"There are loads of Lithuanian artists who have everything it takes from a creative point of view to become an international success," says Snorre Bergerud, a Norwegian music producer, who has been working with Lithuanian artists since 2010.

"[But] there is a lack of infrastructure that can support those artists on their way. <...> If the Lithuanian cultural sphere – whether it's political or purely cultural – decides that it is valuable to be able to export Lithuanian music abroad, they have to invest money into it."

Hear the full interview with Snorre Bergerud hosted by Karolis Vyšniauskas, the editor of the NARA podcast:

This conversation is a continuation of their first podcast recording from two years ago. To this day, it remains the most downloaded episode of the Nauja Scena series, which is dedicated to new Lithuanian music.

In this meeting, the conversation focuses on broader questions regarding the creative environment in this day and age.

The second part of the interview explores a rather controversial question that has been in the Lithuanian public space for some time: what to do – if anything – about Slavic influences in Lithuanian pop music; and how to keep creating art when the future is uncertain.

As a producer and recording engineer, Snorre Bergerud has worked with bands and artists such as Garbanotas, Jauti, Gabija Li, Monika Pundziūtė, Justinas Jarutis, Franks Fitts, Crucial Features, Barbora Matuzaitė, Mile Karale, šėtono močia, shishi, Sipas, Palėpė, Angelou, Sraigės efektas and many others.

He has also been documenting these artists during their time in the studio. See the gallery from recent recordings below.