Birthmark (band)
Encyclopedia
Birthmark are a rock band from Athens
, initially formed in 2001 under the name Cuore Nero.
, Athens. The three founding members (Argyris Tsoukalas, Elias Goulas and Adamantine Arvanitis) had met in 1999 in a local school's graduation concert. They played together for a while, until Argyris Tsoukalas left for Italy
for study-related reasons. When he returned, two years later, they came together again, started rehearsing and looking for a bass player
. One of the possible solutions was Kostis Pirenis, a guitar player who could also play the bass
but when they met to rehearse, the three members realized that Kostis Pirenis was a very skilled guitar player, so he developed into the band's lead guitarist. After a year in which the band played with many bass players, upon the recommendation of his guitar teacher, Argyris Tsoukalas brought Alexandros Trampas to the band - Alexandros soon became the bass player for the band. They then adopted the name "Cuore Nero"(which means "black heart" in Italian). The band recorded some demos
and began live performances in Athens, where there was a small but active indie scene in the early 2000s.
As the band's live bookings increased, some producers began to show interest in them and the band had a proposal to record an album in the "Sierra" recording studios, one of Athens' best equipped recording studios at the time. The band, feeling unready for something like that, rejected that offer and continued performing live in the underground rock music
scene and advancing their music. Later, in early 2004, Alexandros Trampas left the band due to musical differences - the band ceased their live
activity for almost a year. The gap created then was not filled until late 2004, when Mampre Kasardjian became the band's bassist.
Shortly after, the band changed their name to "Anima", stating that '"cuore nero" was too hard for most people to remember'. Seeking for a more personal sound, they added to their lineup Panagiotis Delinikolas, a violin player. They produced a demo CD, which featured six songs, one of which was featured in Spinalonga records
' first IN THE JUNKYARD compilation that featured Greek indie bands. Most importantly, two of the demo tracks, "My Ecstasy" and "So Confused" were sent to the pop-rock contest festival of the "Philippos Nakas Conservatory", an Athens-based music school. The band qualified in the finals of the contest, where they performed live, winning the competition in the Christmas season of 2004. The prize was a recording contract with V2 Records
, with which the band finally signed a one-album recording contract and an appearance on the local music magazine "Rock & Roll". Shortly after, the band discovered that the name "Anima" was already taken by another band and so they changed it to "Birthmark". Birthmark started rehearsing in an isolated cottage, located in Oropos
, a small provincial city near Athens, where they also recorded their debut album. Birthmark at that time had a very active live presence giving many concerts, including support acts to Diorama
, Nina Nastasia
and Holly Golightly
.
" cover). The recording sessions were relaxed, with the band playing at all hours of the day and listening to their favorite bands for inspiration. The album by the middle of 2006 was mixed and mastered. Product of Black Days' album artwork was designed by visual artist Demitri Delinikolas, while the album's cover consists in a slightly processed photo of Greek photographer Takis Tloupas taken in the mid-1940s.
Birthmark released their album in the spring of 2007. Mostly composed of melodic rock songs, their record also found them presenting diverse influences experimenting with guitar sounds and the use of violin and vocals. The album "Product of Black Days" finally featured nine songs, since the Massive Attack cover was not included.
, Pink Floyd
, The Cure
, Queen
and others. However, by the mid-2000s, around the release of Product of Black Days, Birthmark began showing an interest in electronic music, such as that of trip-hop acts Massive Attack
, Portishead and alternative-metal music, such as that of Tool
, which they claimed as major influences on the sound of Product of Black Days. While working on new material, the band have continued to mention alternative rock, progressive rock, electronic, and hip hop musicians as favourites—particularly Radiohead, Tori Amos
, Kate Bush
, Muse
, Camel
, DJ Shadow
.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, initially formed in 2001 under the name Cuore Nero.
Formation and first years (2001-2004)
Birthmark was formed in 2001 in Nea ErythraiaNea Erythraia
Nea Erythraia , is a suburb in the northeastern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kifisia, of which it is a municipal unit....
, Athens. The three founding members (Argyris Tsoukalas, Elias Goulas and Adamantine Arvanitis) had met in 1999 in a local school's graduation concert. They played together for a while, until Argyris Tsoukalas left for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for study-related reasons. When he returned, two years later, they came together again, started rehearsing and looking for a bass player
Bass Player
Bass player can refer to:*Bass Player , an album by Rhombus*Bass Player , a magazine for bassists*Bassist, or bass player, a musician who plays the bass guitar...
. One of the possible solutions was Kostis Pirenis, a guitar player who could also play the bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
but when they met to rehearse, the three members realized that Kostis Pirenis was a very skilled guitar player, so he developed into the band's lead guitarist. After a year in which the band played with many bass players, upon the recommendation of his guitar teacher, Argyris Tsoukalas brought Alexandros Trampas to the band - Alexandros soon became the bass player for the band. They then adopted the name "Cuore Nero"(which means "black heart" in Italian). The band recorded some demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
and began live performances in Athens, where there was a small but active indie scene in the early 2000s.
As the band's live bookings increased, some producers began to show interest in them and the band had a proposal to record an album in the "Sierra" recording studios, one of Athens' best equipped recording studios at the time. The band, feeling unready for something like that, rejected that offer and continued performing live in the underground rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
scene and advancing their music. Later, in early 2004, Alexandros Trampas left the band due to musical differences - the band ceased their live
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
activity for almost a year. The gap created then was not filled until late 2004, when Mampre Kasardjian became the band's bassist.
Shortly after, the band changed their name to "Anima", stating that '"cuore nero" was too hard for most people to remember'. Seeking for a more personal sound, they added to their lineup Panagiotis Delinikolas, a violin player. They produced a demo CD, which featured six songs, one of which was featured in Spinalonga records
Spinalonga Records
Spinalonga Records is a self-organized, not-for-profit effort to promote the alternative and heavy rock of the Greek underground. It is based in Athens, Greece and was formed in late 2004...
' first IN THE JUNKYARD compilation that featured Greek indie bands. Most importantly, two of the demo tracks, "My Ecstasy" and "So Confused" were sent to the pop-rock contest festival of the "Philippos Nakas Conservatory", an Athens-based music school. The band qualified in the finals of the contest, where they performed live, winning the competition in the Christmas season of 2004. The prize was a recording contract with V2 Records
V2 Records
V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
, with which the band finally signed a one-album recording contract and an appearance on the local music magazine "Rock & Roll". Shortly after, the band discovered that the name "Anima" was already taken by another band and so they changed it to "Birthmark". Birthmark started rehearsing in an isolated cottage, located in Oropos
Oropos
Oropos is a small town and a municipality in East Attica, Greece.-Geography:It is situated on the southern Euboean Gulf, opposite Eretria. Oropos is located N of Avlona and Athens, E of Thebes and SE of Chalcis. Oropos is linked with the road linking Nea Palatia and Sikamino...
, a small provincial city near Athens, where they also recorded their debut album. Birthmark at that time had a very active live presence giving many concerts, including support acts to Diorama
Diorama (band)
Diorama is a German electro pop band. The name of the band is a metaphor which represents their notion of music as an artistic form of expression.-History:Diorama was founded in 1996 as a musical project of Torben Wendt...
, Nina Nastasia
Nina Nastasia
Nina Nastasia is a New York City-based singer-songwriter born in Hollywood, California.-Biography:She began writing songs in 1993, and released her first album, Dogs, in 2000. Only 1,500 copies of the album were initially pressed, with Nastasia putting together the album packaging herself in her...
and Holly Golightly
Holly Golightly
Holly Golightly is a British singer-songwriter. Her mother christened her after the protagonist in Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's. Her musical style ranges from garage rock to R&B.-Musical career:...
.
Product of Black Days (2005–2006)
Several months after winning the pop-rock contest, Birthmark started recording and producing their debut album themselves in their rehearsal-recording studio. The recording sessions began in the spring of 2005. Having perfected the songs live, by October Birthmark had recorded all the ten songs of the album including "My Ecstasy", "Lonely Ride", "Lust in Love", "Sacred", "All the Lovers", "Angels", "BlackHearted", "So Confused", "Product of Black Days" and "Safe from Harm" (a "Massive AttackMassive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
" cover). The recording sessions were relaxed, with the band playing at all hours of the day and listening to their favorite bands for inspiration. The album by the middle of 2006 was mixed and mastered. Product of Black Days' album artwork was designed by visual artist Demitri Delinikolas, while the album's cover consists in a slightly processed photo of Greek photographer Takis Tloupas taken in the mid-1940s.
Birthmark released their album in the spring of 2007. Mostly composed of melodic rock songs, their record also found them presenting diverse influences experimenting with guitar sounds and the use of violin and vocals. The album "Product of Black Days" finally featured nine songs, since the Massive Attack cover was not included.
(2007-2010)
During the promotion of their first album and while preparing new material, Birthmark toured and performed live either on their own or supporting artists such as Iron Butterfly and Ypogeia Revmata (Υπόγεια Ρεύματα). They built a new studio, located in Nea Erithraia , in the northern suburbs of Athens, in which a new era begun for the band. In 2008, Mampre Kasardjian , Birthmark's bassist decided to pursue further musical jazz-oriented studies in New York, where he got accepted at the N.Y. Collective School of Music for a 6 semester diploma, so the band recruited a new bassist called Jacob Siaparinas (former Katrin the Thrill), who had an altogether different style, distinctively changing it's sound. Panagiotis Delinikolas, the band's violin player also left the band due to musical differences and started his own projects. Birthmark, a 5 membered band now started to rediscover their sound experimenting and trying out all sorts of new material. Self expression became the first and foremost goal for the band. In October 2009 Birthmark performed live on Mad TV for the "Mad Day Live" show and continued touring and performing around Greece.Present (2011)
Birthmark's second album with the probable title "Boogeyman", is almost complete containing the cover of "Safe From Harm", which was excluded from the first album and the songs "ignorance" and "bad fairy" featuring performances by Panagiotis Delinikolas and Mampre Kasardjian respectively. At the same time time the band is exploring new ways of releasing and promoting their new album, since the greek department of V2 Records went out of business in 2010.Influences
Among Birthmark members' earliest influences were artists such as RadioheadRadiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and others. However, by the mid-2000s, around the release of Product of Black Days, Birthmark began showing an interest in electronic music, such as that of trip-hop acts Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, Portishead and alternative-metal music, such as that of Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, which they claimed as major influences on the sound of Product of Black Days. While working on new material, the band have continued to mention alternative rock, progressive rock, electronic, and hip hop musicians as favourites—particularly Radiohead, Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
, Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
, DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
.
Musical style
Birthmark' s musical evolution is based on the band members' varied influences. The sound of the band started (2001-2003) from a point where hard guitar parts and powerful lead guitar melodies were being combined with "fragile", high-pitched vocals. Later (2004-2008), with the addition of the violin, the band's sound became more melodic, romantic and at the same time shadowy, dominated by Adamantine Arvanitis' expressive vocals. The "Product of Black Days" album, which was the outcome of this period was characterized by these elements and a degree of musical and emotional complexity. After 2008, the vast changes in the band's line-up brought a new era for it's musical style. Birthmark's compositions became simpler with the band giving priority to certain elements of the songs, trying to make them straighter and more conveying of their feeling and meaning. Songwriting in Birthmark is a collaborative process, as all members have an essential songwriting role. All the band's music is officially credited to Birthmark and the lyrics mostly to Argyris Tsoukalas and Adamantine Arvanitis.Current
- Adamantine Arvanitis - (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), (2001–Present) - Argyris Tsoukalas - (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s), (2001-preseent) - Elias Goulas - (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
-percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
), (2001–Present) - Kostis Pirenis - (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s), (2002–Present) - Jacob Siaparinas - (bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
), (2008–Present)
Past members
- Alexandros Trampas - (bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
), (2002–2004) - Mampre Kasardjian - (bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
), (2004–2008) - Panagiotis Delinikolas - (violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), (2004–2009)
External links
- www.birthmarkmusic.com Birthmark band's official web-site
- www.avopolis.gr
- www.freemusic.gr General info and background
- www.spinalonga.net