Page 40 - ANDRONIS MAGAZINE 2023

focus
Hailing from both Greece and Sudan, Marina Satti’s sheer talent is
T H AN A S S I S VA S S I L O P OU L OS undeniable whether she’s traveling around the world performing or
recording and producing in a sound studio closer to home.
Thanassis Vassilopoulos, the Greek musical instruments while I was growing up. and respect in each and every appearance. S U N S E T AT
woodwind virtuoso (and one of the foremost Ethnic music has the ability to make I find that the audience also has the same
clarinet players in the Balkans) will be making our minds travel to a world with its own passion regardless of whether the event P A C MAN
an atmospheric sunset live appearance this notes and experiences. How would you is Montreux or simply a traditional Greek – A T R U LY
year at Pacman Sunset Restaurant & Bar. describe ethnic music? festival.
Ahead of his appearance, we caught up with I believe that all types of music have the Do you follow a ritual before you start G L O RIO U S
him recently to talk exclusively about what ability to make your mind wander and playing?
has inspired him on his world travels. travel, music can calm you, make you I try to if I have the time but I don’t always V E N U E
You have been producing music as far dream, have fun, love! Ethnic music, for have the “luxury” of being able to focus on H IG H L IG H TI N G
back as 1987, either through composing me, is a continuation of the traditional what I have been called upon to do, namely,
songs or collaborating with both Greek music I started playing as a child which I make the minds of those who have come T H E E N E R GY
and international musicians. How would now combine with contemporary, electronic to see us travel far and away. O F T H E S E A ,
you describe your relationship with the music. Does your clarinet have its own story
clarinet? Did you grow up in a musical Is there a difference in the way you to tell? T H E S U N A N D
family or were you influenced by an played, let’s say at a younger age, in front Definitely! After all, it is over 130 years TH E B E A UT Y
outside source? of an audience at a traditional Greek old! It has given me far more than I could
My relationship with the clarinet started festival with that of a concert, such as at have ever imagined… which is why I always O F G R E EC E .
at the tender age of four. I was blessed to Montreux, Switzerland, at the historic try to remind myself how truly unique an
be born into a musical family; as everyone Miles Davis Hall, where you appeared instrument it is! After everything it has
in my family was and continues to be a as Joe Bonamassa’s guest? given me, it will have to retire at some point,
musician, there was an “abundance” of I play with the same level of love, passion it has definitely deserved it!
40 • ANDRONIS • Magazine
M A R I N A S AT TI
The Greek singer, composer, music producer
and actress from Crete and Sudan will be
performing at the Andronis Group as a
special guest artist alongside Thanassis
Vassilopoulos on July 22 and August
12th 2023. Having won a scholarship to
the Berkeley School of Music to study
orchestration and production in 2007,
her music is now characterized by the
combination of traditional sounds with
urban elements, rhythms and studio music
production. In 2017, her song “Madissa”,
inspired by the roads of Epirus, went viral
with 45 million views on YouTube.
You’re originally from Sudan and Greece.
You studied at the Berkeley School of
Music, collaborate with major artists in
Greece and overseas, you run two choirs:
Fonés and the Chóres Women’s Choir. Do
you feel stronger as a woman in music?
Music was and is my greatest love - my
hobby, and now it seems to be my “job”.
With that being said, music isn’t a “job”. I am
living the dream, a dream that I know won’t
last forever. And I’m ok with that.
What do you most want to be doing at
this time in your life? To be traveling and
performing or be in the recording studio?
Right now I have all these wonderful people
around me, I have my songs that people are
listening to, I travel with my band in Greece
and around the world - we hang out, we
play music, we see something new every
week when we’re on the road, we meet new
people, learn new things.
You have traveled all over the world - from
Greece, Sudan and the U.S. ... How have
your travels inspired your music?
The music that I produce has definitely
evolved through travel. I have learned to
deal with the difficulties simply as the “steps”
that need to be taken on the journey. All I
want is to be healthy so that I can continue
to do what I do. I think everything else that
is important will come on its own in due
course.
Have you visited the island of Santorini
before? Does the particular setting of
this island inspire you?
A lot. I have visited Santorini before and
I’m grateful every time for every moment
that I am able to spend here … •
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