Born in Athens , lived in both The States and the U.K. Always on low end duty and animal rescuing. Works as a TM , I talk too much and I get very excited.
Q:When you decide it’s time to make a new record, is that more exciting or stressful?
Ans:Exciting and creative, time flies by in the studio and everyone feels like a kid in a candy shop, creation and idea take shape and form.
Q: How do you shut things out?
Ans: Everyone has their way Irene is very spiritual so she has her magic methods , Thanos is by default relaxed , Nick is excited so he doesn’t mind the surrounding noise or people and I just visualize I am alone it doesn’t always work but I am trying to get the hang of it.
Q: How easily do songs tend to come to you?
Ans :Maximum High is a collective idea. It could be a jamming session leading to a song or it could be just Irene with a vocal and synth she recorded on the fly, I would say ideas come easy but they are hard to get right but in the end it does work out
Q: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?
Ans:Try to see things positive , observe and try to listen to what people say (still haven’t mastered this one)
Q: What is you favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car?
ANs:That’s kinda difficult to answer , maybe at the bar anything from Fugazi, The Hives to The Ramones and in the car The Who (Who’s Next the whole thing) Sticky Fingers by the Stones or Some Girls and if the drive is long play Let it Bleed too!
Q: For our readers who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words?
Ans:Pure Loud Rock Steady Beat
Q: You write all of your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the proccess?
ANS:We do indeed and inspiration is anywhere you look , people, music, life , colors, personal experiences and the list goes on..
Q: At what age did you start singing?
ANS:I was 12 and I started with an acoustic guitar that I removed the two strings (never really needed 6) to just emulate a bass guitar. A year later i purchased my first bass guitar and I joined a music conservatory, I sucked really bad but with a bit of love and endless hours of practice I was finally able to get more solid
Q:Who are your inspirations?
Ans:The Smiths, Joy Division, The Stone Roses, The Who, Nirvana , Jane’s Addiction, Roxy Music, MC5, QOTSA and my cats 🙂
Q: If you could perform with anyone, in the future, who would it have to be?
Ans:Probably Nick Cave and Johnny Marr
Q:What is your favorite song to sing live?
Ans:I don’t sing my voice sucks… hahaha ..but I will say with Maximum High I love playing live all of the tunes, playing live is just an endless party!
Q:Do you have any events coming up or recording going on right now?
Ans:Yeap! The band is booking shows for spring at the moment and talking a few summer festivals. As far as the recording goes we re are gonna have an iTunes (self titled EP Maximum High) release soon with an excellent artwork by Alteau a famous French illustrator who also did a Cover for one of my personal favorite bands Rancid and many more. Later on this year we re gonna record our full length record.
Q:Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to sing as a career or just advice about careers in general?
Ans :Love it more than your life and expect nothing, it will probably take you to where you wanna be.
Q: If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it?
Ans :The Smiths There is a light that never goes out
Q:How does the conversation go when someone pitches the performance to you?
Ans:If anyone has an idea the first thing to do is to listen and try to capture what they have in mind without messing with it but trying to help them express it
Q: Which instruments do you play?
Ans: I play Bass and guitar (not really a good guitarist) but at least I can write ideas and compose on it. I do play the Synth too (not so well either) and again enough to create ideas. You can’t be great with every instrument, bass is a very difficult Instrument and a mentor of mine once told me “it’s easy to play bass but it takes a lifetime to master!” I get it now..
Q: What was the first tune(s) you learned?
Ans:hahahaha , Smoke on the Water..classic!!
Q: Is your family musical?
Ans: Not really but they re very loving and they like music a lot.
Q: Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?
Ans:I admire many people. I’ve met many great musicians, once I met Eddie Vedder in Seattle at a Buzzcocks show, well to make a long story short I asked him if he likes them and he looked at me with serious intense eyes and said “fuck yeah I love the Buzzcocks dude , we grew up listening to them” and then he walked near the stage watched the entire show headbanging like a teenager!
Q: Which famous musicians have you learned from?
Ans:Jack Waterson of Green On Red he always advised me and damn he was always spot on. I got to watch many great musicians in time and I got something from all of them.
Q: Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?
Ans:A guy in my neighborhood, nerdy guy playing amazingly Metallica covers on his classic guitar he taught me my first riffs.
Q: Describe your first instrument. Other instruments.
Ans:My first instrument (still got it) was a 12 string Eko acoustic guitar and my first bass was an Aria Pro. Went through a few of them 2 Thunderbirds, 3 Jazz Bass, 3 Sting Rays and a Rick but I am a Fender P bass guy (went through 5 of them) I don’t touch anything else anymore and to think I used to hate them when i was younger..
Q: What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?
Ans:Not even on stage just driving through Arizona while the sun is rising listening to Let it Bleed of The Stones , this memory will always stay with me. But honestly I got too many memories I can close my eyes and travel back in time I could stay there for hours
Q: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
Ans:Well I try not to freak out I just smile and focus on the song, during live performance there are always mistakes
Q: Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?
Ans:It depends usually not but at our last show with M.H I was a bit nervous 🙂
Q: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
Ans:Drink your ass off! Hahahaha I am just kidding , basically take deep breaths, do a few stretches and isolate yourself. If there is a backstage area ask people not to enter till the show is over and try to stay quiet with the presence only of your band mates, it’s very easy to forget why you are there. There is a purpose and a target.
Q: Do you attend sessions? What makes a good session?
Ans:A lot, and I work with musicians as a tour manager. I get to hang out with amazing musicians , people to look up to and learn from.
Q: How often and for how long do you practice?
Ans:when I started playing about 10 hours a day..my mom was very upset with my school grades..years later when I played professionally I did about 1-2 hours/day even while on tour. Nowdays is just a 45′ warmup I don’t have the luxury of time. The best practice is playing with the guys.
Q: What do you practice – exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc.?
Ans:Scales from the 1st fret to the 12th and back..it’s pretty much a finger workout. I was never too technical.
Q: Do you teach music?
Ans:Nope I haven’t looked into theory in years but I have helped experienced players to forget all the rubbish they learned in music schools and play right. It’s not what do you know it’s all about the song. A simple E and G note can sound like they re supposed to or they can sound explosive and make people dance, you can’t teach that.
Q: How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?
Ans:it’s all about schedule ,understanding and communication especially if you re working with good people it’s easy.
Visit website & Folllow ON Social Media ;
www.maximumhigh.band
www.soundcloud.com/maximumhigh
www.facebook.com/maximumhighband
www.twitter.com/maximumhighband
www.instagram.com/maximumhighband
Thanks for taking time out of your day:)
