He has released nine solo albums and has won numerous awards including Latvijas Radio's Muzikālās Banka (lit.
Born in Saldus, Latvia, Dons began his career on the Latvian reality show Talantu Fabrika (lit.
He released a duet album, Viens Otram (2004), with fellow contestant Lily (real name Linda Kalniņa, m. 2009; div.
He found success releasing his next eight albums in the Latvian language: Lelle (2008), Signāls (2013), Varanasi (2014), Sibīrija (2015), Tepat (2016), Namiņš.
Artūrs Šingirejs was born on 10 April 1984 in Brocēni, Saldus district,[3] Latvia to a Belarusian father[4] and a Latvian mother, who performed professionally as a soloist in the Liepāja group Santa, led by Zigmars Liepiņš.
He joined Radio SWH Rock as a DJ host after winning the reality show, which he says was much more stressful than performing on stage.
[9][11] The album became a best seller in Latvia and they earned a nomination for Top Radio Hit with "Just For You" at the 2003 Latvian Music Recording Awards.
[14] In 2007, he performed in Zigmars Liepiņš' popular musical theatre Adata with the song "Ja Tu Man Esi" ("lit.
'1000 miles in India') presented by Latvijas Televīzija with fellow travelers radio DJ Egon Reiter, comedian Jānis Skutelis, Edgars Zaķis and rapper Gustavo.
[4] After the series ended, he stayed in India for a month longer as a creative means of self-searching and meditation, which later reflected in his music.
Every person at some point in their lives gets on this train and leaves for Varanasi, gets out of their comfort zone, makes drastic decisions and then starts learning how to read life In 2014, he participated in Dziesma (lit.
[39] About his motivation, Dons said, "Although in the song ('Pēdējā Vēstule'), Varanasi is a metaphor for peace of mind, which we can also find in the beet fields, on the stage, at the wheel of a car - wherever there is a place.
[40] Dons noted about his ongoing songwriting relationship with the lyricist Bērziņš: "My songs are about myself, my pain and my joys, my dreams and my disappointments, otherwise I can't write.
After music and our conversations, Ingus can read the state of my soul very well..."[40] His next two singles from Sibīrija were "Pašā Ielas Galā" (lit.
[47] The tour featured two nights at Latvia's Arēna Rīga, making Dons one of the few domestic groups capable of bringing in a crowd large enough for that arena.
He featured a variety of lyricists including himself, Ingus Bērziņš, Arnis Račinskis, Ģirts Rozentāls and Kaspars Ansons.
[53] In 2018, he played the lead role in the 30th-anniversary production of the rock opera, Lāčplēsis, based on the Latvian national epic of the same name.
He worked with 20 Latvian musicians to create the charity anthem, "Es zinu, Tu esi" to raise money for domestic violence victims.
[63] In March 2021, Dons participated in an open letter to the government that was signed by leading Latvian musicians, artists, writers and other creatives.
[68] The song was cowritten with DJ Rudd (Rūdolfs Budze) and Aminata Savadogo about an admiration "of space, of infinity, of stars, about possibilities and probabilities".
'Forgiveness'), his collaboration with Prata Vetra and Intars Busulis, made the final 15 for most valuable song of the 2021 Muzikālā Banka (lit.
[78] The single was nominated for ELVI Song of the Year and won Top Radio Hit at the 2024 Latvian Music Recording Awards.
[79][80] On 17 and 18 July 2023, Dons performed as Quasimodo in Zigmars Liepiņš' operatic melodrama Parīzes Dievmātes katedrāle (lit.
[84] Contestants answered trivia questions and performed songs from the different music eras, with losers being sent home via fan votes.
[84] In January 2024, Dons released "Hollow", his first English-language single since 2013, with which he was selected to compete in Supernova 2024, Latvia's national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
[99] Dons was announced as a judge for the debut season of Ir Talants, the Latvian version of the popular global series Got Talent.
'Collectors', lyrics by Ingus Bērziņš based on John Fowles' The Collector)[108] on the album Lelle with a message written about tragic events.
"[86] For his music video of "Hollow", journalists had noted his acting skills but Dons said, "When they tear my clothes and skin, it all happens for real.
[106] Dons was married to Lily (real name Linda Kalniņa), whom he met while as a contestant on the Latvian reality show Talantu Fabrikā (lit.
'Musical Bank') award to the most valuable pop and rock song, which is selected based on audience votes and evaluation by a professional jury.