a symphony orchestra in 2006. By 2016, Aistė and Skylė released the album Dūšelės. The band remains active in Lithuania’s music scene.

Theatrical Work and Other Endeavors

In addition to her band activities, Aistė Smilgevičiūtė has developed a notable theatrical career. Since 2000, she has taken on leading roles in Lithuanian rock operas and musicals. She starred in the rock opera Jūratė ir Kastytis (“Jūratė and Kastytis”) in 2001 and in the musical Žuviaganys (“Fish-Shepherd”) in 2003. Later, she took a lead role in the rock musical Pranašas (“Prophet”) in 2006. Aistė’s energetic performances in these productions earned praise for her vocal talent. In 2001, the artistic community of Vilnius’s Užupis district crowned Smilgevičiūtė as the “Queen of Užupis” and invited her to record the republic’s anthem. This honor reflected her status as a beloved artist in Lithuania. Today, Smilgevičiūtė continues to be active in music and theater. She frequently appears at concerts and cultural festivals, and her creative work bridges Lithuania’s traditional folk culture with modern musical expression.