the-System Team interviewed Sakis Gouzonis for the-System

In conversation with Sakis Gouzonis

Interview by the-System Team
Owners of the-System
Kenya
Saturday, 1 February 2025

Sakis Gouzonis: "I always aim to create music that resonates emotionally with listeners. I believe in the power of music to evoke feelings and connect people across different cultures and backgrounds. I focus on creating tracks that are both interesting and exciting, infused with passion and positive energy."

Welcome to the-System, Sakis!

Thank you. I am excited to be here and share parts of my artistic journey with you and your readers.

Going back to the start, what brought you into the world of music? Can you tell us about your artistic journey and how has your style evolved over the years?

My journey into the world of music began with a heartfelt passion for music. When I was around twelve years old, I asked my parents to buy me an electronic music keyboard. The first time I placed my hands on it, I felt a mysterious power all over my body that I had never felt before. At that instant, I knew music was my calling. I still remember myself spending countless hours every day playing music. I had the innate ability to play music by ear, and I never felt the need to attend a music school. In 2002, I invested in my first music workstation and all the necessary equipment to set up my home studio. My music career began in 2008 with the release of my first studio album, First Contact.

My musical style, which is rooted in electronic music, has evolved significantly over the years. I have always aimed to create music that transcends borders, taking listeners on an emotional and immersive journey.

To this day, I have independently released 17 studio albums, each containing 10 original music tracks. Over time, my music has matured, embracing more complexity and depth while maintaining its accessibility and emotional impact.

Is your identity as an artist separate from your identity as a person?

Some artists create distinct personas or alter egos that they embody when producing or performing their art. This can allow them to explore different facets of their creativity, experiment with new ideas, or protect their personal identity. In these cases, there is a clear delineation between the person behind the art and the artistic persona they project to the world. For some other artists, myself included, the two identities are inherently intertwined, as their personal experiences, values, and characteristics are deeply reflected in their work. Their art becomes a direct extension of who they are as people, making it difficult to separate the artist from the individual.

You were one of the first Greek artists to gain widespread recognition through the Internet, particularly via MySpace. Can you reflect on how the platform shaped your early career and how it influenced your approach to connecting with a global audience through your music?

MySpace played a pivotal role in shaping my early career. As one of the first Greek artists to leverage the platform, I amassed over 380,000 fans. This early success on MySpace allowed me to reach a global audience that was previously inaccessible to independent artists.

The platform's interactive nature enabled me to directly engage with my fans and receive immediate feedback, leading to a stronger and more connected fan base. This connection deeply influenced my approach to music, making me more attuned to the emotional and cultural resonance of my work. My success on MySpace exemplifies how the Internet can democratize music distribution and help artists cultivate a global presence.

With 17 albums released since 2008, your music consistently aims to take listeners on an emotional journey. Can you elaborate on your creative process and how you craft tracks that resonate so deeply with listeners across different cultures and nations?

My creative process is deeply rooted in my passion for exploring new musical horizons and my desire to make a meaningful impact on listeners. I always aim to create music that resonates emotionally with listeners. I believe in the power of music to evoke feelings and connect people across different cultures and backgrounds. I focus on creating tracks that are both interesting and exciting, infused with passion and positive energy.

My compositions have evolved over time, becoming more emotional and complex in their orchestrations and chord structures. I constantly seek to improve and innovate, leveraging advancements in music technology to enhance my work. I draw inspiration from my own experiences and the world around me. My music often reflects themes of optimism, renewal, and the transformative power of light.

Your music is known for its ability to transcend borders and communicate universally. How do you approach composing electronic music in a way that feels inclusive and meaningful to people from diverse backgrounds?

I focus on creating emotive melodies and powerful orchestrations that evoke universal emotions. My music often explores themes like love, unity, and peace, which are relatable to a wide audience.

Additionally, I emphasize the importance of authenticity and personal expression in my compositions. I aim to make my music personal and organic, allowing listeners to connect with it on a deeper level. By blending old-school musical elements with modern electronic sounds, I create a soundscape that is both innovative and timeless.

My journey as an independent artist also allows me to maintain full creative control, ensuring that my music stays true to my vision and message. This authenticity and dedication to meaningful themes are key factors in my ability to transcend borders and communicate universally.

Albums like New Earth, A World At Peace, and Sweet Freedom suggest a focus on themes of harmony, unity and liberation. What inspires these themes in your music, and how do you translate such abstract concepts into sound?

I draw inspiration from my personal experiences, philosophical reflections, and a deep desire to create music that resonates with people on a universal level. My themes of harmony, unity and liberation are rooted in my belief in the power of music to bring people together and inspire positive change. To translate these abstract concepts into sound, I use a combination of emotive melodies, rich orchestrations, and innovative electronic elements.

I carefully craft each track to evoke specific emotions and convey my messages. For example, in New Earth, I use uplifting and hopeful melodies to inspire a sense of renewal and optimism. In A World At Peace, I blend soothing harmonies and rhythmic elements to create a sense of tranquility and unity. In Sweet Freedom, I use emotionally charged melodies, beautifully soaring orchestrations, and intriguing rhythms to evoke a sense of self-empowerment and liberation.

As an electronic music composer, orchestrator, producer and performer, you wear many hats in the creative process. How do you balance these roles, and how has this multifaceted approach contributed to the evolution of your sound over the years?

This multifaceted approach allows me to maintain creative control and authenticity in my work. By wearing multiple hats, I can ensure that my vision is fully realized in every aspect of my music. This holistic involvement in the creative process has contributed significantly to the evolution of my sound over the years. My ability to blend old-school musical elements with modern electronic sounds has allowed me to create a unique and timeless musical style. Each role I take on provides me with a deeper understanding of the music production process, enabling me to experiment and innovate continuously.

The landscape of music distribution and audience engagement has changed significantly since your early days on MySpace. How have you adapted to these changes, and what role do digital platforms and social media play in sharing your music today?

Social networks and streaming platforms come and go. In August 2003, MySpace made a major change in history by introducing itself to the world. From 2005 to 2008, MySpace was the most popular social network worldwide. In fact, MySpace at that time was so popular that in 2006 it surpassed Google in traffic in the USA. MySpace had the ability to make a talented unknown artist famous worldwide.

Back in 2007, I had a very small fan base, but when I created my official page on MySpace everything changed. Through MySpace, 384,710 people became fans of my music, and many of them started visiting my official website. Later, MySpace started losing its appeal as more and more people were moving to other social networks.

Today, my goal is not to build a fan base on social networks or streaming platforms that may lose their popularity or even shut down, erasing years of content with it, but to drive listeners to my official website and from there to my live performances.

Having released 17 albums, each with 10 original tracks, how do you continue to find inspiration and maintain your passion for creating new music? Are there particular experiences, stories or philosophies that drive your creativity?

I continue to find inspiration and maintain my passion for creating new music through a combination of personal experiences, philosophical reflections, and a deep desire to connect with my audience. My journey as an artist is driven by a constant desire to explore new musical horizons and make a difference in people's lives through my music. I often draw inspiration from my own life experiences and emotions, which allows me to create music that is authentic and relatable. I am influenced by various philosophical ideas about unity, love, and peace, which are reflected in my compositions. I am motivated by the positive feedback and support from my listeners, which encourages me to keep evolving and experimenting with my music.

The continuous improvement in music technology has also played a significant role in shaping my sound and allowing me to experiment with new sounds and techniques.

By staying true to my vision and continuously seeking new ways to express myself, I have managed to maintain my passion and creativity over the years.