Iuli Tsakalou writes
In 1986, his artistic activity began with his participation in the Ithaca Festival, where he was awarded the first composition prize. To date, over 250 of his songs have been released on 14 personal records, as well as on records by other artists. Many of them became great hits (“Chalkida”, “With the wings of love”, “O Panagis”, etc.).
These songs have been written on verses by great Greek and foreign poets (K. Varnalis, G. Ritsos, P. Neruda, B. Brecht etc.), as well as on verses by important lyricists (H. Katsoulis, L. Papadopoulos , Th. Gonis, I. Panoutsopoulos, V. Velonias and A. Tori et al.). They have been performed by leading singers (M. Lidakis, V. Savvidis, G. Dalaras, M. Mitsias, N. Venetsanou, F. Velesiotou, A. Kalogiannis, V. Skoulas, Psarantonis, D. Mitropanos, V. Papakonstantinou, P. Thalassinos), but also younger notables (A. Kaparou, V. Ikari, A. Kapsokavadis, A. Smyrnakis, etc.)
Tasos Groos studied classical guitar.
How would you introduce “And everything is different” to your listeners?
“And everything is different.” Title of my new cycle of songs, released as a book-CD, by “METRONOMOS” publications. It consists of 11 songs. The singers are Violeti Ikari, Argyro Kaparou, Katerini Siampanda and Morpho Tsaireli. The lyrics were written by the debutant but very promising Maria Tsimiklis. Nikos Velonias has done the orchestration and Dimitra Lambretsa signs the sketches that adorn the book. A key feature of this work is the development of melodies in scales of the so-called folk streets with modern instrumentation.
You have collaborated with some of the most important Greek singers. Which collaboration do you consider pivotal?
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with high-level singers from my very first appearance in Greek singing. First participation in the Greek discography with the song “A traveling photographer”, with lyrics by Ilias Katsoulis and interpretation by Antonis Kalogiannis. In the same period it is released, with the title Forms, my first full-length work with Nena Venetsanou as the main performer. However, the emergence of the song “Chalkida” with lyrics by Ilias Katsoulis was decisive. This song began its journey by participating in a cycle of songs with a general title Secret Words, which was approved and published in the SERIES by Manos Hadjidakis, with singer Konstantinos Hatzimichalis. Afterwards, the acumen and deep knowledge of the folk song led Kostas Hatzidoulis to choose this song and give it to Manolis Lidakis for re-performance. The amazing interpretation of Manolis took the song off the ground and placed it among the so-called classic songs of the Greek repertoire.
You have set many Greek and foreign poets to music. How did your love for poetry come regarding?
In the beginning, dealing with the musicalization of poetic speech was a one-way street for me, since objectively I did not have the possibility to come into contact with lyricists. Over time, however, it ended up becoming my great love, since I realized that poetry is the culmination of the art of speech.
Why today radio stations promote specific artists and do not operate on merit?
The influence of record companies on music producers has always been known and in fact universally accepted. In any case, the good or bad preparation of each music producer was the essential weapon to prevent outside interference in the meritocratic selection of songs, which should be heard in the music broadcasts. Today, when the companies have ceased to monopolize the field of music, in combination with the existence of the Internet, conditions are created for the promotion and highlighting of “quality” songs as well.
Is there a good Greek song nowadays?
The so-called quality song in our country existed, exists and will continue to exist in the future. Whether it will be heard has to do with what we have already mentioned. However, we must emphasize that the listener also bears a great deal of responsibility for what happens. Manos Hadjidakis used to say that “anyone who wants to listen to quality music, if they really want it, can search and find it”. Of course, my friend Kostas Tripolitis, with greater realism, reaches the conclusion that “the audience is empty”.
“And everything is different.” In book-CD format, from “METRONOMOS” publications.
New cycle songs of Elias Katsouli
What are your future plans?
The release of a new cycle of songs with lyrics by the unforgettable great lyricist and my great friend Ilias Katsoulis is imminent. The songs are performed by Violeta Ikari, with her characteristically special voice. The recording of 15 songs of my own choice from the totality of my musical output between 1970-1974, of a purely political anti-dictatorship character, is also being completed. T. Groos, V. Ikaris, A. Kapsokavadis and choir sing. At the same time, an effort will be made to organize various actions to better promote the songs that were released following 2010 and have as a common characteristic that the responsibility for their production, the content and the selection of the songs is exclusively mine.
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