When I first met Zoe Tiganouria, I saw a beautiful smiling girl, with Greek style, humor, dynamics and stability in her movements. But when I listened to her music, and saw her stage presence, I realized that Zoe Tiganouria is all that, in the body of a Musician
Life, tell us about the accordion and your common path. Definitely not the most "ordinary" for our eyes, musical instrument for a musician on stage. What tied you to him?
It turned out to be an accordion in my hands when I was 21 years old. From the first notes I started carving I received an energy of attraction towards him. I felt that he was breathing with me, that my listening, my musical knowledge until then, came out spontaneously and effortlessly on this instrument. I started exploring it, I had to figure out how to hold it, so I did not get tired, I had to understand how the left hand works, which has no keys but buttons. So I decided that what I really needed to do was learn how to do it right for the rest of my life.
What usually inspires you in your music? What do you feel finds space within you to express yourself?
Inspirations have to do with the moment that is not determined. The reasons for creative inspiration are endless. The feeling that emanates is euphoria, warmth, peace, ecstasy, beauty. Of course, all this happens at the moment of creation, because then comes the creative stress of orchestration and performance, if it is a song and not an orchestral piece, and then comes the real stress of advertising - which usually finds a wall, because there is no proper ground to advertise my work in the Greek market dominated by Show Biz and the cliques.
Life tell us about him Karaiskaki the Theatrical performance in which you sign the music together with Stelios Generalis.
This is the play "Karaiskakis the misunderstood hero" by Giannis Kostaras directed by Manos Antoniou. With the song "Revolution 1821" that I wrote last year with lyrics by Tasos of Theodorakopoulos with the interpretation of Babis Tsertos, the curtain of the show opens. On this occasion, the director asked us and Stelios to write the music of the whole project. The show is currently playing successfully at the historic Avlaia Theater, every Saturday until Easter, as it has already presented many sold out performances throughout the winter at the Day Theater.
How much does each piece of music you complete change you?
There are stages - the dominant stage is the fullness and euphoria when we are finished and the anticipation to be heard by other people besides my family.
If you had the little girl in front of you, when he was starting to learn music, who was taking the accordion in his hand for the first time and dreaming, what would you talk to him about?
I would say to this little girl… “To have music as a hobby if there is talent and for a livelihood as another profession because it requires a strong stomach. However, if the bell inside you weighs persistently and tells you "you have a call" then dare and go as far as you can bear and as your conscience allows. My daughter is almost at the age when I started playing the harmonium, so it's like talking to this little girl already.
What are the tips or ideas you held tightest?
The ones I got from my family growing up in a simple and kind provincial family, those of the ethics of honesty, the love of honesty, of honest life in general. This may be the brake on a great career that is usually based on the exact opposite instincts, something that applies to any profession of course, not just music.
On the occasion of the concert for the Athletes with Disabilities that you gave recently, but also the unpleasant messages that we constantly hear, I want you to tell me your opinion about what it is like to be a woman today? Is there anything we expect to see expressed by Woman in the world today?
It was my honor to participate in the artistic part as a guest of hyperactivity and greatness for the work of the president, Mrs. Ioanna Kariofyllis, in such a wonderful and moving event. A woman plays an important role in society, if she respects herself, her status and does not only show off her lures, nor be tempted by tempting decisions in order to climb the stairs to the top faster. It is a clever being that spins fast and can handle more than one piece of information at a time, something that is difficult for a man to do, but here is the trap, if he does not pay attention, resulting in a brake on many aspects of her life. The role of the wife, the mother, the hostess, the housewife does not cease to linger in the woman's DNA, so, yes, it is difficult to balance, unless she achieves a proper relationship of mutual respect, mutual help, without selfishness and jealousy. Then, yes, she can be honest and socially respectful, but that does not mean she can not do it alone, it is just rarer and certainly much more difficult.
Life, I want you to explain to me the paradox of living in the land of culture, of thought, of intellect, of free expression - and at the same time to feel that creation and artistic expression find difficulties. Why not invest in what could be our "heavy industry"?
Because it is not in the interest of those who are at the top and are imposed on us in various ways -obviously and underground- at all levels. At the moment, those who - with a "floor" culture level - benefit economically at the expense of the common people through their dominant positions, have no interest in changing this declining disease to a point of decline in our culture, because they will lose the earth. under their feet if the level goes up. Fatally they keep the level low, control their inferiors and life goes on with mediocrity, false impressions and shabby patterns, with which our children grow up. It therefore requires a double effort from the parents and the healthy environment in order to eliminate from the psyche of the children all this mediocrity that is "bathed" day and night by the media, radios, televisions but mainly the internet.
Tell us a few words about the collaborations you had. What can we expect from the music trio you are currently preparing? Tell us about your collaboration with Nikos Theodorakis.
We have made a duet with the excellent guitar virtuoso and composer Michalis Sourvinos and we give recitals for accordion and Guitar, but because we both saw that the participation of Stelios Generalis in percussion gives great impetus, energy and air to the sound, the playing and the end result, we decided to become a trio. On the other hand, when Mikis left, I set to music the lyrics of Dimitris Iatropoulos, who entrusted them to me, a tribute to the composer's memory. My acquaintance with Nikos Theodorakis a little later was an amazing opportunity, because I presented the demo to him, he liked it, and we went straight into the studio to orchestrate it. I believe that the verse "Mikis Archelaos Pateras" could not be interpreted better and with so much truth by anyone else. We have already launched the next project, arrangements for accordion - voice on songs by Mikis Theodorakis. And of course summer concerts all over Greece with both of these projects.
Tell us about the Hollywood movie «Tango ShalomHow a Greek woman writes music for a blockbuster.
This is a very pleasant circumstance that happened in my artistic career and at the same time justification of the many years I have been in the field, with many obstacles and "boats" from "well-wishers" to turn me back every time I take a step forward. The film for the information of the public because it has not yet come to Greece, as a result of which they have not seen it, has received many awards from top film festivals worldwide. In the original titles of the film we co-sign the musical investment (film score) with Zizi Bologna. I worked for many months, very hard, in our studio, with the director Gabriel Bolonga, the ZiZi Bolonga who had come to Greece for this purpose, and Stelios Generalis who is in charge of the orchestrations, in order to get a perfect result, worthy of the requirements of a so serious big production, and the result justified us.
To close, I want you to tell me, what in practice would you ask the world around us to seem to be changing? Peace is certainly needed, but what if it existed, do you think it would make people live their lives better?
This question allows me to refer to recent unpleasant events. Our society unfortunately -makes-shapes-creates-grows-raises- Monsters with sick behaviors (as I say in the same denominator it ends). This is a great example of the Russian dictator Putin who has harmed and continues to harm so many innocent souls, such a civilian population that brings so many victims of war in Ukraine, while at the same time lurking in a third world war, so dangerous for all humanity, given nuclear weapons. However, let us not go so far as to refer to another sick behavior that is currently happening here next to us, in Greece, when a mom apparently commits such a heinous crime, killing her three angels, the very babies she took out. from its bowels, to satisfy its sick moods, that the most sectarian and abominable Greek society has seen. This in combination with the many murders that have happened recently in our country, these two recent events are unfortunately the mirror of today's society. So I would ask everyone individually to have a body of brakes, to be conscious, close to God who is love and prayer, close to the arts and culture, who refines morals and tames primitive instincts.
photo https://zoe-music.net
