Australia welcomed Eleftheria Arvanitaki for the fourth time, one of Greece’s most successful and internationally acclaimed singers, whose voice has marked Greece’s cultural history, with a unique quality of vocals that delve into soft and powerful melodies.
“I’ve come here, feeling very joyful,” Elftheria Arvanitaki tells Neos Kosmos with a wide smile on her face, admitting she’s had “the best memories coming to Australia.”
“I must confess Melbourne and Sydney are both cities I could live in. I think you’re lucky you’re here.”
The renowned artist who has captivated audiences over the years with her strong performances all over the world, visited the Greek Community of Melbourne on Thursday, ahead of her three live concerts in March and April, beginning this Saturday 25 March at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, before she heads to Sydney for a show on 31 March and Adelaide on 1 April.
With more and more young people moving from Greece, Arvanitaki shares that whenever she meets Greeks overseas, she gets “a lot of enthusiasm,” a fact that is “deeply moving,” to her and notes that “people are thirsty for Greek music,” as they see artists coming “like they never left Greece.”
She also touched on the relationship she has formed with the non-Greeks.
“Due to the fact that I have travelled a lot overseas, I have had the joy to develop a relationship with non-Greeks too,” Arvanitaki says.
“It’s completely different than playing for Greeks, because Greeks know the language and sing with you, whereas non-Greeks listen quietly, mostly paying attention to the melodies and origins of music.”
“Us musicians are like gypsies. We travel a lot meet with a lot of people, Greeks or not.”
“It is about the joy of music, the connection, meeting new people, listening to new music,” explains Arvanitaki to Neos Kosmos, when asked about the reasons driving her to visit and perform to countries all over the world.
This ties to a special collaboration with Cesaria Evora, a respected Cape Verdean singer and songwriter together with whom Eleftheria sang the famous “Sodade,”, in Greek lyrics written by Michalis Ganas.
“A rare woman, a rare voice, a beautiful person, with a good sense of humour,” Eleftheria says.
“That is what the journey of travelling overseas and meeting new people is all about.”
“Meeting new musicians and being able engage in creativity.”
IN SPAIN CLASSES WERE CREATED IN SCHOOLS TO UNDERSTAND ARVANITAKIS’ SONGS
The world famous singer talks openly about the special bond she shares with Spain, saying that Greeks and Spaniards, “are somehow related.”
Arvanitaki has kept this bond alive since 1998 and tries to visit her “strong audience” in Spain, about every two years.
“Our demeanour, our sense of humour…they are very Mediterranean, and get along with Greeks. They just love Greek music,” she adds.
The Spanish are so enamoured with Greeks that classes were created in schools and universities, so Spaniards could learn Greek, solely to be able to understand Arvanitakis’ songs.
“THE TRAIN WRECK IN TEMPI IS A BLACK PAGE IN THE POLITICAL SCENE”
With Greece facing a crisis that lasted almost 10 years, Arvanitaki brings up that “music, dance or anything that had to do with culture,” came second, as “survival” was on the forefront.
She also referred to the tragic train crash that occurred in the town of Tempi, that shook the nation to its core.
“It’s like a black page in the political scene,” Arvanitaki says, commenting that it is something that will most likely have an effect on the next elections which will happen in May.
“In my opinion, crisis is still around. Greece still needs a lot of work to get it together.”
The artist refuses to support the idea that “it is only through hard times that good songs arise,” and finds worth mentioning that during “the period Renaissance,” a time of wealth and prosperity, “big and serious work, was created.”
A SHIFT IN THE REALM OF MUSIC
Noticing a shift in the ways that people listen to music, Eleftheria points out that “the music realm is completely different nowadays.”
“There are no CDs anymore. Music is only available on the internet.”
Although “it is easy to get lost within this bombardment of information,” she recognises that the internet makes it easy to “reach people that you never expected.”
Arvanitaki also raises the issue of young artists having to “carry the weight” of expenses that come with “producing their music in studios,” and the fact the discography companies are not willing to “trust or invest in new artists,” anymore.
“I try to follow the change that is happening on a global level, not only Greece, and adjust to what is happening today,” she comments.
She also admits that ‘entehno’ is going through a “recession,” as new waves of genres seem to have entered the music scene, like trap, that are particularly popular with younger people.
She describes the lyrics of trap music as “abusing,” but views rap music differently, saying that “it’s a new way of expression for young people,” and that “there are artists coming out, like Lex,” who she values, and believes they “create a wave that is very important in the Greek music scene.”
“I believe there is a future for rap music in Greece. How much it is going to affect our lives, that is something that I can’t tell.”
ALBUMS THAT DEFINED THE GREEK DISCOGRAPHY AND GREAT COLLABORATIONS
Eleftheria talks about her new work in progress, an album which will be dedicated to Marika Ninou, who she refers to as “my music teacher,” and announces that “it will be ready in spring.”
With a long list of successful albums, songs, and collaborations, Arvanitaki admits that some albums stood out more than others, defining the Greek discography in a more “intense” way.
“Ta Kormia kai Ta Machairia,” was the first that came to her mind, following the album “Tragoudia gia tous mines”, in which she sang songs based on the poetry of distinguished Greek poets such as Odysseas Elytis and Konstantinos Cavafys, as well as “Meno Ektos.”
She reminisces on collaborations she has had with fellow artists on stage, one also being a tour with Alkistis Protopsalti last summer.
“I can’t tell you that just one collaboration has stood out for me, because I have had a really good time in every single one of them,” she says.
Another “great” one, was with Eleonora Zouganeli, together with whom she will be doing a big tour this summer.
“The new generation of musicians are trying to build a repertoire; they are trying different things,” she explains.
“I really appreciate them, as I think they are truly dedicated to music, with a wonderful future ahead.”
AN AMBASSADOR OF GREEK MUSIC
Eleftheria likes to think of herself more as an “Ambassador of Greek music” than Greek language, as she finds “Greek language rather difficult for people who don’t speak it.”
She acknowledges that those who have “restored the position of Greek language in the world,” are Greece’s great poets, two of whom, have been awarded with the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The power of poetry has resonated with some of the most important figures in the history of Greek music such as Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Xatzidakis, Thanos Mikroutsikos, making songs that in her words “hold our cultural identity.”
Arvanitaki gave her perspective on the deep ways in which a “good Greek song,” has affected her life on a personal level.
“A good Greek song, marks lives,” she says, adding that the song that changed her life is “Defteri Zoi Den Exei,” (which roughly translates into “You only get one life”).
“For me a good Greek song translates into spiritual elevation, optimism, and joy. Even if it expresses sadness, it can move you deeply. You see the world differently. That’s what art does. It expresses it’s time and passes it on to those who love arts and music. A future that entails the wisdom of poets and lyricists, as well as the joy of having a song that might be melancholic, but it marks your life very deeply.”