An artist who reaches out to music with no strings attached and that is why music responds back to him, in a beautiful communication that evolves into passionate melodies.
Thanos Papageorgiou
Embracing music without taking a hard line
Text: Zafeiris Konstantinidis
He got acquainted with music on the spur of the moment, he fell in love and music felt the same way, and that’s how all these enchanting melodies that spring out of his voice and his guitar were born. Melodies that we too fall in love with as soon as we hear them.
Thirty-five-year-old Thanos Papageorgiou was born in Larissa, but for the past 18 years he has been living in Thessaloniki, working as a singer and a guitar player. He crossed paths with music unexpectedly in 2008, when the sound of a friend’s guitar cast a spell on him during their summer holidays, in a familiar movie-like scenery. Dear friends, a bonfire at the beach, beers, a starry night, the sound of waves blending in with the melodies. That night he felt summoned by an inner call. As if he had unearthed the key to a door never opened before, feeling that it could lead him to unknown and fascinating roads. There are some life-defining moments, “tender and subtle” as Nikos Papazoglou once sang. Two months later, he bought his first guitar and the rest is history as they say.
I heard Thanos Papageorgiou for the first time when he took part in the 2016-2017 The Voice TV talent show, making three live appearances as a member of Panos Mouzourakis’ team of singers. He describes this experience as pure magic and considers these talent shows to be beneficial for the upcoming artists, while pointing out that “a single talent show cannot make the difference”, as talents way outnumber the selected participants. “Even if you experience rejection, you should not be deterred. It does not mean that you are worth nothing. You persist and keep on doing what you treasure and you will be eventually rewarded for your hard work,” he concludes.
Thanos Papageorgiou comes from Larissa, but has been a permanent resident of Thessaloniki ever since 2007. His relation to the city can be described as nothing less than an instant crush. “A mother of many talents in the fields of poetry, lyrics writing, music composition. Every corner and alley oozes art vibes. A surplus of talent but unfortunately a shortage of music stages, especially if you make a comparison with the city’s glorious past,” he adds in a nostalgic tone.
According to Thanos Papageorgiou, inspiration has no monopolies. Anything that may stir his interest could end up in a creative process. The sea, falling in love and breaking up, the society and its people, simple yet thrilling instances and occasions of everyday life. He often records words and phrases he listens to during a conversation or reads somewhere. He notes them down, he “cooks” them, shapes them and then sets out to create. After all, every artist is a “social sensor, with his antennas always open.” An artist observes, listens and writes. “You draw inspiration from something that shakes you on the inside,” he mentions, vividly outlining the way he grasps and absorbs experiences through his “music receptors” before transforming them into melodies.
The lyrics you write are like your children, and you always want the best for your children. However, many times the lyrics entrusted to me by other artists are endowed with something more or something different than my own lyrics. After all, that’s the reason I embrace them, just like the parents who adopt a child but love it all the same, even though not an offspring of their bodies.
He is one of the singers who takes joy in singing lyrics written by other musicians, and refrains from taking a hard line or imposing limitations to himself. “The lyrics you write are like your children, and you always want the best for your children. However, many times the lyrics entrusted to me by other artists are endowed with something more or something different than my own lyrics. After all, that’s the reason I embrace them, just like the parents who adopt a child but love it all the same, even though not an offspring of their bodies,” he confesses.
He singles out several moments in his career bearing a particular artistic and emotional value, such as his participation in the chorus ensemble on the occasion of the completion of 100 years since the Genocide of the Pontic People. The affecting aspect of the event along with the fact that he shared the stage with iconic singers (such as the Tsahouridis brothers, George Dalaras and Melina Aslanidi) in a packed Herodion, go down as one of the “most important pages in the book of his music journey.”
He listens to the music he loves to play, ranging from the so-called éntekhno repertoire to old popular folk songs. The mood defines the kind of melody he will seek: sometimes he is into classical rock music, sometimes he opts for the bouzouki. One thing is for sure though; he is free from any preconceptions when it comes to music, as he trusts his ear to guide him through the melodies that will “warm up his heart.” He loves to listen to and perform songs by George Dalaras, Yiannis Parios, Antonis Vardis, Charoula Alexiou, Yannis Kotsiras, Thanos Mikroutsikos. He has a soft spot for many singers, but each leaves a mark on his soul in a different way.
He is a multifaceted artist intrigued by history; no surprise, therefore, he chose to study at AUTh’s School of History & Archeology. He is also fascinated by art on a broader level, having expanded his horizons beyond music, as he got involved with theater for a couple of years in the past. As he clarifies, acting and music are two interlinked worlds in need of one another so as to unravel their greatness. It is precious for an actor to possess the skills and qualities of a singer and the other way round, as they both are often called to pull off highly demanding and challenging missions. As for the most valuable lesson he was taught during the theater workshop he attended was no other than the confidence to stand before the audience.
Thanos Papageorgiou is an artist who reaches out to music with no strings attached and that is why music responds back to him, in a beautiful communication that evolves into passionate melodies. Melodies that you are bound to love driven by the love shown by the artist behind them and the authenticity of their raw material.
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