Darius Mileris,
artist name Nojus is an acclaimed singer, songwriter,
guitarist and producer with 11 albums under his belt.
Darius Mileris Nojus established production company
Baltic Promotions, which promotes music from
Baltic States in Ireland and connects Irish acts with new
audiences in Baltics.
He began his music career in 1988 by playing in TERRA L., GOLGOTA, DIAMOND, AUDI
and VYNAS groups during school.
In 1992 established folkrock
band AIRIJA in Lithuania, realised five acclaimed albums with
the band. Irish music and culture had great influence on the
creation of the band, hence the name Airija means Ireland in
Lithuanian language. Their music has been described as "Baltic
Folkrock". Honours and Awards
Laureate, Young
Performers Singing Poetry Competition, 1992.
With group AIRIJA Winner of Discovery of the Year Award, 1993.
Named Best Rock
Group of the Year 1995.
Laureate with Airija Group-Culture
Award of Alytus City in 1997.
In 1993, AIRIJA won the Bravo
music award for "Discovery of the Year". During 1994, AIRIJA's
first album "Yra"(There is) put them in the top 10 of
Lithuanian Rock. AIRIJA recorded three more albums: "Cia"(Here),
"Yra cia"(Is here) a live unplugged recording, and "Pasaka"(Fairytale)
which has kept the band on the top for the five years. A joint
project with Kaunas Minor Drama Theater, called "Photos from
the Old Album", created a unique mix of acoustic music and
theatrical pantomime, which was recognized as the best musical
project of the year in Lithuania. In1995, AIRIJA- the Rock
Group of the Year in Lithuania. AIRIJA won the MCM TV award in
France for the Best Small Budget Music Video for the song "I
Save Per Save"(To Yourself Through Yourself). AIRIJA was also
awarded the 1997 Alytus City Cultural Award.
Nojus music style varies from acoustic bard music to folkrock
with strong Irish and Baltic folklore influence. Listening to
Dire Straits from the early days of his music carrier shaped
his guitar playing technique and song creation. Lyrics and
strong melody are key features of Nojus songs. Lyrical side of
Nojus music represents moody reality of life and hope for the
better day. Nojus short autobiography "Saving myself rather than the
world..."
I was born in Lithuania town Alytus, spend my youth swimming
and wondering what is this world about. At the age of 16 I
started playing guitar, discovered sincere music of Dire
Straits, tender roughness of Metallica and musical variation
of Saxon and Iron Maiden. Later I was blown away by The Cure,
U2, Pearl Jam, The Levellers and numerous other artists
including Russian rock giants Aquarium, Kino, DDT, Chaif,
Splean, V.Visockij. And everywhere I went I had my guitar with
me, started creating my own lyrics and music, chose artist
name NOJUS, which means Noah in Lithuanian, and started saving
myself rather than world. I recorded my first underground
album "Memento Mori" at my friends studio in 1990, joined band
VYNAS (Wine) in 1991 and had my first taste of success. Then
in september 1992 me and bass player Koka (Kostas Radlinskas)
started a new band AIRIJA and rock`n`rolled all over Lithuania
till year 2000. We released 5 albums, It was an amazing time
and awesome experience. In 2001 I left for Ireland. Since the
year 1992, when we named our band AIRIJA, which means Ireland
in Lithuanian, I was fascinated by celts and the music from
Irish shores. Chieftains, The Pogues, Seanead O`Connor, U2,
Therapy?, The Dubliners, all of these artists influenced me,
so I came to see where is the music from. Now I can hear,
touch and feel the music, miss my homeland and keep saving
myself rather than the world.