[1] From 1986 and until his death, Brauns was a member of the Latvian Filmmakers Union and has composed music for various films.

[3] In addition to film scores, Brauns wrote and composed multiple pieces for various theatre plays.

His most famous piece, written in the late 1980's for the Valmiera Drama Theatre, titled Saule, Pērkons, Daugava, of which the lyrics are based on the poem Daugava by Latvian poet Rainis; this song has been performed regularly at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival since 1990, and is even considered the unofficial anthem of the festival.

[1][9] The album also won a Grawemeyer Award in a world music competition for works composed between 2001 and 2004.

[10] In 2019, Brauns received the Golden Microphone Lifetime Contribution Award for his work to enhance Latvian culture.