Gerasimos Papadopoulos was born in Athens in 1988 and grew up in Cyprus, where he had his first chanting lessons. In 2008 he moved to Athens, where he graduated in Greek Philology at the University of Athens. During that time, he studied with Gregorios Anastasiou, securing his Byzantine Music diploma; he also studied the oud, the theory of Ottoman makam and Ottoman singing with Greek and Turkish teachers. In 2016 he graduated with a Master's in Linguistics and since 2017 has been working under the supervision of Achilleas Chaldeakis for his doctorate thesis in Byzantine Musicology. He is currently teaching English terminology of Byzantine Musicology at the European University of Cyprus. He is also a permanent member of the "Masters of the Psaltic Art" choir, a singer and composer of Eastern music.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Gerasimos Papadopoulos. What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Without intending to, musically I am a child of postmodernism. In terms of composing and performing music, my influences include Byzantine chants, 60s rock, rebetiko, Talking Heads, Nina Simone, and Ottoman semai... If, in the end, there is something new that I seek to bring to the present day, it is - on a creative level - the element of ecstasy through simple, yet "spicy" melodies.
What is your dream project?
I will merge my real dreams with my artistic concerns, answering that a dream project for me would be to create a condition in which my music would be a key component of a real carousal, with plenty of eroticism in the atmosphere...
Your latest track is 'Bazaar'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
The story of "Bazaar" I wouldn't say it has any great interest (I hope the music does). It was composed to musically invest a bazaar scene in the fairy tale "Zahrenia" by Greek author Fotini Kaimaki. In purely technical terms, its melody has the peculiarity that it does not fit in with any of the familiar Eastern scales, since it resembles - in Western terms - a major that always ends in the fifth. This - to say the least - did not arise consciously at all. I mentally wandered through this imaginary bazaar and the melody that spontaneously emerged was this one.
What makes you angry?
Um... I would say the breaking of boundaries in any exercise of power. I have not demonized the concept of power. On the contrary, I think demonizing it blinds us from seeing that we all constantly exercise power over others (and - of course - vise versa). The exercise of power is mutual between partners, between friends, between children and parents, between employees and bosses, and so on. To be done well it must involve love. Instinctively, although I can - consciously - discern the dimension of magnitudes, I get just as angry with an oppressive boss, an emasculating partner, and a spoiled child.
What is the most surprising fact you’ve learnt about yourself?
The fact that the kids find me really hilarious and I can make them laugh for hours! Oh, and the fact that I have an unexpected natural talent for ...racewalking! Oh, yes!
What do you dislike about your work?
Unfortunately, listening to a piece you've spent hours on makes you see infinite connected tiles instead of the final mosaic. I would have to take time away from what I've done so far and listen to it again with a fresh mind to really answer that question.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Life is short. Let us spend it with beauty, simplicity and sharing, away from toxic environments.
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
Creating is lonely - at least the moments of birth. But the conception of ideas happens unexpectedly and often arises through interaction with others. Playing music, in how I especially enjoy it, requires not just an audience, but an active audience. I've always been miserably bored playing music alone between four walls, which is why I never became a great virtuoso on any instrument - and never will.
What do you think is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen or experienced?
The most beautiful thing I have experienced was also the most difficult. It was a concrete moment of realization that in life we essentially come alone, we die alone, and no one will take over our carcass if we don't. This, although it was an unbearable realization, once I got through it, I felt so free that it catapulted me into instant happiness.
What are your plans for the future?
Professionally, to release many albums that capture my diverse musical ideas, to write some books that I have in mind, to compose, play and teach more music. On a personal level, to live beautiful moments, with the flower of my being open to the sun.