Sakis Gouzonis gave an interview to CrazyPellas

Interview with Sakis Gouzonis (Music Composer)

Interview by Iain Meddicks
Founder & Owner of CrazyPellas
United Kingdom
Monday, 23 May 2016

Sakis Gouzonis is a 38-year-old electronic music composer from Thessaloniki, Greece. Without any help from record labels, has released 9 successful studio albums, has won a total of 10 international music awards & distinctions, and has gained more than 660,000 fans & friends in 220 countries & territories.

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Sakis Gouzonis. Tell us a bit about yourself, your name, age, where you're from and an interesting fact if you like…

First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase my music to the members and visitors of your website. I would also like to thank the members and visitors of your website for taking the time out of their day to read about a Greek composer. My name is Sakis Gouzonis, and I am 38 years old. I compose, arrange, orchestrate, produce and perform electronic and cinematic music. Music moves me in a unique and powerful way. I can't imagine my life without it. I also teach English as a foreign language. As an English teacher, I have always loved the power of words. People frame words, and words in turn impact people. This relationship has always been of interest to me.

Music

Is there a story behind your name?

Sakis is a derivative of the name Athanasios. Athanasios is a Greek male name, which means "immortal." My name emphasizes that while people come and go, the mark we leave on this world can last forever.

How long have you been composing?

This is now my ninth year. To this day, I have released nine instrumental electronic music albums: First Contact (2008), New Earth (2009), The Tree Of Life (2010), Ultimate Love (2011), Vast Victory (2012), Spiritual Unity (2013), Golden Heart (2014), A World At Peace (2015) and Liberating Truth (2016).

What first got you interested in becoming a music composer?

When I was a kid, I found some cassettes at my parents' home with Christian music on, which I had never heard before. It didn't take me long to fall in love with all the amazing melodies and powerful orchestrations. When I was about twelve years old, I asked my parents to buy me an electronic keyboard. When I touched my first electronic keyboard for the very first time, I felt a strange power all over my body. I instantly understood that music is what I was born to do.

What / Who are you inspired by?

My inspiration comes directly from the beauty and the mysteries of our universe. Magnificent in the starry sky, in the waves of the sea, in the colors of the flowers and the singing of the birds, the universe inspires me a lot, creating in my heart feelings of love, peace, harmony, hope, joy and respect.

Do you use samples or compose your music from scratch?

I never use samples or presets from third parties. All of my tracks feature 100% original music made by myself.

What software and hardware do you use to compose music?

I use the Korg Triton Studio to compose and orchestrate music; the number of its professional sounds and effects is really stunning. For studio monitors, I use the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones, which are engineered for the true audiophile. For live shows, I use the Yamaha MG 16/6 FX mixing console along with the Mackie SRM450 portable powered loudspeakers; their professional sound quality and indestructible portability have made them a live sound legend.

Do you see being a composer as a career or as a hobby?

Being a composer is definitely not just a hobby. I spend hours upon hours composing original music on a regular basis, orchestrating and recording that music in my studio, sending tons of copies out to the press to get reviews and build momentum, lugging heavy gear out on the road to perform my music live for my fans, and managing mailing lists and music social networks.

What are you trying to do with your music? Do you want to help your community? Are you trying to get rich? What is your goal for your music?

I make music because I like to spread happiness to people of all ages and cultures. Music lifts people's spirits up and motivates them. My goal is to lift people's spirits up and motivate them.

Do you have any kind of management, publishing or distribution team behind you? If so, what are their responsibilities?

No, I don't.

What are some accomplishments that you have achieved and are most proud of?

Without any assistance from record labels, I have released nine successful studio albums so far. I have also received several prominent awards and distinctions, some of which are: 1st Prize in the international Composition Competition 2010 for my music tracks Seed Of Hope and Eternal Peace, a Semi-Finalist Award in the UK Songwriting Contest 2010 for my music tracks Eternal Peace and Elegy, 2nd Prize in the international Composition Competition 2009 for my music track Elohim, and 1st Prize in the 2nd Meeting of Music & Poetry 2009 for my second studio album titled New Earth.

Have you ever made any contact with big time people in the industry and do you keep in contact with them?

No, I haven't.

What one tip would you give to other music composers?

The line to the place you want to get to is never straight. It strays among the different avenues. Imagine an eight-lane highway eventually going to the same tunnel. Eventually, you get to that place you want to get to, but getting there requires a lot of lane changes.

What do you see is in the future for the music industry? How do you think it will evolve / change?

The music industry has changed beyond recognition during the last ten years. Some parts of the music industry are in decline clearly (e.g., album / track sales), and other parts are filled with potential (e.g., live shows). Long gone are the days of the local record shop, and many of the bigger music stores are on their way out too. With the decline in revenues from recordings, the importance of touring and live shows has increased significantly.

Internet

Do you feel like the internet is helping you as an electronic music composer?

Absolutely. Internet technology allows all artists to introduce themselves to a worldwide audience. In our days, the design of software programs encourages the discovery of new artists. There are many music social networks that can help artists succeed. All artists have the opportunity to get exposed to millions of people around the globe, and build a very strong fan base. Artists can even create their own official websites to showcase their music.

How do you think social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, have affected the music industry?

I don't use generic social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, to promote my music. I only use social networks that have a primary focus on music. Music social networks have indeed affected the music industry. Music social networks allow all artists to introduce themselves to a really large audience without necessarily affiliating with a record label. I think record labels have been fully replaced by the music social networks and the internet in general.

Where can we check out your music online?

You can visit my official website, which is https://www.sakisgouzonis.com. It includes detailed biography, complete discography, a frequently updated electronic press kit, press releases, questions and answers, album reviews, articles, interviews, news, contact details and links. People from around 100 countries / territories visit my official website every month.

In Closing

What projects are you working on at the moment?

My ninth studio album, Liberating Truth, was released last week, so I am in the process of promoting it.

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years time?

I can only see myself in the studio writing original music.

Do you want to give a shout-out to anyone?

I would like to give a shout-out to all of my fans and friends around the globe. Be proud of what you are. Love one another. Thank you for your support. Thank you for taking the time to read this interview.

Thanks again, Sakis, for doing this interview.

Thank you, Iain.