PeR

PeR
PeR performing their song Here We Go in a dress rehearsal for the second semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013.
Background information
Origin	Latvia
Genres	Pop hip hop
Years active	2007 (2007)–present
Labels	Platforma Music
Members	Ralfs Eilands (2007–present) Edmunds Rasmanis(2008–present)
Past members	Emīls Vegners (2007–2008) Pēteris Upelnieks (2007–2011)

PeR that stands for "Please explain the Rhythm" is a Latvian pop and beatboxing band formed in 2007. The original line-up was Ralfs Eilands, Emīls Vegners, and Pēteris Upenieks. Vegners left the band in 2007 and was replaced by Edmunds Rasmanis. But when Upelnieks left the trio in 2011, he was not replaced, rendering the band a duo consisting of just Eilands and Rasmanis. After three failed attempts in earlier years to represent Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest, PeR won the 2013 Dziesma contest and represented the country in the 2013 Contest with the song "Here We Go".

The band was founded in 2007, with original members; Ralfs Eilands, Emīls Vegners, and Pēteris Upelnieks. On 21 July 2007, the band first appeared and performed on Dziesma manai paaudzei, the Latvian music festival. After the festival, the band travelled to Moscow, Russia, to compete with other artists on the talent show Minuta Slavy (Minute of Fame), with the band coming in fourth place during voting. The band returned to Latvia where they received an invitation to participate in the annual music event Bildes 2007. This was the last event with the original members.

In 2008, Emīls Vegners left the band and was replaced by Edmunds Rasmanis. The band gained popularity appearing on the first series of the Latvian television station LNT contest Latvijas zelta talanti, the group managed to reach the final, but failed to win. After the contest, the band performed at many events, including the 2009 edition of Muzikālā banka.

In 2009, the band with Sabīne Berezina entered the 2009 edition of Eirodziesma, the Latvian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, with the song "Bye, Bye". The song qualified from the semi-final in sixth place, but finished ninth in the final.