Greek | Rebetiko | Folk

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: The play "Mengele" for theater. It was a very professional level performance with high esteemed, experienced actors and director. Got very good critics and I enjoyed working on it every moment.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Writing songs and fusion instrumental music

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because the pros have surpass the cons these days and they are getting even more as technology advances. I see it as a one way for professionals in the future. There must be some very specific reason in order to go analog. Not just nuances.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: That I will do my best to serve their vision. My sound is my sonic identity and I try to put it to their service as needed.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being able to make people relate their feelings with music. Sometimes when they listen to the result and understand that the communication of the emotions is spot on, their face illuminates in a pleasant way :)

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: They sometimes ask if I would you do a project for free? Usually I try to be polite if I refuse, but I try to find other ways around like a service exchange if they offer something I could need etc.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: Unfortunately in Greece is very common believe that music and art in general isn't a true profession.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the message of the project? What is the time schedule? What is the budget?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Make sure that your vision translates accurately to the contractor. Try to speak in simple words and be specific about the emotions you want to evoke. Once I had a request to compose music that sounds like snowflakes falling...

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Bouzouki, ipad, audio interface, mic and charger :)

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I have being composing music since 2007 and professionally since 2011. I started out with film scoring and short films. I did a few small projects for performance arts installations and then a few major theater productions. For the past couple of years I am doing songwriting as well.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Neo folk..(?) Fusion world music (?) More technical term should be: East Mediterranean Modal with electronic elements

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Anyone can bring something new and every collaboration can teach us all something. Even if you are 30 years in the production you still can learn and implement new things. That is what I love about this job.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Think out of the box, try something different with plugins you know how to use well. Use them in different roles.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Greek folk and neo-rembetiko. Alternative rock, folk-rock, greek popular songs.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Normally I try to serve the purpose in each case. If it's film scoring or theater it's the message of the director, if it's a song it's what the lyrics want to say. I always try to underline the messages with the music and not just accompany.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I would say a combination of classical music training and strong traditional music practice, greek, balcan and rembetiko sounds. I can record sessions with Bouzouki and other traditional instruments. I try to stick mostly to building sounds from scratch and record most of them by myself.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Usually I collaborate with other lyricists. I provide the music and record the scratch and instrumental. If I have a vocalist about the project in mind I approach them. Usually it takes 1 or 2 sessions to record vocals. Then I mix and master if needed.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I own a home studio based in Nicosia where I record, mix and master. I am a bit of equipment nerd to be honest and I am always looking for expanding.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Greek songwriters Thanassis Papakonstantinou and Socrates Malamas.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Mostly songwriting for the last year. Music production for theater projects was the staple before covid lockdowns.