Interview with GRIZA POLI

Griza Poli is a band that we all rock listeners should keep in our mind. They started many years ago and they continue with a strong line-up, having their sound and identity in the world of the Greek rock scene. Myth of Rock caught Griza Poli in the act some months ago, when they played live in Rockwood, Athens, and recently we had a nice chat with the band, which can be read right below!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Hello guys!

Ηello Myth of Rock and a great thank you on behalf of all the band members for having us.

How was Griza Poli founded?

Our story as a band dates back in 2008, when Chris, our drummer, started the band with his, later best man, Julius, in search of doing something creative together. Julius already played the guitar by then and Chris had already started taking drum lessons. Until 2012 as companions and as a band they played together having Takis and Dimitris in the lineup. This lineup lasted for almost 4 years. Then, at the beginning of the summer in 2012, Takis and Dimitris left the band to do something different cover-wise with a new band. This is, when Chris called George Silver and they did made a new start together searching for permanent members on the bass guitar and the vocals. And they are still together to date.

Which is the current line-up of Griza Poli?

Since 2017, apart from Chris on the drums and George as the lead guitarist, our band was finally relieved from searching a permanent member for the bass player’s position. Dimitris Bourlekas answered to our Facebook ad and showed up full in good mood to join our efforts. After our two years with Kyriakos Karapetakos as our frontman, rhythm guitarist and good friend, he finally had to leave in the summer of 2024. Chris Fakiolas accepted our call fast and efficiently joining our party. As we didn’t want to continue with just one guitar player, let alone George has been an asset to our effort for the last – almost – eleven or more years, another talented musician, Bill Nikolarakis, joined in as our second guitarist, who also contributes vocally filling Chris’ voice in such a suitable way.

Which is the relationship between the band members of Griza Poli?

We always aim to be fair and treat each other with respect and equality, acknowledging the sacrifice each one of us makes, taking into consideration our daily routine with day jobs and family lives. Above all we are good friends and everyone is looking to provide what he can do best, so the team excels. We always try to keep time outside of the band meetings and rehearsals to enjoy the company and hang out.

How do you make decisions for the band?

In general, whoever comes up with an idea musically or regarding the band’s management, we listen to him and by discussion we decide what the next step will be. As a whole and not individually.

Why did you choose the name “Griza Poli” for the band?

Honestly, at first, the group was called “Galazies Spithes”. After talks among the band members, added that “Griza Poli” was already a song of the band’s set, it was decided that they liked it better. Furthermore though, with the time “Griza Poli” was be related to any bigger or smaller city around the world from different people we have come across. Our followers and us like it, because there’s a romantic darkness hidden inside of it.

Do you compose your own songs? How would you define your music style? Where do your lyrics refer to?

We do like playing covers by our favorite bands. Our band’s goal was to leave something behind by making our songs, putting our memories and experiences in them. So creation remains pivotal to all of us. Musically, we are close to classic rock combining styles, such as hard rock with bluesy riffs and solo licks. Lyrically we would say we are close to powerful and romantic stories, abstract meanings about having fun and social awareness.

Which are your main music influences?

There’s a big variety of bands and artists each one of us likes to bring with him especially, when we rehearse new ideas. Most of all our guitars and vocals have melodic and hard parts and harmonies inspired by Guns N’ Roses, Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC, the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s rock from California, and Seattle’s grunge scene, like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

How do you decide which songs you will cover on your live shows?

Our main criteria is to love the covers we do, as we mainly choose songs we’ve been listening to for years. They come out more naturally. Secondly, the audience’s reaction and entertainment plays an important role as we want them all to remember, have fun and come back again to the next show.

How do you sound live in concert?

After discussions on that matter, the live experience that someone must have from “Griza Poli” is close to the album feeling, keeping the original guitar solos and song structure, because we believe it makes a stronger connection even with those that listen to our music live for the first time. It helps be more punctual and close to our compositions.

Which are your dreams for Griza Poli?

When we first met, our goal was to bring our old heritage, like Julius’ songs, to light and we finally we recorded our EP “Istories apo to Kitsi – Mina Ioulio” which is available on Spotify, YouTube and all digital platforms since July 2^nd, 2022.

How difficult is the situation for a rock band in Greece today?

As we all know, Greece is a folk and traditional driven country and “bouzoukia” are prevalent as entertainment for the majority of people. Here folk solo artists are more popular. In addition, trap music has been a “wound” as it appears to promote corrupted messages to the young audiences, which are probably misunderstood but sang. Rock and metal bands tend to find their way in smaller venues. Musicians and bands, who play foreign music genres, except for the English singing (stoner and heavy rock and metal) bands, who find their way abroad, have the least support initially. The rest bands, such as the ones that play covers or their own original material like us, seem to have even less support or promotion on the media (TV & radio are included). So to speak, they cannot progress as the financial part becomes necessary and few sponsors take on to assist them. Day job for the rock-band-musicians is something that goes without saying. The above reasons give a quite clear picture of what is going on in Greece of 2024, as the sad part is when bands have to break up, after some years as they see no point to continue chasing their dream with no substantial support.

Which are your future plans? An album maybe?

A new album is already under way with four new tracks waiting to go in the studio. Most of all, we hope to start playing away of this big grey city (griza poli) of Athens in smaller communities and festivals starting 2025.

If you could collaborate with a famous musician on stage, who would he/she be?

Talking of local artists, we would love to play along with Ipogeia Revmata, Tsopana Rave, Magic de Spell and Vasilis Papakonstantinou. We have confidence we can play our songs in front of bigger than a pub’s audience and we are making our moves to connect with people who could help us play by believing in us, not just look to take advantage of a new band who deserves to dream of playing and live from their music, like anyone who loves playing music out there. Solo or as a group of people. In our dreams, we would love to get the opportunity and play as opening act for ACDC, Guns n’ Roses, Social Distortion.

How important are social media and internet for a band like Griza Poli?

They are important in terms of keeping touch with the fans through posts and stories, by keeping them up to date with gigs etc. We are not for social media when it becomes an obsession that turns musicians to influencers being there everyday posting something meaningless just to feed the algorithm.

What do you think of AI in music?

As an active factor, the AI cannot really turn musicians into better players or composers. Maybe as a tool yes, but this is quite general as we are not into it, at least for the time being. Making music is like sex, is organical and cannot be replaced by robots. It feels like using sex toys to replace the real vivid feeling of pleasure.

What do you think of music TV shows like The Voice, The X Factor and others?

Musicians and mostly singers see them as another tool to be seen and heard by larger audiences in their countries. Who doesn’t want to be heard and seen anyway? Speaking of Greece, so far, from our point of view, we haven’t seen so much, unless someone wants to make it into mainstream and the country’s popular music. This is far from being a part of a result that comes from team work. It’s a money-decision, possibly without even the freedom of creation allowed. Those who benefit are the judges who are already famous. Girls and boys, who are already into music, whether they do it professionally or not, will continue doing it, because they really love what they do. Money comes second.

Do you think that artists should convey messages through their songs?

It’s all about their love of making music and to serve people, inspire and activate them. Music has been important so we can express ourselves as artists and for people to feel the connection and relate to by using common experiences. Rock music helped to lose and stop the American invasion in Vietnam. Some anti-systemic songs or at least that moved suspicion about their meaning and how people perceived it, were forbidden e.g. Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For the Devil”. Musicians also fled from being drafted for the war in Vietnam in the ‘60s like Creedence Clearwater Revival, who wrote the lyric “Don’t come out tonight, because it’s bound to take your life, there’s a bad moon on the rise” that implies it.

How important is music for the members of Griza Poli?

It is our second home, this is how we relax by going loud on Mondays or Fridays forgetting reality by taking us to another dimension at least for a couple of hours every week. It’s like travelling without changing scenery. We can’t imagine ourselves living without playing our instruments, live or even from the comfort of our homes.

Have you scheduled any live shows during the following months?

We are currently working on booking some shows here in Athens and if all goes well in other towns in Greece during 2025. Stay tuned, like and subscribe on all of our social media, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages for more.

Send your message to our readers!

Be kind to people around you, do what you like with love and patience. Don’t wait for a reward or great compliments, it’s pointless. Just be yourselves and the rest will follow. DO NOT FORGET TO ROCK N’ ROOOOOLL! Until the next time, stay tuned. Love you all!