Trying to summarise the sound of Kompania is no easy feat.
In many ways, Kompania to me represents the modern face of Rebetika in Athens today.
This ensemble, consisting of seven exceptional musicians, have long established themselves as a formidable act in Greece but also abroad. But to nail down their sound you almost have to look back at where they came from to where they are today.
Originally formed in 2011 , founding members were Katerína Tsirídou, Sotiris Papatragiannis, Dimítris Kranídas, Níkos Protópapas , Giánnis Kalafatélis and Melbourne native Hector Comas, who tragically passed away two months before the band’s first tour to Holland and Belgium.
Through hard work and perseverance , Kompania have since established themselves both in Greece and Europe at large thanks to their modern interpretation of Rebetika. They’ve toured and performed in many festivals around Europe and have appeared in various TV and radio shows, as well as a German documentary film about Athens and Rebetiko. After the departure of original vocalist Katerina Tsiridou, two of the most promising artists of the new generation in Greece joined the band: Ioulía Karapatáki on vocals, and Thodorís Petropoulos on bouzouki, oud, guitar, and vocals. In 2020 the line up once again saw some changes with the introduction of Giorgos Papadopoulos (guitar), Michalis Dármas (double bass), and Kostas Spiratos (percussion) came in to replace Níkos Protopapas.
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To date, the band have released the following CD’s, 2012 Kompania Live, 2013 Round Trip, 2016 Crisis.
Their latest CD, Weast, was released July 2021. I received my copy in the post the other day and they’ve managed to breathe new life into songs by taking works already covered by a multitude of artists and peppering these with their own distinct sound. It’s raw, energetic and has once again reignited my passion for modern interpretations of songs that provide a cultural snapshot of Greece now, through compositions of the past. I sometimes find myself conflicted on revamped modern versions of these songs, but I remind myself that music is a living breathing organism and sometimes it does need to change with the times. Kompania excel at this, through injecting their own flair, respectfully and with taste.
If you’re interested in Kompania, I urge you to visit their website for additional information on their upcoming performances, developments as well as music clips. As a group, Kompania will continue to grow, and their cultural importance in the continuation of the evolution of this music is not to be underestimated.
Written by Con Kalamaras, the Co-Founder of Greek Fringe.