Mario's Interview with Music P@per
Dec 19, 2011 10:00:52 GMT
Post by jennyb on Dec 19, 2011 10:00:52 GMT
Interview with Music P@per
Sunday, December 18, 2011 15:10
by Kostas Agorastos
A few days ago Mario Frangoulis presented at the Megaron his second album, ‘Beautiful Things’, which has worldwide distribution. We spoke to him about all the stages of production of this CD as well as his artist friends that participate in it.
Your new album ‘Beautiful Things’ has just been released. Tell me about the experience of working with your producer Steve Wood.
Steve Wood is the producer of this work as well as my previous album, Sometimes I Dream. He’s an amazing coworker, a great musician and we share the same sense of beautiful music . That is exactly what brought us together. Of course, he has orchestrated some of the tracks and has also composed some of them. He’s a wonderful person.
In gathering your material and recording this album, you are addressing an audience beyond Greece. Besides the language, what else was required to make it a desirable album abroad?
This album starts its journey in Greece and will travel across the world. Through the songs, the messages are directed around the world, and that is why it has English, French, Italian and Spanish songs. The Greek element is inside of me and is something I tell the world and I'm proud of. The way we chose the songs and produced the album, however, was something that started three years ago. At first I came into contact with people of the industry from outside, with composers and musicians, people I’ve known for years. This personal touch was our focus when, together with my producer, we gathered a large number of tracks. Then we had to choose the 14 songs from the 300 who have heard all these years. In the end, all we had to do was produce it together with our amazing guests.
What was the criteria for the choice of songs?
We wanted the album to have a concept, a central idea, and the title ‘Beautiful Things’ is just that. I believe in beauty and we need to look within ourselves for the part that is clean and inspires beauty. In very difficult times all we have left is hope, joy and inner strength. This work is a CD with a positive and bright message when compared to everything we all go through and which concerns us. There is honesty between myself and the public. I will never betray my audience – neither the consumers nor the people who come to my concerts.
Up to now your musical steps show that you understand your relationship with music and with the public in a special way. To what degree did your classical education help you achieve this?
It has been a great help in learning to choose good songs. Sometimes the choices are more classical than I wanted. On the other hand I cannot change my nature, this is what I studied and I’ve been close to classical music since I was young. Of course, what we present in ‘Beautiful Things’ is not classical – it is the genre known as classical crossover.
Did you have to stop your repertoire at some stage of your progress?
Of course. But when I present my songs I don’t want people to feel that I am using easy solutions. I always search for the most powerful melody and for very good lyrics.
In ‘Beautiful Things’ is a duet with Alkistis Protopsalti. For us, her voice is a sound that we know and love. Do you think it will appeal to foreign audiences?
All the CD selections were definitely not commercial solutions. I have a very good personal relationship with Vanessa Williams and Vittorio Grigolo, and of course with Alkistis Protopsalti. Alkistis is, beyond her indisputable artistic value, a very rare creature. She has an energy that few in the world have. To give you some idea, another artist with such energy was Freddie Mercury. This is apparent in the Latin song and I believe she will impress the foreigners who will discover her.
Sunday, December 18, 2011 15:10
by Kostas Agorastos
A few days ago Mario Frangoulis presented at the Megaron his second album, ‘Beautiful Things’, which has worldwide distribution. We spoke to him about all the stages of production of this CD as well as his artist friends that participate in it.
Your new album ‘Beautiful Things’ has just been released. Tell me about the experience of working with your producer Steve Wood.
Steve Wood is the producer of this work as well as my previous album, Sometimes I Dream. He’s an amazing coworker, a great musician and we share the same sense of beautiful music . That is exactly what brought us together. Of course, he has orchestrated some of the tracks and has also composed some of them. He’s a wonderful person.
In gathering your material and recording this album, you are addressing an audience beyond Greece. Besides the language, what else was required to make it a desirable album abroad?
This album starts its journey in Greece and will travel across the world. Through the songs, the messages are directed around the world, and that is why it has English, French, Italian and Spanish songs. The Greek element is inside of me and is something I tell the world and I'm proud of. The way we chose the songs and produced the album, however, was something that started three years ago. At first I came into contact with people of the industry from outside, with composers and musicians, people I’ve known for years. This personal touch was our focus when, together with my producer, we gathered a large number of tracks. Then we had to choose the 14 songs from the 300 who have heard all these years. In the end, all we had to do was produce it together with our amazing guests.
What was the criteria for the choice of songs?
We wanted the album to have a concept, a central idea, and the title ‘Beautiful Things’ is just that. I believe in beauty and we need to look within ourselves for the part that is clean and inspires beauty. In very difficult times all we have left is hope, joy and inner strength. This work is a CD with a positive and bright message when compared to everything we all go through and which concerns us. There is honesty between myself and the public. I will never betray my audience – neither the consumers nor the people who come to my concerts.
Up to now your musical steps show that you understand your relationship with music and with the public in a special way. To what degree did your classical education help you achieve this?
It has been a great help in learning to choose good songs. Sometimes the choices are more classical than I wanted. On the other hand I cannot change my nature, this is what I studied and I’ve been close to classical music since I was young. Of course, what we present in ‘Beautiful Things’ is not classical – it is the genre known as classical crossover.
Did you have to stop your repertoire at some stage of your progress?
Of course. But when I present my songs I don’t want people to feel that I am using easy solutions. I always search for the most powerful melody and for very good lyrics.
In ‘Beautiful Things’ is a duet with Alkistis Protopsalti. For us, her voice is a sound that we know and love. Do you think it will appeal to foreign audiences?
All the CD selections were definitely not commercial solutions. I have a very good personal relationship with Vanessa Williams and Vittorio Grigolo, and of course with Alkistis Protopsalti. Alkistis is, beyond her indisputable artistic value, a very rare creature. She has an energy that few in the world have. To give you some idea, another artist with such energy was Freddie Mercury. This is apparent in the Latin song and I believe she will impress the foreigners who will discover her.