June 4, 2009
By Pepie Ragoussis
http://www.tanea.gr/default.asp?pid=2&artid=4520244&ct=4
"I MOVE FORWARD WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE TELLS ME TO STOP"
Quote: "I thought the Eurovision's echo would last for a few days. I am glad you still care about me, in Greece and elsewhere", he says.
Q: Wasn't your aim to have this international career, when you decided to participate?
A: Not even victory was. Thinking of it, the Eurovision star is still shining upon me. It is gonna fade eventually, my hype will be lost, and everything left behind will be who I am in real life: a classical musician, a violinist who is also a songwriter.
Q: Don't you consider yourself a singer?
A: Of course not. I went to the contest as a musician. And that's what people liked, I think. Sakis Rouvas [the Greek contestant] is perhaps a better singer than me.
Q: So why did you go to the ESC, although you are a musician with classical background?
A: Because I don't believe in borders. There is only one music and only. The difference lies in the approach. There are honest light songs and not honest pieces that pretend to be serious. Eurovision was a vacation for me, from my professional obligations and my ongoing studies. I wrote the song in my vacation. I was walking in the Norwegian countryside. Suddenly, the "Fairytales" melody came to my head. I dropped my luggage, I took the violin and played it. The first living creatures ti hear it were cows, horses rabbits, birds... whatever it was in that field.
Q: Did you notice the aggressive tone Greek TV reporters had towards you during the ESC?
A: Whatever it happened, I hope it wasn't my fault. I am a very moderate person, shy perhaps. Maybe they tried to support Sakis, a very important artist, I think. Even if they exaggerated, they were partially justifiable.
Q: What would you consider as a compromising in your career, 10 years from now?
A: To not do something I believe in, merely because others don't approve it. So far that usually happens. People surrounding me disagree with my decisions. But I move forward when everybody else tells me to stop.
Q: Couldn't this be called "arrogance"?
A: I am not arrogant as a person. But I have strong confidence in what I do as an artist. Maybe I do it with arrogance. But being arrogant like an artist and being arrogant like a star is not the same. The first pushes you ahead, the latter can be a trap.
Q: Which was your secret key to your success in the ESC?
A: "Fairytale" was just an honest song.
Quote: "Regarding Greek music, I am familiar with the works of Mikis Theodorakis. I have played many of his compositions in orchestras. 'Zorba' is one of my favorite pieces, I consider it very important".