Aivaras

Aivaras Stepukonis (born 28 September 1972) is a Lithuanian singer-songwriter and philosopher. He is best known for representing Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song “Happy You”. Besides music, Stepukonis has built a career in academia as a doctor of philosophy and published author. He successfully combined his passion for music with an extensive academic journey.

Early Music Career and Eurovision

Aivaras Stepukonis learned to play the clarinet in Kaunas as a child and even formed a band in his teens. In 1998, he became the lead vocalist of a rock band called Pėdsakai (“Footprints”). The band performed original songs and released an album before disbanding in 2001. That year, Stepukonis decided to launch a solo career. His rising prominence earned him a nomination for Artist of the Year at the 2001 Bravo music awards in Lithuania.

Eurovision 2002

In early 2002, Aivaras Stepukonis entered Lithuania’s national selection for Eurovision. His song “Happy You” finished second in the competition. However, the winning group B’Avarija was disqualified after it emerged their song violated the contest release rules. Eurovision officials ruled that their song had been published prior to the allowed date, which meant they could not compete. As a result, Stepukonis was chosen to represent Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn. He performed in the grand final as Lithuania’s entry. His performance of “Happy You” closed the show that night, but it did not score high. Lithuania placed 23rd out of 24 countries, earning 12 points in total.

Following Eurovision, Stepukonis released his self-titled debut album Aivaras in 2002. He continued to write and produce music, exploring pop-rock and acoustic styles. In 2005 he released a second album, Myliu arba tyliu (which means “I Love or I Am Silent”). Around the same time, he established his own recording studio, which later became known as Kranto Studijos. This allowed him to work behind the scenes in music production. After the 2005 album, Stepukonis stepped back from performing live. He focused on composing and studio work, collaborating as a composer and sound director for other artists. In 2010, after a five-year break from the stage, he returned with a third studio album titled Sage & Fool. This album blended his musical and philosophical inspirations. It was his last full-length musical release to date, as he gradually shifted his attention more to his scholarly pursuits.

Academic and Philosophical Work

Parallel to his music career, Aivaras Stepukonis was pursuing an impressive academic path. He moved to the United States in the early 1990s to study theology and philosophy. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1995 and a master’s degree in philosophy in 1997 from the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein. Stepukonis later returned to Lithuania to continue his research. In 2005, he obtained a doctorate (PhD) in philosophy after completing his studies at the Lithuanian Culture, Philosophy and Art Institute in Vilnius. His doctoral dissertation examined ideas of “world philosophy” and cultural thought, reflecting his deep interest in comparative philosophy. In the same year, he published a monograph on the German philosopher Max Scheler and the origins of the sociology of knowledge. This work, published in Lithuanian, established him as a serious scholar in the field of philosophy.

Stepukonis has remained active in academia ever since. In 2005, he joined the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute as a senior research fellow. There, he has conducted research at the intersection of culture and philosophy. His scholarly interests include epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and intercultural philosophy. Over the years, he has authored and co-authored numerous academic publications. He has written over 80 scholarly articles and contributed to or edited several books on philosophical and cultural topics. In 2007, Stepukonis was awarded a prestigious UNESCO/Keizō Obuchi Fellowship, which allowed him to undertake research at the University of Hawaii. This international experience broadened his perspective on global philosophy and cultural studies.

Online academic journal

Despite his shift toward academia, Aivaras Stepukonis never fully left the music world. He continued to apply his creative skills through his recording studio and occasional music projects. Meanwhile, he gained recognition in academic circles for his insightful analysis of culture and philosophy. Since 2015, he has also served as the general editor of an online academic journal, further contributing to intellectual life in Lithuania. Today, Stepukonis is known both for his past musical achievements and for his ongoing work as a philosopher.