Sofia Manousaki: In Crete’s childhood, important collaborations with Mimis Plessas and Mikis Theodorakis and her dreams

By Marina Charalambous

Sofia Manousaki is an artist born and raised in Chania, in a large family. With her talent she was able to go beyond the boundaries of the island and be in the forefront of the Greek music scene. Sofia traveled from her childhood dreams to the big scenes, collaborating with leading creators such as Stefanos Korkolis, George Hatzinasios and Mikis Theodorakis. Her vision remains stable, to continue interpreting songs that touch her soul and to be associated with the public through her music.

“Although my parents did not have musical knowledge, they liked music so much, so, through their listening, I have learned many different genres of music, which have followed me to date and have played an important role in music so far My choices » shared the singer At skai.gr. “In the school choir, for the first time I sang Mikis Theodorakis”, She is confused with her, and her voice is filled with a sweet nostalgia. As such, we started a debate about her course, her dreams and everything she still wants to conquer.

What was your first step in music? When did you realize that you want to pursue the song professionally?

I was singing from a very young age at home for my family and my friends. When I was 15 years old, I decided to go to the Conservatory. Something inside me pushed me to study and learn something more about what was effortlessly and with so much love from me. So I started at the Venizelio Conservatory of Chania, with a vocal teacher Mrs. Despina Drakakis, spelling and vocal lessons, rhythm, solvez and everything else was useful for me to evolve and get to know the art of music better.

Which artists inspired you during your career?

Certainly Alkistis Protopsalti, Harris Alexiou, Vicky Moscholiou, Dimitra Galani, Natasa Bofiliou, Eleonora Zouganeli and many others. From the foreign repertoire I admire Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury and bands such as Aerosmith (who gave me the permission to re -perform their song “I don’t want to miss a thing”), Simply Red, Tears for Fears and others from the 70-80 decades.

How do you feel about working with artists such as George Hatzinasios and Stefanos Korkolis? What have you learned from them?

I feel great joy and gratitude that these two huge composers and pianists have been entrusted to interpret their melodies, which I appreciate and admire indefinitely, not only for the enormous successes they have given us but also for their personalities. I will start with Stefanos Korkolis, because my collaboration with him has been counting for several years. Thanks to him, I learned to understand the music in depth and to be communicative to the world.

I learned with Mr. Hatzinasios and I continue to learn that I have to interpret a melodic line so that it has the right musicality. Also, I am learning to be alert, since in all its talents, the element of improvisation is to the highest degree.

What is it like to interpret next to such important artists at such a young age?

I feel enormous responsibility and blessing.

Is there a song or show that you consider to be a place-station in your career?

I consider my first appearance at Herodion, in 2016 with a symphony orchestra, in works by Mikis Theodorakis, present by the composer himself, next to the insurmountable Maria Farantouris, as well as when I interpreted the poems by Stefanos Korkolis. Cavafy, at Cairo Opera.

How do you combine your classic education with contemporary musical trends?

Musical knowledge is always a supply for anyone who is serious about music, regardless of musical.

Are there any music or projects that you would like to explore in the future?

My first personal album, just completed, could belong to the category you say, namely the exploration, especially with the producer who took over. Also, something that would fascinate me to “explore” in the future would be the traditional Cretan song.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome it?

It was when Mikis Theodorakis asked me to record an anecdotal work in Greece entitled “A Sea full of Music” in Dimitra Manta’s poetry, as well as when Stefanos Korkolis entrusted me with a work of life for him, the melody he did In the poems of KP Cavafy, where he chose me as a basic performer of the whole work. I encountered these two such honorable and demanding “challenges” with a lot of study and deepening poetic discourse.

Is there any time from your career that has moved you especially? Some collaboration?

When the Ecumenical composer Mikis Theodorakis first heard me at home one afternoon, to interpret Manolis Anagnostakis’ “Roads” track. A moment that will remain etched in my heart and mind forever. Fortunately, a family friend of the composer was present and recorded in the moment in a video.

You completed your first personal album in music by Stefanos Korkolis. How do you feel about it? Along with one of the most important producers, British Haydn Bendall. How did this cooperation come about?

I have always dreamed of having a record in lyrics and music by great creators Gerasimos Evangelatos and Stefanos Korkolis, with a full and warm sound, as they used to have the bands of the world music scene. My dream, however, exceeded all expectations when I learned that the world -renowned producer, award -winning Oscar and Grammy and producer of legendary music figures, Haydn Bendall, would take over. With him I discovered a new musical world.

Our collaboration emerged when Stefanos sent material from these songs to Haydn Bendall, with whom they used to know. Haydn Bendall was thrilled with the musical material and wanted to fully undertake the production of this album (which will be released on all online platforms but also on vinyl by the record company Heaven Music) and in general my music career from now on .

You had also worked with Mimis Plessas and Mikis Theodorakis. Do you remember any advice they had given you? What is it like to work with such important artists?

My main collaboration was with Mikis Theodorakis (three double albums) and many concerts. He had not given me any specific advice but the fact that I was so often close to him and analyzed his tunes and his music was all the advice of the world together. As for the great Mimis Plessas I had been to his home several times and had participated in several concerts he had given with Stefanos Korkolis.

There is a feeling that many artists are following a “safe” course to maintain their popularity. What do you think of this?

Everyone has the right to walk as he thinks and satisfies him. For my part, I am committed to my work and my study so that I can progress and evolve.

The trend of the time is trap music. We see her dominating a large extent and hearing it. What is your opinion?

In my opinion, the trend of the time is not only Trap, and Thanasis Papaconstantinou is, they are Lex, Panos Vlachos, Panos Mouzourakis, bees and many others. Also, the trend of the time is Stavros Xarhakos, which “fills” stages. We live in a colorful musical landscape and this is beautiful, after all, no one is forcing someone to hear something he doesn’t like.

No one can impose on anyone what they like and what doesn’t. As for Trap, it is undoubtedly a musical trend. Personally, it does not express me but in my opinion, time is the only judge.

You have sung the soundtrack for the trapped and the ‘holy love. Tell me about these collaborations.

Stefanos Korkolis and Gerasimos Evangelatos were asked to write songs about these television series and they chose me to interpret them, something that the producers of these series agreed. I was very pleased with the title of my upcoming concert at the Pallas Theater on February 14 entitled “Holy Love”, it also has to do with the title song of the series (released on YouTube and all online platforms from Deep Music by Spicy).

You are preparing an important concert for you.

It will be my first big concert at the Pallas Theater, following a proposal by Mr. Yiannis Kent, who thank you very much, for inviting me to do this concert on lovers’ day, I would also like to thank the theater scenes, the Athenian theaters and Mr. Dionysis Panagiotakis. We have prepared a program along with my collaborators with Greek and foreign repertoire songs. Our goal is for the world to be moved, to sing and to be entertained because it is a festive day.

Thinking about the flow of the program, I dared to imagine the presence of George Hatzinasios on stage, with his piano, to say some of his iconic erotic songs. I suggested it and he immediately accepted love and love. I don’t hide you how happy I felt with it. Also, with me on stage I will have ten wonderful musicians and performers and the whole concert will be curated by a well -known and beloved director and personal friend of all of us. As I have already mentioned, this is my first big concert and I feel a great responsibility and a pleasure to share with all the great successes we have all loved.