Where music will serve as a bridge between the heart, the soul and the body.
Constantine Skourlis
The conflict between compromise and exceedance
Text: Marni Hatziemmanouil
Sounds of the universe that feel like coming from nebulas, galaxies, crumbling or newborn stars. Sounds filled with oceans of memory, lagoons of oblivion and traveling birds, timbres full of tension, passion and inspiration, which constitute the music celebration of the composer, producer and musician Constantine Skourlis, whose work has been labeled as “dynamic” (Electronic Beats), “grandiose” (Boomkat), “glorious” (Echoes and Dust) and “haunting” (Headphone Commute). “My music coexists with the notions of harmony and disharmony, both of which are inherent elements of the universe. I create soundscapes that trigger – or at least that’s what I hope to achieve – the sense of the infinite and the unknown, as if I’m seeking the sounds hidden beyond our perception. When I compose, I don’t just follow a mental process, but I strive to explore the most innate aspects of the human experience. Through my music I often convey tension, sorrow and redemption, linking the listener to deeper emotions and memories. I aim at luring the audience to an internal quest, where music will serve as a bridge between the heart, the soul and the body.”
How did the music journey of Constantine Skourlis kick off? “Through the seeking of sounds that would offer a feeling of safety before the most profound concepts that preoccupy the human mind, even if we do not fully comprehend them, such as love, death, loss, the great beyond etc… It did not take me long to discover the power embedded in noise, silence and the deformed soundscapes. My personal quest led me to develop a sound that binds together the dynamics of metal, the darkness of drone and the elegance of classical music.”
Constantine Skourlis, based in Athens, had his debut album titled Hades (2017) released by Bedouin Records and presented live in prestigious venues such as: Berghain Säule & Main Room (Berlin, 2017 & 2018), MOMus (Thessaloniki, 2023), Bozar (Brussels, 2018) και Onassis Stegi (Athens, 2018). “Hades was born out of thoughts revolving around death and Greek mythology, digging my way into remote caves and natural landscapes. My inspiration comes from the union of mankind with the natural and the supernatural world. For the most part, the sounds I create are the outcome of personal experiences and my profound relation to nature, history and mythology.”
In 2020, his sophomore album titled Eternal Recurrence was released, and hailed as a “sonic atlas” by A Closer Listen. “My music is not limited to a particular era. On the contrary, I explore the time cycle, the constant return to the beginning of all things. In the album Eternal Recurrence – a notion closely associated with Ancient Greek stoicism and later resurfaced by Nietzsche – I examine the repeated nature of disaster and rebirth, inside of which the world is rebuilt from its ashes. In the same year, he showcased the work Splendidissima Gemma: Recomposing Hildegard, inspired by Hildegard of Bingen and commissioned by the Canto Soave vocal ensemble and the Athens Concert Hall.
My music coexists with the notions of harmony and disharmony, both of which are inherent elements of the universe. I create soundscapes that trigger the sense of the infinite and the unknown, as if I’m seeking the sounds hidden beyond our perception. When I compose, I don’t just follow a mental process, but I strive to explore the most innate aspects of the human experience. Through my music I often convey tension, sorrow and redemption, linking the listener to deeper emotions and memories. I aim at luring the audience to an internal quest, where music will serve as a bridge between the heart, the soul and the body.
Constantine Skourlis places particular emphasis on dramatization, which he considers a key component of his music, having worked alongside top-notch visual artists-filmmakers, such as the Latent Community duo, in their works Otranto (more than seven international awards) and Horses, Alcaeus Spyrou in his work Pave Paradise (Best Documentary Award – National Competition 47th Drama International Short Film Festival), choreographer Dafin Antoniadou (awarded as one of the top-tier choreographers in Europe by the Airwaves network), as well as in theater productions such as The Frogs (Epidaurus 2023). “These collaborations broaden my perception on what can be expressed through music, as they endow it with a physical, cinematic and theatrical framework, while delving into the emotional and narrative dimensions of music. I reach out to those who are in search of a type of music that speaks on multiple levels: from the ones who appreciate the composition’s subtle hues and textures, all the way to those who feel connected with the second layer of the ambiance oozed by music.”
In addition, he has teamed up with the Japanese fashion brand Devoa, Greek fashion designer Dimitris Petrou, dancing team “Small Axe” by Danae & Dionysios, stage directors Efi Birba and Marlene Kaminsky, whereas his most recent works include the show Dawn Eternal. “The core of my work is mankind and its confrontation with chaos. I am interested in the tension between beauty and violence, the relation of mankind with disaster and rebirth. My music expressed this constant struggle, which could eventually lead to redemption and catharsis. Disaster is an integral part of creation. My music draws inspiration from the moments that our human nature is tested, when we are forced to overcome our limitations. This conflict between compromise and exceedance is my driving force as an artist.”
In a recognition of his innovative work, Constantine Skourlis became one of the few composers on a worldwide scale who have been invited to team up with the workshop Intelligent Instruments Lab (IIL), a branch of the Reykjavik-based University of Iceland that designs musical instruments enhanced with Generative Artificial Intelligence. This lab is at the cutting edge of the A.I. technology and composition, in harmony with the pioneering approach of Skourlis in the fields of sound and music. As he reveals, he is currently working on his next album, “a collaboration with one of my most beloved composers, who lives and works in LA. I carry on exploring the combinations between acoustic and electronic sounds, working on new projects that focus on the clash of mankind against the unknown, as well as on how music can serve as a bridge between these forces.”
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