Sakis Gouzonis: About

Welcome to the About section of the website.

Here you can read in plain text and download in PDF format the full biography of Sakis Gouzonis. In short, we would call him the artist phenomenon. Over the last four years, and without the support of any record label or music agency, Sakis has won 7 international music awards, and more than 350000 people from 219 countries/territories have become fans of his music!

"Checking out the world of electronic music as presented by Sakis Gouzonis is like traveling on a journey to the most wondrous and mystical of places." - Kenneth Morton

Sakis Gouzonis (Greek: Σάκης Γκουζώνης, pronounced: 'sakis gou'zonis, play audio) is a multi award winning composer, orchestrator, arranger, and producer of electronic music. His music is based on the idea of taking the listener on a journey, giving the listener a whole new experience. In addition, his music defies all borders and speaks to people of all nations and cultures.

In The Beginning

Sakis was born on 16 March 1978 to Nicolas and Frideriki Gouzonis in Thessaloniki, Greece. Thessaloniki, which is the second largest city in the country, has given Greece some of its greatest artists and thinkers. Two lovely brothers named George and Peter would follow. At the age of ten, Sakis and his family moved to the town of Elassona, which is located at the foot of Mount Olympus, the mythic place of the twelve Olympian gods.

The Early Years

Sakis had always dreamed of having his own musical instrument. In 1990, his dream came true. His parents bought him an electronic keyboard. He was so happy that he started playing music immediately. Sakis had the innate ability to play by ear, to improvise, to arrange music and to create compositions. At the age of sixteen, his parents bought him a semi-professional electronic keyboard. He would spend countless hours in his room creating sounds, composing, arranging, and playing music.

In 1996, Sakis released a remix compilation of twelve well-known Christian hymns. The compilation was a big success. People from the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe sent Sakis a lot of encouraging letters. It was amazing the fact that some listeners wanted to pre-pay for his next compilation. Two years later, Sakis released one more remix compilation of ten well-known Christian hymns. Many people around the world were blessed, and some radio stations began to broadcast his remixes.

After finishing Senior High School, Sakis served in the Greek Army for one and a half years. During his service he was given the opportunity to perform for the General of the First Army. It was a great honor for Sakis.

In 2000, Sakis was asked to play keyboards in a band that was backing up Greek singer Costas Fragoraptis. Sakis's ability to play the keyboard very accurately left the studio audio engineer speechless. They released two successful albums in 2000, and 2001. All songs were aired by Greek radio stations.

In 2001, Sakis began working as an English teacher in a private school, and a year later, he bought his first professional music workstation.

Two months before the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Sakis moved to Athens. While there, he continued working as an English teacher and writing his own music compositions. In September 2007, Sakis returned to Elassona.

His Musical Career

In 2007, Sakis participated in the International Composition Competition 2007. This competition is an annual event that gives artists and bands worldwide an invaluable opportunity to promote their music. Sakis won 3rd Prize for his original music composition Anthem Of Love, and 1st Commendation for his original music composition Give Me A Chance.

On 17 October 2007, Sakis created a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/sakisgouzonis. It would soon become the most popular Greek music page in the history of MySpace. In a short period of time, Sakis topped the MySpace Christian, Electroacoustic, Electro, Electronica, and Pop Charts at #1 in Greece. Today, Sakis is still the most popular Greek artist on MySpace, having more than 300.000 fans. He receives a respectable number of daily visits and messages from a worldwide audience, and he always takes the time to respond to each and every individual that makes contact with him on a personal level.

Since 1 August 2008, people from all parts of the world have been visiting Sakis's official website, www.SakisGouzonis.com, on a daily basis. The website includes detailed biography, complete discography, electronic press kit, press releases, album reviews, interviews, questions & answers, articles, contests, news, contact details, links, and more. Sakis's official website is the #1 most visited artist website in Greece, and one of the most popular artist websites internationally. It is overflowing with melodic electronic music.

On 8 August 2008, Sakis released his long-awaited debut album entitled "First Contact" in MP3 and CD format. The album features ten new tracks that range from atmospheric downtempo music to breathtaking uptempo music. "First Contact" is Sakis's first contact with the world as a composer of his own original music. Sakis received excellent reviews for his debut album, as well as thousands of e-mails from every continent on earth. European and international radio stations began to broadcast his music.

...Definitely a world class act, tunes such as Anthem Of Love, A Star Brighter Than Others, and Give Me A Chance enchant the senses with their sheer vibrancy. Elegy is especially sweeping, sounding like a grand score to a big Hollywood epic...

Kenneth Morton - Highwire Daze magazine

In the same year, Sakis also participated in the International Composition Competition 2008 that was held in Greece. This competition is so well respected in the music industry that it receives many entries from Greek and international artists every year. Sakis won 3rd Prize for his original music composition Elegy.

On 9 September 2009, Sakis released his second studio album entitled "New Earth" in MP3 and CD format. The album features ten new tracks that radiate new faith and new hope. As always, Sakis takes every musical skill he has, and crafts unique, memorable tunes. Greek and foreign music reviewers and journalists wrote beautiful reviews about "New Earth", and thousands of people from all over the world sent e-mails to Sakis to congratulate him. European and international radio stations added the album to their rotation.

...One of the most popular artists on IMRadio, Sakis has given us “From the Sky”, “Eternal Peace”, and “Elohim”. These instrumentals can mesmerize and inspire any listener anywhere on the globe...

MC Rydel - IMRadio

In the same year, Sakis participated in the UK Songwriting Contest 2009 that was held in the United Kingdom. Almost 6.000 songs were submitted to the UK Songwriting Contest by artists from all over the world. Sakis was awarded a Semi-Finalist certificate for his original music composition Elohim.

During the 2nd Meeting of Music & Poetry that was held on 14 November 2009 in Greece, Sakis was awarded 1st Prize for his New Earth album. This Prize is awarded by the chairman of the International Art Society Mr. Yorgos Foudoulis, who is also the director of the Examination Center of the Trinity College and the Conservatory bearing his name.

In 2009, Sakis also participated in the International Composition Competition 2009. Judges for this prestigious contest are music industry professionals who look for artists and bands whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence. Sakis won 2nd Prize for his original music composition Elohim.

In 2010, Sakis participated in the UK Songwriting Contest 2010 that was held in the United Kingdom. There were over 5.000 entries this year from the United States of America, Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. Sakis was awarded two Semi-Finalist certificates for his original music compositions Elegy, and Eternal Peace. 2010 judges included the top producer, musical director and doctor of music Richard Niles, the top producer and songwriter Simon Ellis, the well known BBC Radio Controller Lesley Douglas (now a Director and Head of TV at Universal Music UK), the Stage's writer, blogger and BBC radio guest expert Scott Matthewman and many others.

On 10 October 2010, Sakis released his third studio album entitled "The Tree Of Life" in MP3 and CD format. The album features ten new tracks that bring healing and positive thinking. "The Tree Of Life" received very positive reviews by Greek and foreign music reviewers and journalists. Sakis's unique gift of creating music that brings healing to others is remarkable. People of all backgrounds from all parts of the world sent numerous e-mails to Sakis in order to thank him for all the positive feelings and sense of bliss that his music brings to them. The album also received airplay in Europe and internationally.

...One thing I love about this CD is that it causes my brain to think in images rather than words as I listen... It's not simply the lack of lyrics that causes that, but the vibrant and evocative tones that Sakis chooses. He is able to create a living, visual landscape through his music, which seems rare for electronica...

Michael Doherty - Michael Doherty's Music Log Blog

In 2010, Sakis participated in the International Composition Competition 2010. This contest invites entries from Greece and all other parts of the world, and it is supported by highly respected names in music today. Sakis won 1st Prize for his original music compositions Eternal Peace, and Seed Of Hope. That was also the last time that Sakis took part in a composition competition.

On 11 November 2011, Sakis released his fourth studio album entitled "Ultimate Love" in MP3 format. The album features ten new tracks recorded the summer and fall of 2011 at the foot of Mount Olympus. "Ultimate Love" has all the energy and excitement his fans have come to expect. Sakis received a large number of supporting e-mails from his worldwide audience, and radio stations in Greece and abroad added the album to their playlists.

Since the release of his debut album, Sakis has received a lot of press coverage from international radio stations, magazines, and newspapers, such as IMRadio [1], Christianity Today magazine [2], and The Church of England newspaper [3]. In Greece, he is one of the few independent artists that have been featured many times on big Greek newspapers, blogs, music portals and websites, such as Eleftheria newspaper [4], Tro-ma-ktiko blog [5] [6], Mic music portal [7], and Tralala music website [8] [9] [10].

Up to now, Sakis has given more than 1.000 successful live performances in many Greek cities and towns, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Larisa, Volos, Katerini, Serres, Kavala, Korinthos, and Elassona. Many thousands of people have been touched and blessed by his inspiring and full of positive energy music. In addition, Sakis's online audience is also very big. Until now, more than 350.000 people from 219 countries/territories have become fans of his music.

Sakis is currently working on his fifth studio album, which is expected to be released on 12 December 2012.

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Latest Update: 18 January 2012