What does someone who has done it all as a DJ, promoter and producer of a legendary Greek music series crave? More number #1 albums, of course, and his latest, Greece Mix 28 – 20 Years Edition will no doubt get there.
Krazy Kon now has four Aria Compilation Charts entries and seven Number 1, iTunes Dance Charts, which is history-making – a first for a Greek-Australia artist. His music has now had over 15 million streams on Spotify from all over the globe.
Krazy Kon has produced his own tracks, including a significant collaboration with Master Tempo, in releasing “DIAKOPES STO MIAMI”, which became hit across the airways and dancefloors internationally.
Bill Cotsis (BC): In the mid-1990s, you were pulling large in crowds as a DJ, .what took you on the path to producing albums?
Krazy Kon (KK): After DJing for nine years, I wanted to become a producer. This was the first time anyone had ever produced and manufactured a Greek album outside Greece, so I saw this as a big challenge.
I saw many compilations coming out of Greece, like Kolasi and Hrises Epitihies, and it would be great to bring my own compilation with the latest Greek tracks in a mix and do it as an annual production.
The first album was challenging. I got a lot of knockbacks from mainstream labels for my project because there was no precedent for this, and they thought it was risky. Finally, one label came to the party, and we released my first album in November 2003. In those days, there were no downloads or streaming, so the expectation was to sell 5000 units Australia-wide.We ended up selling 15,000 and blew the mainstream market open, with Greek music now distributed to over 150 stores across Australia. I will never forget when someone called me on Christmas Eve 2003 and told me Myer in the city was playing my CD in the store. It was an incredible feeling!
BC: How difficult was it to create the follow-up? Did you find stumbling blocks from record companies?
KK: Yes… many stumbling blocks. Especially trying to convince the record labels in Greece I was dealing with to come on board. A DJ outside of Greece had never done it before, and they were hesitant.
However, after the first album popped up, they saw a new market to promote their songs and artists overseas. From there on, many artists wanted to jump on board.
BC: Family is always a big thing for us Greeks. How important has it been to have the support of your wife Angela, your friends and family?
KK: Family is everything to me, especially in this industry and lifestyle. This is different from an average 9-5 job. There is a lot of travel, late nights, weekend work and sacrifices.
My wife Angela has been there from day one and seen all the challenges I went through to become who I am today, and she has been a major support base. More recently, my daughters, both teenagers, love what their dad has done in his career and are proud that their friends listen to Greek music because of their dad.
BC: 2024 looks like a massive year as your 28th album continues to chart. You are currently on tour in Adelaide, Darwin and Sydney and hosting one of the greats, Christos Dantis. What else will 2024 bring?
KK: 2024 is a milestone – I celebrate 30 Years in the Greek Music and entertainment industry and plan for some big-name singers to come out in January, starting with the legend Christos Dantis. I will continue to tour, and I’m going to America this February to headline some shows.
BC: On the subject of Christos Dantis, I had the pleasure of interviewing him twice, thanks to you and watching him play at The Factory, a show you hosted before the Covid era. What is it like to work with such brilliant talent?
KK: Christos Dantis, to me, is one of the legends, the icons of Greek Music. To be able to host him for the second time in Australia is a great honour. The guy is also fantastic and such a cool dude to be around. I really enjoy bringing out these singers and always have a lot of fun with them.
BC: Who was the first artist you brought to Australia, and be honest, who was the most fun to have around? You always take them on tourist trek when they are here don’t you?
KK: The first artist I brought to Australia was Nikos Ganos in 2012. My company, Krazy Productions, has brought out Stavento, Sarbel, Master Tempo, Vegas, Knock Out, Maria Iakovou, Thanasis Vasilakos, Zan Batist, Ilias Vrettos, Sakis Arseniou, Konstantinos Koufos, Christos Dantis, Panos Kalidis, and many more.
Last year, I had Josephine and Kings, and they were terrific artists and people to deal with. They’re all fun and all different at the same time. Some want to chill, and some want to jump out of planes.
BC: You have always been in-demand as a DJ, how did you end up touring overseas, and where have you played and what were some of the best show?
KK: My first U.S. s in 2010 I played in New York, LA, Chicago, and Boston, they were 16 days, which I will never forget. I met the best people and created great memories and friendships.In 2012, I went back and played in Florida and in 2016, San Francisco. However there’s no doubt that New York in 2012 was one of my best gigs, and playing in Hollywood in 2012, I will never forget. In LA, one of my favourite cities, I performed at Greek nights and festivals .
BC: You have branched out into media as well, as part of the award-winning Meraki TV, Foxtel, and significant radio for six years.
KK: I have always liked doing media. Had my own radio and, wrote for Greek magazines, and joined the Meraki TV team, which was a lot of fun doing something we love and that is promoting everything that is Greek to the Diaspora with a group of very talented people like yourself Bill Cotsis.
Greece Mix 28 – 20 Years Edition, out now!
Billy Cotsis is the author of Aegean Seven: Take Back The Stolen Marbles