The rising indie pop artist discusses balancing Greek roots and modern pop impulses
Grammy winner Jon Batiste said it best a couple weekends ago: “There is no best musician, best artist, best dancer, best actor. The creative arts are subjective and they reach people at a point in their lives when they need it most. It’s like a song or an album is made and it’s almost like it has a radar to find the person when they need it the most.”
Music is about taking a dip into worlds that promote reflection. Whether by choice or not, it happens with many songs throughout history. The beauty is that such songs have evolving and powerful lives that match the times. Σtella, a Greek musician, succeeds in this modified pop crafting with her latest track, “Charmed”. She has hit it right at the perfect scene in the 2022 space.
Fans will appreciate the old and new elements that “Charmed,” produced by Redinho, brings to the picture. It’s a blending of classic songwriting, aligned with familiar instrumentation, and fueled with modern vocals and strangely somber ambiance. The bass and guitar riffs are captivating and keep the ears plastered for more. Her somber vocals sway into a soft gale that transports the listener to a ruminating landscape. The simplicity of the instrumentation offers a complex listening experience that classic music fans will enjoy. While the genre clearly fits into a pop realm, jazz and rock influences find their way inside. It opens its arms to all who remain curious and ambitious.
Luckily, more music is to come from Σtella this year, and listeners will patiently await that day to seek it out on their individual radars. In the meantime, the musician was kind enough to share some insight into this body of work and her creative flow from here.
How was it having Redinho producing this track? What was the process like? Any memorable moments?
It was interesting working from a distance, I’d never done that before! Tom (Redinho) had some great ideas and, after a couple of months of exchanging files back and forth, he flew to Athens and we finalized this track. We had good chemistry, me and Tom – recording felt like a stroll in the park.
How has the following year shaped your sound? Are you excited to be exploring anything specific?
After the release of my previous album “The Break” (2020), I felt I was ready to move toward new things and explore new sounds. And when I say new, I mean old. Recording Greek bouzouki and kanun for this album was an eye-opener. It changed my perspective on things. It was something I’d secretly wanted but never tried. I realized that for many years I was recording guitars but trying to make them sound like a bouzouki. This album has definitely been a journey into my Greek roots, but at the same time, it’s still pop music, which I love.
What helps get the blood pumping before you record, perform or simply let loose with your tunes?
I feel a certain rush when I play an instrument or when a melody pops into my head. It doesn’t matter if I’m going to stick with it or not, for those first few seconds, it really feels like I’ve invented the wheel.
What hopes do you have for the future in your music? Any dream goals?
I hope to be lucky enough to keep writing music, collaborate with great musicians, and tour my brains out.
What has been the biggest struggle this go around, was it songwriting, producing or something else?
The only struggle was finding the right home for this album, getting it out into the world, that took a while.
