Atvara

Atvara (born Liene Stūrmane on 2 April 1993 in Liepāja) is a Latvian singer-songwriter. She grew up in the coastal city of Liepāja and developed an early passion for music. Atvara studied at the Emīls Melngailis Music School in Liepāja. She later trained in jazz and pop vocals at the Jāzeps Mediņš Music School in Rīga. In her teens and early twenties, she gained experience on stage by taking part in Latvian TV music competitions such as Dziedošās ģimenes (“Singing Families”), Koru kari (“Choir Wars”), and the local version of X Faktors. She also became active on social media, sharing videos of her singing on TikTok. 

Music Career

Before stepping into the spotlight as a singer, Atvara wrote songs for other artists. Her compositions were featured in Latvia’s Supernova music contest in 2020 and 2024. Notably, she penned the song “Love Is A Language” for singer Sasha Sil. This song competed in Supernova 2024. Atvara made her recording debut in 2022 as a featured vocalist on Toms Kalderauskis’s single “Pāris reizītes”. She further collaborated with other artists, appearing on the rapper Edavārdi’s 2024 track “Ar dievu”.

Atvara launched her solo career in 2024. Her first single, “Pie manis tveries” (“Grab onto Me”), marked a major breakthrough. She wrote this ballad during a difficult period in her life. Its genuine emotion resonated widely. The song unexpectedly went viral on social media, garnering over 2 million views on TikTok and climbing to #2 on Spotify’s Viral 50 chart in Latvia. “Pie manis tveries” also featured as a theme song in the popular TV drama Nelūgtie viesi (“Uninvited Guests”). The success of this single turned Atvara into a rising star in the Latvian music scene.

Follow up and collaborations

Building on that momentum, Atvara released several follow-up singles in 2024 and 2025 that showcased her soulful, pop-inspired style. Songs like “Ja kāds jautātu” and “Pieskāros” reinforced her reputation for honest and emotive songwriting. As her popularity grew, she caught the attention of established musicians. While working behind the scenes as a digital content manager at a radio station, Atvara met acclaimed singer Intars Busulis. She played some of her demos for him. This meeting led to a high-profile collaboration; the duet “Vai drīkst kāpt dziļāk” (“May I Climb Deeper”), released in 2025.

Later that year, Atvara compiled her work into a debut album. Titled Vol. 1: Vai dzirdi, kā brūces dzīst (meaning “Do You Hear How Wounds Heal”), the album was released on 28 October 2025 under her own label, Atvara Records. The record brought together her hit singles and new material, cementing her status as a notable Latvian artist.

Eurovision 2026

In early 2026, Atvara set her sights on the Eurovision Song Contest. She entered Latvia’s national selection competition, Supernova 2026, with an original song titled “Ēnā” (“In the Shadow”). Atvara delivered a standout performance in the televised final on 14 February 2026. Atvara topped the scoreboard. This victory in Supernova 2026 earned her the honor of representing Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.