An Interview With The Greek Multi-Instrumentalist, THEODORE!

Meet the Greek artist Theodore! He certainly doesn’t fit into one box. He’s a dynamic multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer who fuses electronic elements with classical composition methods. Earlier this year, he performed at SXSW in Austin on March 16th at Central Presbyterian Church and then on March 21st at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. Previously, Theodore has supported Sigur Rós, performed at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen, toured Spain, Germany, France and the UK.

“Towards?” is his newest single off his upcoming album via United We Fly. According to Theodore,  the song is the initial question he will explore throughout the album. It’s about the two different sides of one’s personality; the conscious and the magical one and inspired by the battle between them.

His debut album, “It Is But It’s Not,” was written and arranged by Theodore and co-produced by Clive Martin (Queen, Reef) and mixed by Ken Thomas (Moby, M83).

Connect With Theodore Here:

theodore-music.com

facebook.com/Theodore.Music.Official

twitter.com/musicoftheodore

soundcloud.com/theodore

Learn more about Theodore in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So where does this interview find you? What’s on tap for the rest of your day?

I am currently back in Athens – we’ve just returned from our first trip to the US where we performed at SXSW and Rockwood Music Hall in NYC.

Overall, how do you think 2017 was for you and your career? What are you most excited about for this year? What is one big goal you have for 2018?

We spent most of 2017 touring in Europe and showcasing in festivals such as Live at Heart and Reeperbahn, where we were named Best Performance of 2017. 2018 has also been great so far, we’ve already performed at Eurosonic Noorderslag, SXSW and New York City. I’m very excited to perform at MUSEXPO LA, and as my upcoming album will be released this fall, our goal is to share it with as many people as we can.

Growing up, did you ever think that this would be the kind of life that you would have? Has music always been a big part of your life? Can you recall your first ever musical experience? 

Very early in my life I realised that the most intense moments were when I was improvising with my piano. When my family or friends were around this feeling was multiplied and when I first played in front of 20 people, it was the most unique feeling I have ever experienced. However, even though I always knew I was a musician, I only recently realised what this means. It requires endurance, faith and perseverance, but when you finally go on stage and connect with the audience, it is the most magical experience anybody could have.

How do you think growing up in your hometown has influenced your sound and who you are as a musician?

Greece and Athens have influenced me a lot, my music wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t from here. When I was seven years old I got my first bouzouki, a very traditional Greek instrument. That summer I approached a group of musicians in the Greek island Ithaki, and asked if I could play with them. I played with them all night and over the next two summers.

How was your experience at SXSW? What did you learn from it all? Did you get a chance to check out other shows and performances while you were there? Was it your first time attending it?

Yes it was my first time attending SXSW; it was a very interesting and rewarding experience. Austin has a very strong artistic vibe, and it was great to be part of it. I got to see some shows I really enjoyed.

Let’s talk about your debut single “Towards” from your upcoming album. What was the inspiration for this track? How do you think this song prepares listeners for more music from you? How did you go about choosing it to be first song released from your album?

Towards? (for what is to come) is about the two different sides of one’s personality; the conscious and the magical one and inspired by the battle between them. This is the initial question I will be exploring throughout the album and that is why I chose it to be the first release. It is an introduction and original question that this concept album will explore.

When are you planning on releasing your album? What was it like putting it together? Can you remember the first time you heard it the whole way through? What was that like for you? 

The album will be released in the fall of this year. The process of putting it together was very quick, and constantly led me to feel like the album was coming together on its own. The first time I heard the whole album recorded, it was 3 o’clock in the morning in Clouds Hills studio in Hamburg. Listening to it for the first time from beginning to end, was unbelievably rewarding and confirmed to me that it actually worked as well as I had felt.

How do you keep up with all of your social media accounts? Do you struggle with posting often or have you learned how to stay active on it all? 

I don’t really use social media to share my personal life. However, as it is very important for my musical side, my favourite moments are were I can be spontaneous and creative.

Where do you find that you sing the most these days, in the shower, in the car, in the studio or elsewhere?

I always enjoyed singing in the shower, but lately I enjoy singing while walking.

We are living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious how you think being a musician gives you the most joy in life today? How do you think that music is going to reflect these challenging times?

I believe that music is an art form about the basics, and using it to engage with core values, questions and theories of man, has a stronger social and political impact. This way you remind the audience what we really need to take care of.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely still love to work with in the future? 

Some of the musicians who have continuously inspired my music are Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Doors, composers like Nils Frahm and Max Richter, and the Greeks Chatzidakis, and Vagelis Papathanasiou. I would love to collaborate with artists like Brian Eno and Nigel Godrich.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

I hope that while listening to the album or attending one of my shows, people can be dragged into an intense and emotional cloud, where the artist and the audience share a timeless and spaceless experience and in the end, both of us can take away whatever we need and not something I enforce.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself and your music?

The second single release is coming up before summer, and with the album release in the fall, I’m now in the process of creating a new light show for my gigs. I am very excited to present this audiovisual experience in the upcoming shows in Europe!