City, province/state, country:
Born in Athens, Greece. Currently living in London, United Kingdom.
What is your first memory related to music?
“My aunt is a big fan of Rock music. I remember one Saturday evening, when I was 10 years old, browsing her big vinyl collection…I came across ‘Deep Purple in Rock.’ I was very curious about this album as it had only seven songs, and also it was the first time I came across a 10 minute song. I still remember the paper and vinyl smell as I was taking the vinyl out of its folder to put it on the turntable, and the sound of the stereo player as you place the needle on the vinyl. That was it. That song is still one of my favorites. Other early memories connecting with Rock include Black Sabbath, and the heavier sounds of Iron Maiden, Metallica…and then later Iced Earth, Halloween, and more…”
What were your first steps in music?
“After hearing and embracing the bands mentioned above, I bought my first electric guitar when I was 13 and started my first band when I was 17…after playing and studying for countless hours.”
Why did you choose to become an engineer / producer?
“Rock and then Heavy Metal were my first influences in heavy music. What really made a huge impact in my ears was the sound of the distorted guitar. Later while I was rehearsing and recording with bands in the studio, I discovered another magical world: the engineering and production side of music. I was watching the engineers behind the console, working on our recordings with equalizers, compressors, limiters…routing from the console to Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), doing their magic by adding effects, and then routing back to the console. I also had the chance to use a Studer A807 tape machine on one of our recordings. It was a great lifetime experience; now it’s very easy for everyone to get their hands on plug-ins, but not the actual hardware. (We are living in revolutionary times for the audio industry, and we haven’t seen anything yet! More revolutionary things will continue to roll out). It was then that I decided I wanted to work as an engineer and producer. I am a technology freak and I love what is currently happening in the industry.”
What have the last 10 years of your career been like?
“They were quite challenging, as music production was a side project and my main job was IT. It’s really difficult to turn music into a full-time job these days. I managed to work with some great artists in Greece and produce some great albums and singles with them. After I developed some good skills and techniques, I moved to the UK in order to be able to network with more people and professionals in the music industry, work with bigger acts, and develop my skills even further.”
One bit of advice for someone starting out in your field?
“Stay focused on your cause, master your craft, and network as much as possible.”
What could be improved in your country with regard to the business and culture of music?
“In the UK there is a lot of movement and many networking events that can help people in the music industry to connect and come together, exchange ideas and help you connect with the industry. The difficult part is the time you need to invest in these events, as there are quite a lot and they’re all over the country.”
Current / next creative project that you’re excited about…tell us more!
“I recently finished my band’s debut album that was in progress for some time. The band is called InPhaze and the album is named ‘World of Lies.’ It became available online in late May of 2018. I am looking forward to doing more projects with the WWMU team as well.”
Is there a new creative direction / kind of project you would like to explore in the future?
“I always enjoy working on different genres and meeting creative musicians.”
Favorite project you’ve worked on?
“Some of my favorites: the Eurovision song “A Glimpse of Heaven” which I produced back in 2014, early WWMU projects in 2015, and my band’s debut album that I recently finished.”
