Greece’s ‘Grand Dame’ comes to Australia

Marinella and performer Takis Zacharatos promise to take Sydney and Melbourne audiences by surprise


Every single summer for a decade we would listen to Marinella and Kostas Chatzis’ Recital on my father’s red 1976 Audi80 on our way to one of the beaches perched across Larissa or Katerini. We knew all the lyrics by heart.

The first time I saw Marinella live was in May 2010 in Athens. She was then staging Marinella, the Musical at the iconic Pallas Theatre. A Greek Australian friend visiting at the time asked me to join him. I remember not wanting to go. Marinella had taken her place in my childhood summer memories box.

Thankfully, I did go. Within a few minutes I was overtaken by a sense of awe and admiration for the Marinella phenomenon. She owned the stage the entire time, whether she was singing laika, traditional folk or legendary jazz and blues songs.

A few days before her Australian tour, we managed to get a hold of ‘The Grand Dame of the Greek Song’, who was happy to answer our questions. Do you feel that younger generations of Greeks prefer to listen more to commercial artists and have lowered their standards of quality?
There is no rule dictating that children today prefer commercial to quality songs. I think young people these days listen to everything from ballads to folk songs. I find it quite reasonable that their taste has evolved and they have moved on from what their parents were listening to. This happens to all young people across the globe. However, some artists are timeless and even younger generations can relate to their body of work. For example I don’t see how younger generations wouldn’t listen to Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand.

You have said in the past that record labels no longer empathise with the artist’s agonies.
The record labels are businesses and as a result they certainly cannot empathise or share the anguish, the passion and concerns of an artist. Anyway, record companies no longer have the same amount of power they did in the past, since the sales of CDs have dropped significantly. Nowadays, almost everything is available online as there are many platforms for an artist to distribute their work.

Which do you think are the greatest anxieties and fears of a new artist/performer today?
A new artist’s biggest concern would be to maintain their popularity, especially if they were quickly shot to stardom. If they become famous from one day to the other, success will depend entirely on their choices and the career path they chose to follow in the music industry. Young artists should take cautious and well-thought steps calculating their next move in order to build a notable trajectory.

Should Greek laiko song be recognised as a form of art and a main component of modern Greek culture? Could you see it enter the school curriculum as a subject?
Of course laiko, like every other kind of song, is a form of art and culture. Throughout Greek history our people expressed all of their problems, their feelings and values with songs. The history and analysis of this genre could most certainly be a subject in our schools.

How did your collaboration with Takis Zacharatos come about?
Our collaboration came completely effortlessly. I have been watching Takis for many years and I can see an artist who is constantly evolving, learning, listening to what happens around him and carries it to the scene in a unique way. I strongly believe that Takis is a great talent in many areas. He is a good mime, a good actor and an excellent singer who is bound to take the world by surprise with his skills. Lately, because we have become really good friends, I’ve been discovering a new, happy and bubbly person who can become a fountain of positive energy for those around him. I am very happy to be working with him as we are planning to offer a completely different experience to our audience.

As a constant recipient of many songs, have you come across enough good material for a new album?
Truth is, people send me dozens of songs on a regular basis and I dare say that lately I received some songs of great interest. I have actually been thinking of going into the studio and recording some of them.

What makes a ‘good’ song for you?
For a song to be ‘good’ it needs to have this amazing combination of lyrics and music we artists are looking for -this ideal mix which makes us yearn to dress it with our voice as soon as we listen to it.

Having given numerous concerts across the globe, what is it that motivates you to stay connected to the diaspora? How would you say a concert in Thessaloniki is different from a concert in Melbourne?
I’m blessed to receive huge amounts of love from the audiences no matter where I perform. However, when I come here I’m particularly moved as I know Greeks in Australia, as well as in the US, are yearning to listen to those songs they once loved and have kept alive in their hearts so far away from home.

Every time I sing for diaspora Hellenes I feel as if they want to envelop me in a huge, warm embrace. All I wish for them is to be well and for me be able to return their love through my songs.

*Marinella and Takis will perform at Central Live in Sydney (588 Princes Hwy, Rockdale) on 19 March and at the New Kosmoplitan Pop Up Venue (400 City Road) in South Melbourne on 25 March 2016. For Sydney reservations and more information call (+61) 0400-331-111 or (+61) 0414-410-281. Tables seat 8-10 people and tickets cost from $145 to $295 per person. Doors open 8.30 pm. Show starts approx. 10.00 pm. For Melbourne reservations and inquiries contact (+61) 0478 526 423). Ticket prices range from $199 to $375 each (with meal, free bottle of Black Label and free parking) and general admission is $77 per person (without meal). Doors open 8.00 pm.