Christofer
Terzoudis
Christofer Terzoudis is
a brilliant guitarist, who has recently released a great instrumental album
under the title "Laying Notes" filled with virtuosity and feelings. So,
this was a chance to meet the man behind all these... please welcome Christofer
Terzoudis!
1.HELLO CHRISTOFER! MY CONGRATULATIONS FOR
YOUR PROMO "LAYING NOTES"! SO, TELL ME HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPOSE
ALL THESE SONGS AND ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FINAL RESULT?
Thanks very much for your kind words. The
songs have been ideas in my head for a long time before I record them.
In fact these songs were amongst the first songs that I ever wrote so this
goes back in 1997. It took me 4 months to record them in my home studio.
I`m satisfied with the result but there`s always a couple of things that
I would like to do. Well, next time…
2.YOU ARE NOT A NEW PERSON IN THE GREEK METAL
SCENE. YOU HAVE BEEN IN BANDS LIKES TWILIGHT ZONE AND BRAIN FADE. TELL
US WHY DIDN'T YOU MANAGE TO CUT A DEAL WITH ANY OF THESE BANDS, ESPECIALLY
WITH BRAIN FADE?
Greek bands are difficult to make deals and
generally evolve because the scene is not organized like it is in other
countries. There are not many opportunities for bands. Very few made it
and that`s because they got lucky or worked very hard.
3.WHAT LED YOU TO THE DECISION TO QUIT FROM THESE
BANDS AND START A SOLO CAREER?
I just felt that with these bands I wasn`t
going anywhere and evolve musically. Then I was so fed up with the attitudes
of some people. Most musicians don`t take it seriously when they are part
of a band. Instead of practicing their instrument or work on their sound
they just fool around and become a pain in the ass. Some of them had the
audacity to call themselves pro musicians `cause they were having a pair
of drum sticks in their back pocket or a pick necklace on their neck. So
at the end of the day you are thinking: Why bother? Going solo gives you
total control over things without having to depend on others.
4.DO YOU STILL LISTEN TO YOUR COMPOSITIONS FROM
THE ABOVE MENTIONED BANDS OR DO YOU THINK THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO LISTEN
TO THEM?
I like listening to stuff I played in the
past. It`s like looking an old photo. It reminds you how you sounded back
then. It`s cool. To tell you the truth though, I only have an unreleased
song with Twilight Zone and a couple of videos of live shows with Brain
Fade.
5.BY LISTENING TO YOUR PROMO I THINK THAT YOU
ARE INFLUENCED BY BANDS LIKE DREAM THEATER, QUEENSRYCHE AND PAIN OF SALVATION.
AM I RIGHT? WHICH OTHER BANDS DO YOU THINK HAVE INFLUIENCED YOU AND WHICH
ARE YOUR GUITAR "HEROES"?
I wouldn`t say that I`m influenced by the
bands you mentioned above except Dream Theater. I was a fan of D.T. especially
at their “Awake” era. I don`t like that much their next albums. I think
“Awake” is their best album. My influences have a huge range. Some of my
favorite bands are Spastic Ink, Hate Eternal, Watchtower, Cynic, Memento
Mori, King Diamond, Morbid Angel, Coroner, Meshuggah, Death, Symphony X
and so many others. As for my guitar heroes my all time favorite is Allan
Holdsworth. He is just amazing! Other guitarists that are my favorite are
Andy “the fluterrer” La Rocque, Ron Jarzombek, Andy Timmons, Mike Wead,
Tommy Vetterli, Erik Rutan, Frederik Thordendal and Vinnie Moore.
6.DO YOU PLAN TO RELEASE A FULL LENGTH ALBUM?
IF YES, DO YOU HAVE ANY PROPOSALS FOR A CONTRACT FROM A LABEL? WILL THIS
ALBUM BE INSTRUMENTAL OR WILL YOU USE A SINGER IN THE FUTURE?
The past 2 months I`ve been recording new
stuff for my full length album which is also going to be instrumental.
I have a couple of proposals but I still haven`t decided anything. Instrumental
music is not very popular so it`s difficult to get a deal. We`ll see.
7.I THINK A QUESTION YOU GET ASKED A LOT IS WHAT
MUSICAL STUDIES DO YOU HAVE AND WHICH KIND OF PLAYING YOU PREFER THE MOST,
NEOCLASSICAL OR FUSION AND WHY?
Well,from time to time I had some private
lessons and went to a couple of music schools to learn the basics but mostly
I studied by myself so I am considered as a self-taught musician. Lately
I`m having some lessons with my friend Vasilis Podaras mostly on improvisation.
I don`t prefer a specific style. I just play whatever feels good and fun
to play `cause this is what music is all about. Feeling great and having
fun.
8.EXCEPT FOR YOUR SOLO CAREER AS A GUITARIST,
DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN OTHER BANDS OR DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO FORM YOUR OWN?
IF THE ANSWER IS POSITIVE, WHAT KIND OF BAND WOULD THIS BE?
I`m also working on a prog metal project called
PART OF THE MACHINE but at the time things are very slow. There are 5 songs
that are done and I`m working with a singer on the vocals. I will be posting
infos and maybe some MP3s on my website soon at www.terzoudis.com. I`m
also a member of DESPISE. I joined them a little while ago and things are
great. You can check us out at www.geocities.com/despise_gr.
9.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT
BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
It would definitely be a mix of emotions.
How it felt when I was writing the music, how it felt when nailing every
note perfectly. If it was a painting it would be a field under a troubled
sky just waiting for the storm.
10.WHICH IS, ACCORDING TO YOU, THE BEST AND WHICH
THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC? WHICH DO YOU THINK IS YOUR TRADEMARK?
I think that I will have to leave that question
to be answered by the people who have listened to my music…
11.WHICH WORDS DO YOU THINK COULD BEST DESCRIBE
YOUR ALBUM AND YOUR MUSIC IN GENERAL?
Well, let`s see…passionate, imaginary, aggressive,
nostalgic, erotic, wicked.
12.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET AN IMPORTANT
PERSONALITY (DEAD OR ALIVE) WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ASK HIM?
I had the privilege to spend 2 days with my
all time favorite guitarist Allan Holdsworth so I got all the answers I
wanted. Especially about beer brewing.
13.YOU ARE GRANTED ONE WISH. WHAT WOULD YOU DO
WITH IT?
Wish that I would have a couple more of those!!!
14.LET'S SUPPOSE THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT
MUSIC. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN SUCH A CASE?
I would go crazy!! I can`t even imagine a
world without music. It`s a nightmare.
15.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING
AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
I would like to thank you very much for this
interview and wish you all the best. I`m playing live every Tuesday at
ARCHITEKTONIKI club (Neos Kosmos,Athens) supporting Kostas Tournas. The
show starts at 23:50. Yet I only have a couple of Tuesdays to go until
the season is over. Those of you who want to get my CD you can drop me
a mail or get it online at www.cdstreet.com.Cheers.
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
|