In May of 1998 Skamp (Erica, Vee and Villy) burst onto the Lithuanian music scene with their cover version of G.Gershwins' "Summertime." The song was released onto a summertime hits compilation and shot straight to the top of the charts. That August "Summertime" was released as a single along with 2 other songs "Nieko Panasaus" (an English / Lithuanian cover featuring the author / musical icon Andrius Mamontovas) and "B.U.T.Ful." "Nieko Panasaus" received the coveted Gold Disc Award from the radio station M-1 (the leading private radio station in the country) in September '98. Only four bands had previously achieved that status. In October of '98 Koja Records Group invited Skamp to join their ranks, they signed and started work on their debut "Angata" and not long afterwards received a grant from the Lithuanian Prime Minister.
January '99 , they showed up at the annual Radiocentras Awards (voted by the people - 2nd largest radio station in Lithuania) and left with every award they had been nominated for: Best Song '98 "Summertime" and Best Debut '98. The next month they were awarded Best Debut '98 from the prestigious Bravo Awards (voted by a commission of Industry people). N.B. They had achieved all this without having released an album or having ever toured the country.
February ' 99 brought their debut "Angata." That summer they won the Grand Prix Award in Latvia for the 35th "Liepajas Dzintars" festival. It's one of the most respected festivals in the Baltics with bands from all over Europe participating. Later SKAMP won the M-1 Gold Award for the second time for their first ballad "Remember" from their debut album.
At the end of '99, after concerts and promo, they presented their 2nd album "Green" to the public at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre accompanied by the National Orchestra. Since the beginning of 2000 they've toured everywhere from clubs to festival venues, have been the first to have a school tour of Lithuania. That year they were awarded "Best Group of '99" and "Best Pop of '99."
Read more...