A few days ago I got to perform at Bar Mastro in the PUMA QUAD with Joaquin Teran from Argentina. It felt good to sing and play ukulele again, especially after I injured my hands. Being in Cape Town, South Africa is a blessing. I love it here!
Tonight, I leave to Africa. I will be traveling for about 27 hours total with a six hour layover in London. I am extremely grateful and excited to take part in this journey with my boyfriend.
For all of you in Los Angeles, go rock out with The Trades, Xenia Dunford, The Downtown Train, and The Americans on Tuesday night at Little Temple on Sunset Blvd! FREE SHOW!
Check out a recent interview I did that was featured in the Artist Spotlight on danielextra.com!
Artist Spotlight: tonypops
I really need to be thrown in jail because it’s been absolutely criminal of me to have been ignoring tonypops’ (aka Anthony Papamarkakis) grassroots campaign to let the world know what a great talent he is! The short version of this story is that he’s been here all this time and we haven’t taken notice how this man takes his ukulele and fine voice and performs these pared down, heart-aching songs like his original tune “Through the Fog.”
Anthony took a moment between holidays to give us his take on songwriting, his influences, and what does it mean to be successful.
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daniel extra: When I first heard you sing through your YouTube videos, I was arrested—in a good way—by the beauty and heartache of your performances that made me think of Ryan Adams’ Love is Hell album. Not to say his is an influence on your music but which musicians, or other artists, would you say are?
Anthony Papamarkakis: To be honest, I’ve never really listened to Ryan Adams at all. I have such an eclectic mix of influences. I’m very into Americana roots music: jazz, blues, soul, and rock n’ roll. Growing up my mother listened to a lot of Motown, so I’ve always been into very soulful and rhythmic tunes. As time went on, I started to all kinds of music (I’m going to do a bit of jumping around while name dropping): Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al Green, Billy Preston, Ike & Tina, At The Drive-In, Glassjaw, Cat Power, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, I could SERIOUSLY go on forever.DE: How would you describe your current sound?
AP: It’s hard to try and describe my current sound from my standpoint because every new song I write brings something new to the table that I am incorporating or experiencing. Right now, I have a new song called “Stronger Now” that falls into more of a folkier feel. Some songs previously written are really mellow or feel good. I truly play to the mood I’m in that point in time. It’s a journey for me.
DE: As a poet, I have found that I tend to use apostrophe—that is, addressing a ‘you’ in writing—as a way of universalizing what is originally a very queer/gay life experience at the expense of—one could argue—rendering an explicit example of queer love or desire. As a musician who is also queer (or gay, if you prefer), as you journey to find an audience for your music, is this something that you think about too when songwriting? How would you describe your approach to song writing?
AP: I write about experiences, emotions, moments, inspirations, relationships, and just life in general. As a gay man, I want to reach out to the gay community and share music that we all can relate to. I hope to reach out to all people, not just a gay audience. It’s definitely something that I think about when I’m writing because it’s part of my life, and I am proud of it.
Music to me is not something forced. It feels like it’s pouring out of me, whether it’s singing, playing the ukulele, or playing the drums, it’s a very raw feeling, and it’s my way of expressing myself. I mean yeah, there are times when I play around with different lyrics and arrange things a certain way, but it’s all a part of molding pieces together that end up becoming a song.
DE: What does it mean to you to be a successful musician today?
AP: I started to sing at a young age in a church choir and always loved singing, but I never really took it seriously until a year ago. I started off as a drummer at about thirteen years old. I loved rhythm and percussion, the idea of having control, making people move, bringing a certain energy in that sense was completely liberating. I love trying new things and constantly learning. With that said, I truly feel that if you love to do what you do and can be happy doing it, then it is success in itself. For me, I love playing music, and if I can be with my boyfriend, travel (which is another passion of mine), do what I love to do, and somehow make a living out of it, I’m a happy man. That to me is success, no need for fame or fortune.
DE: Are you working on an album now?AP: I am in a process now of recording new material. I really hope to have an EP out soon with five original songs and a couple of covers. I’ll make sure to keep you updated!
DE: If you could “My Dinner with Andre” with three musicians—living or dead—who would you choose?
AP: Louis Armstrong, Michael Jackson, and James Brown… HANDS DOWN! Amazing artists and such humble people.DE: And finally, our traditional last question—
Fill in the blanks:
_Masculinity____ is sexy; ___courageousness___ is sexier.
The show last night was awesome. Thanks to everyone for coming out to Pasadena! See you soon.
Check out the new and improved video for “Through The Fog”.
This coming week is going to be exciting. The love of my life will be in LA visiting me for a week, and we are celebrating my birthday with a bunch of friends. New photos and videos soon. I promise. Cheers!
The show on June 18th was a success. Thank you all for coming out and showing your support. Very much appreciated. Keep on the lookout for more gigs. Oh- also check out the new video: “Through The Fog”. Share it!
Come to Canoga Park in LA- June 18th! 7PM! $10