Grammy nominated artist Eric Alexandrakis. You go to one of the best music universities in the world, are encouraged by both parents towards your gravitation to the world of art, almost immediately get work for some of the biggest brands in the world, get the opportunity to work alongside some of your musical idols, have two hit songs on the Adult Contemporary charts, a hit on the Billboard Indicator Chart, and battle for your life against cancer not once, but twice. Singer-SongwriterComposer-Producer Eric Alexandrakis didn’t have to imagine it; he lived it.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
I don't consider myself a "great musician", but I do consider myself a very imaginative artist. I think what fuels my imagination is my curiosity in pretty much everything around me, whether it's auto racing, films, travel, and even psychology. I also like to digest all forms of art, for I feel it makes my music and overall appreciation of life better.
Who inspired you to make music?
It was always inside me, but being exposed to people like Mozart, John Williams, 60's music, early 80's music, Progressive Rock flipped some switches in my head. I didn't like my classical piano lessons as I felt constrained, but I loved two or three music teachers in elementary school who saw something in me and encouraged my creative exploration. Generally if someone touches a nerve with something creative/musical, I get inspired to try what they are doing in my own way, but there was never just one individual who inspired me.
Your latest track is 'She Sparkles'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
I'd spent a weekend in Paris with my best friend, met a beautiful friend of his whilst the Eiffel Tower sparkled a few blocks away, and voila...a story is born. Sometimes you take elements of experiences and write stories around them to make them lyrically memorable, but you have to think of clever ways to deliver those stories lyrically and sonically. I also love science fiction and astronomy, so I connected those to the other elements. It's actually one of my favorite lyrics I've written, as I love simple classic tunes about girls and cars. Others tend to write their experiences verbatim. I was never into that approach, although the first song I'd ever written was totally verbatim, as it was meant as a message to be given to someone when I was a kid. We're naive when we're that young.
What is your creative process like?
It can come from anything and anywhere. I like to write songs whose titles sound like art school film titles, and would look good capitalized on a film screen. I do better when I write the lyrics first, or a phrase, as I feel the words should define the soundscape, like a script defines the set design. Often time though the music comes first, or a groove, or sound. I generally don't do more than 1 or two takes, and am not into quantizing and pitch correction. I can't get into that, I need to hear the space between the notes, and flaws only add to the vibe, unless something is really screwed up...then you have to fix it, preferably by replaying it.
What is the most surprising fact you’ve learnt about yourself?
That people like what I do.
Do you think that education is important?
In my opinion, there is nothing more important in one's life journey. Yes, family, friends, etc. are important, but without education via schooling, experiences, experimentation, exploration, you're a zero living in a bubble.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Be admirers of the work, not the person. I've met many famous artists, some heroes, whose work is so inspiring, but whose personality sometimes is not. Always best to focus on the work as the person can be a real disappointment sometimes, especially if you grew up idolizing them.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
It's made it better in the way that anyone can make their music accessible, but it's also made it worse because the over saturation has led to a culture of complete devaluing. Everyone is complaining about how little they are getting paid say through streaming. Well sure, it's because you're getting paid according to your market value. The whole system needs a gigantic overhaul to bring value back, but when the majors own big stakes in streaming platforms, why would they change a system they control and benefit from? It doesn't have to be this way, but no one wants to rock the boat to make it better, because they don't know how to. It's actually easy to fix.
What do you think is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen or experienced?
Love + the Greek islands.
What are your plans for the future?
To keep searching for answers and find everlasting happiness.