Interview

EΝΤΡΟΠΙΑ- MUSIC LIFE MAGAZINE- KLIK MAGAZINE- ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΤΥΠΙΑ-

EΝΤΡΟΠΙΑ Magazine
Από τον Δημήτρη Παπαδόπουλο

Collaborators linked by their DNA, Dimos and Michalis claim "We don't like how fast things move in cities; we like to drink our coffee by the sea, without the honking, beeping and general noisiness. It also helps us artistically".

Memories from your recent past?

The first time they heard 'The Promise' at Best Radio, the way they were welcomed in Patras, their CDs in record stores. "When we were in the studio in the making of this album, people who didn't know about it, approached it as a production from abroad which made us really happy and we believed that it would go well. Six months ago, it was music we played for our friends. We knew that whoever bought it would be impressed, but, would anyone buy it?". Enthusiasm, anguish, ignorance. And plenty of anxiety. "When we played at Danza the first time, my knees were wobbly for half an hour. It was a good thing. It makes me see my job more seriously, to be more honest", says Dimos.

Artists?

"People, we face feelings which we express any way we can. Others paint, we create music".

Do you feel like 'cool' guys'?

"Possibly, but only until we hear something else such as Chris Nemmo and Dusco who are from Patras and really good at what they do and that's when we say...cool it... and we place our feet on the ground again".

Your parents?

"Have taken it well. They listen to our music and say: did you do all this? The whole thing? They support us in which way they can". They give out plenty of positive energy. "When I went to a record store for the first time to see if our CD was out, how much it costs etc, as soon as I saw it I didn't ask one question. I just left! Or when we surfed all radio stations to see who played our music".

Healthy joy. They believe in dreams. They have lucky charms. They believe in good intentions. In good friends. Who were encouraging them and were hoping to hear their songs. So did B.I.G. themselves. And for the music to be communicative.

"We wanted to hear them say, guys, the feeling I got from your music was really nice. Well done, your music took me to faraway places. And create CDs for friends".

The name Believe In God?

"It popped in our heads while we were still excited and two years later we had regretted it".

What do they believe in?

"OK, we are really into B.I.G. We are not some religious freaks but we believe that if you're trying to do good, even if the other one tries to harm you, it will come back to you. And for all this that's happening right now we are certain someone has added a little help".

Your dream?

"Not to create music in haste but when we have something to say".

It is probably early for that in any case. Their first CD "Mindscapes" which was released in January, will probably keep us company for a long time to come. Soon, the rest of Europe will be able to hear their music in vinyl records. 200 pieces have been sent to Japan. They have done a remix for Nikos Diamantopoulos (Ping Pong) and Mikael Delta (Dancing With An Angel).

MUSIC LIFE Magazine
Mind In Motion
Stamatina Tsimtsilis

With the release of the debut, "Mindscapes", B.I.G. claim a place in the pantheon of Greek dance. Dimos and Michalis Siavelis, producers and DJs, have been collaborating ever since they can remember.

You recently released your first personal album....
Michalis: It is not exactly an album that was written in a particular time, for a particular company or a unified style. Its more of a selection of tracks that we wrote from the summer of 2000 until recently, with the oldest one being "Optimistic Vibes" and with most recent "A Promise".
Dimos: Using as a starting and ending point the two tracks that Michalis mentioned, one can sketch our music evolution in the past three years. This is what this project is, a sampling in order to persuade a record company and now an audience, that we do not remain stagnant.

Do you believe the Greek audience is slightly reserved towards the type of music you represent?
Dimos: I feel that the largest part of the Greek audience is very reserved towards anything that has not been written or sung by the 20-30 people that the media over-project from year to year.

What are the bad points in making music in Greece?
Michalis: The suppression of quality over commerciality. This, ofcourse, doesn't only take place in Greece, but also abroad. The most disappointing point is that the commercial projects abroad have a very good quality in regards to sound, contrary to what happens here.
Dimos: Countries abroad create commercial hits, while in our country we just want to know asap all the foreign hits in order to seem trendy, imitating rather than creating.

What has been the best and the worst moments in your career so far?
Dimos: We have become known in the past two months - too short a period to call it a career. However, its filled with good moments, with first one being the one at KLIK Records' offices, where we got the CD in our hands. >From then on, I would say the audience's enthusiasm in certain events, Intergroove's interest, our first interviews...

Who do you consider the best DJ or producer of the year past?
In as much as Greek as musicians, the year past we preferred G.Pal, Nikos Diamantopoulos, Tone Depth, Nikos Patrelakis and Christian Cambas. Also, we would like to mention Mathew Decay's and Hiroshi Watanabe's amazing productions. In the year to come we suggest to take not of the name Chris Nemmo.

Which of the two has the last say when you are in the studio?
Dimos: As it is and without trying hard, the last word in the studio belongs to Michalis. He had the patience and the perception to arrange technology, when I just got stuck to "are you sure?"
Michalis: Dimos is the best collaborator in the creation of a track, but very inpatient, thus unsuitable to do the editing.

How did your collaboration with Nikos Diamantopoulos come about?
Michalis: We are mainly friends rather than collaborators. A friendship that he transformed into a deed for us when he got the chance.
Dimos: Nikos transfixes you in as much as a musician as in character. He always paved the way: from rock to house, from keyboards to sequencer and we just followed.

What are your future plans?
Not to disappoint those whom we have managed to touch.

ΚΛΙΚ MAGAZINE
A DUET FROM AIGIO UPSETS ELECTRONICA'S WATERS
Kostas Morfiris
[Excerpt from the interview]

Kostas Morfiris: What does B.I.G. stand for?
B.I.G.: Believe In God. It means we believe in God but also for you to believe. We concluded in this name when we considered that we want something that will continue to characterize us through time.

K.Μ.: Why should someone listen to your record?
B.I.G.: Because at this moment that person will be wondering: "Who are these guys and why are they interviewing them?"

K.Μ.: Is, at least in regards to electronic music, independent record labels the beginning and the end [for a project]?
B.I.G.: It is definitely the beginning. In regards to the end, we don't want to risk anything by making predictions.

K.Μ.: What does living away from Athens offer to your music?
B.I.G.: We both lived in Athens, first as students and then when we joined the army. Today, as we make an objective and honest comparison -apart from the obvious differences in the every day tension and routine- we find that Aigio, and probably every Greek province, offers more depth and color to our visual field. In Athens, your view always stops somewhere and something is always in the way. There is no intense alternation and this has its subconscious impact in our perception, in our mood and our feelings.

K.Μ.: How will your music be heard 100 years from today?
B.I.G.: We're hoping its still going to be with ears.

K.Μ.: Which is your favorite sound?
B.I.G.: The sound of the rain on the sea, the wood in the fireplace, a striking of the hand on jeans.

K.Μ.: Which are your main influences? Do you keep them away from the music you compose or do you use them?
B.I.G.: Greek and foreign rock, orchestral classic and modern, blues and ambient. In regards to the second part of the question, how can you keep away something that's already inside you?

K.Μ.: Where do you find your inspiration?
B.I.G.: Mainly from intense moments, beautiful women, good friend and nature.

K.Μ.: Which are your all time favorite artists and records?
B.I.G.: Queen, Enigma, Banco de Gaia, Jamiroquai, Van Bellen and Genesis. All time favorite records are Northern Exposure, Pink Floyd's Pulse and Queen's Innuendo.

K.Μ.: And your favorite DJs, Greek and foreign?
B.I.G.: Our favorite Greek ones are Petros Floorfiller on his good days, Nikos Diamantopoulos on his bad days and G.Pal on his drunken days. We also have to mention Ioannis (no further info) whom we heard play on night at Barrage in Zante. When it comes to foreign DJs we also like some guy named John, John Digweed, Chris Fortier and Nick Warren.

K.Μ.: Whom would you like to remix and who would you like to remix your music?
B.I.G.: Daydreaming we would like to remix a Deep Forest or a Queen track. We would like to be remixed by Tone Depth or James Holden.

ELEFTHEROTIPIA Newspaper
Dimitris Kanellopoulos

B.I.G., a new group from Aegio, are two brothers, who although could inherit a large family usiness, preferred to turn to the unstable and dangerous field of music. Unstable in a strictly realistic view and not in regards to feelings.

"Feelings, anyhow, are what keep our inspiration levels high", say both B.I.G., Dimos and Michalis Siavelis regarding their debut album "Mindscapes" . Both add in regards to their record: "It is a dream come true, that had major difficulties before, but also after. Difficulties in regards to the general economic situation, cheap alternatives such as technology and iracy, as well as the small interest of the music loving people for local production. However, there are people who know what they listen to, have their own standards, doesn't have canned music tastes and feels while listening to music".

- Especially for a dance record that can be called anything but mainstream?
"There is a general setback of anti-mainstream music. Music for the mind and not the current.

- You avoid lyrics in your compositions. Why? Is it a personal staple or a symptom of the times?
"We definitely pay the most attention to music. Lyrics is a delicate process and if you don't know how to use it, it could ruin the initial music idea. However, lyrics that keep up with the feelings and the style of each track definitely add".

- What exactly does "Mindscapes" include?
"The album includes tracks that we started to record in the summer of 2000, with feelings that were sometimes inspired by a love or by a disappointment. Music that we inspired by the sea and on the snow".

- How big a part does music play in your lives?
"Many times we have fallen asleep with headphones on our ears. Music is definitely the only means that can completely take over our senses and liberates our thoughts".

- We live in such a shallow (and pop) era.
"Every group's obligation is to differentiate. To provide an exit to those who want to stand out from the masses. However, this requires the assistance of collaborators, which is what independent record companies do. We believe that as time goes by, more and more companies and groups will come out of the shadows and play a bigger part".