When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears.
What have been your musical epiphany moments?
If I had to pinpoint down a moment of epiphany that would be the first time I listened to Jim Morrison’s voice and Ray Manzarek’s delivery in Riders on the Storm. A truly haunting moment that I reckon defined a generation of musicians and aspiring artists.
Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
First come the lyrics. There is always a pre-determined concept, a vision if I may say, behind each album. So I always write the lyrics first. Then I grab the guitar and attempt to musically translate what I have in front of me into music, whether that is a riff or a chord progression. As soon as it ticks, we get into the studio and hammer it, until it forges into something that ticks for all of us.
Who has influenced you the most?
Arcadian Child are influenced by everything. The sea, the sun, other musicians, everyone really. But if I had to choose one, I’d say Aphrodite’s Child would be our major influence. Not it terms of music style, but in terms of the whole philosophy and driving aura behind songwriting.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
Like I said, everywhere really. From daily urban tales, to Hermetic philosophy and the sun.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
We live in Cyprus (I’m pretty sure a lot of you don’t know where that is), which is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, where the sun shines bright and hot approximately 8 months a year. Inevitably, this reflects on our music. Although we enjoy the healing powers of darkness and we channel it through our music, it seems that there is always a crack from where the light gets in as Leonard Cohen said. This is why Arcadian Child will always lean towards the sun.
Where'd the band name come from?
Arcadia was thought to be Utopia in the ancient years. Thus, the Arcadian Child is in fact the utopian child, impersonating hope, that better days are coming for all of us. It is also, an ode to our beloved Aphrodite’s Child.
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
For FIGHT CLUB!!!!
You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?). You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?
On “Four Horsemen” by Aphrodite’s Child, because every time I listen to it, I lose track of time.
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
We always enjoy our live performances as it is the time to really connect with other like-minded individuals. Many memories stand out, like that one time we left an open-air gig with no shirts as couple of guys took them from us during the live(!).
One particular moment of glory was during a sound check before a Limassol gig, one middle-aged guy – looking out of place - came and asked if we were Arcadian Child. We naturally replied positively, and he said I’d like to buy 5 vinyls. So he did and then just told us he would like to buy us a beer. Which he did. A hell of a guy!
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
Playing live is what all the fuss is about. We thoroughly enjoy our time in the studio during rehearsals and recordings, but man, the live, the live is why we play music. This has escalated especially after we released Superfonica. The songs give us the chance to expand our sound during the lives and this seems to resonate deeply with people. We like to view our lives as a mystic ritual where our friends join us in order to celebrate life.
What makes a great song?
The ability to move you, to shock you, in any way.
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
That was many moons ago. It was an acoustic blues song talking about social injustice.
What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
I’d say “The March”. It’s an ode to our Greek heritage while also managing to infuse our own personal style in it. We even listen to it sometimes.
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
Arctic Monkeys write truly great songs. I mean, you can’t help but admire the fluent songwriting style of Alex Turner. The way he manipulates words and rhymes it’s simply beyond this world.
All Them Witches kick ass because they genuinely seem to thoroughly enjoy what they do. Their laid-back, jammy style is truly a joy to watch. T
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
Vinyl and digital. We like to release our music on vinyl as we genuinely believe that our sound is captured best on vinyl, but we have to acknowledge the times we live in. You don’t exist if your music is not on the web.
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
GIN!!! Because if you have a lot of it, you may self-inflict partial memory loss.
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?
Our hometown is Limassol, but I would suggest to go “Vinyl in Cyprus” and “Magos Record Store” in Nicosia. Both George and Constantinos are wicked music aficionados and you find rare pressings there.
What's next for the band?
2019 is looking to be great. We will gig as much as possible, tour in Central Europe and possibly UK and play in some festivals in Cyprus and Greece. We will travel with Superfonica as far as we can!
We are already experimenting on new tracks and we are planning to release a new album in 2020.
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Break on through to the other side! #ψχδ
