Cypriot musician, lyricist and composer Antonis Antoniou is the founder and the prime mover of the award-winning bands Monsieur Doumani and Trio Tekke.
In his native Greek-Cypriot tongue, Antoniou combines soundscapes and qualities he has collected during the course of his exploratory musical journey: from classical music to jazz, rock, traditional, experimental and sound art.
On his debut album, Kkisméttin, Antonis Antoniou used the Middle Eastern melodies of the lute (one of Cyprus’s main traditional instruments) that resonate with analog synthesizer glides and guitar riffs, pushing the boundaries and forming a distinct contemporary musical assortment.
The barrels that line the separated city of Nicosia across its buffer zone also appear in Kkisméttin. They have become musical instruments, providing the album’s rhythmic foundation, creating a rusty/grimy quality.
Kkisméttin was created during the unprecedented lockdown enforced in Cyprus as a measure against the spread of COVID-19. During the initial period of confinement that lasted two months, many people felt asphyxiated behind closed doors. For some, including Antoniou, the imposed confinement also served as a reminder of the limitations to their freedom of movement and to other fundamental freedoms that have long existed in their divided country.
In Nicosia, where Antoniou lives, streets have been forcibly cut into two by rows of concrete-filled barrels, placed there by the ghosts of the past. These barrels represent political agendas, but they also reflect the effects of nationalism, which does not allow Cypriots to enjoy the beauty of their island. Viewed on a more symbolic level, these rows of barrels could be seen as material expressions of alienation between people, chasms, and corruption in society.
Kkisméttin hit #1 at World Music Charts Europe in June and July 2021. It also charted at #1 at the Transglobal World Music Chart in July 2021.
Antonis Antoniou released his second album, Throisma, in September 2022. Throisma encompasses nine tracks that mix psychedelic and dub sounds with an intense Eastern Mediterranean fragrance, and enriched with heavily-filtered zuras (small bouzouki) melodies, fuzzy bass riffs, distorted analog synthesizer tones and spellbinding grooves.
Throisma translates as “rustling”. The lyrics performed in Antoniou’s native Cypriot Greek are characterized by a poetic reflection on existentialism, calling for a spiritual awakening, and a neglect towards the “skárta dóra” (useless gifts) imposed by capitalist constructions that aim to keep our souls in custody. He asks: “What are the things that keep our souls from rustling? Why do we continuously fall into the trap of shutting ourselves, depriving the breeze of love from reaching the depths of our psyche and vibrating its leaves? How deep have we buried our childhood joy, and what’s the price we need to pay in order to unbury it?”
Throisma topped the World Music Charts Europe in October 2022.
In May 2023, Antonis Antoniou released the EP “Throisma Remixed,” a reimagined musical painting featuring acclaimed remixers. The EP includes six tracks remixed by Brazilian producer Maga Bo; New York’s celebrated DJ/producer and label owner Nickodemus; Spanish co-founder of the band Ojos De Brujo DJ Panko; and the British/Mauritian multitalented brothers Reginald Omas Mamode IV and Mo Kolours. The sixth remix was made by Antoniou himself.
(Headline image: Antonis Antoniou – Photo by Sebastian Pena)
Discography:
Kkisméttin (Ajabu! Records, 2021)
Throisma (Ajabu! Records, 2022)
Throisma Remixed (Ajabu! Records, 2023)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
Updated discography