Lookingat the line-up of this band, one could not but expect an interesting result: JohnWEST (ex-ARTENSION, ex-ROYAL HUNT), Steve DIGIORGIO (ex-DEATH, ex-SADUS etc.),Charlie ZELENY (ex-BEHOLD...THE ARCTOPUS) – all combined under a Greek-namedtitle: MYTHODEA. How come? ChristosNIKOLAOU, the main man behind this project explains to ProgArchives and JustInCase Radio followers how myths become reality in a torrential manner…

 
 Hello Christos! Please briefly introduce whatMYTHODEA stands for to our readers:

Hi Thanasi! Mythodea isa symphonic progressive metal band, featuring John West on Vocals and thewriting of the lyrics, me on guitars-music composition, Steve DiGiorgio on Bassand Charlie Zeleny on Drums. We just made our appearance with our debut self-titledalbum Mythodea.

The name of the projectcame out as rather intriguing to me – how did you come up with the name?
I waslooking for a name that would combine music and story-telling. The wordMythodea is a made-up word by the Greek composer Vangelis, and it means song ofa myth. I found it very appropriate for my music, because a myth can be afictional or a real story... and this gives no limitations both musically andthematically. The way I compose music is like creating a soundtrack for amovie... so the less limitations that movie has thematically, the more space itgives me to express it musically.

Is MYTHODEA  a “Christos Nikolaou” project with sessionmusicians, a full-time band or something in between? – please enlighten us!

I would say that it is something in between. Itcould be a solo project with my name on it… but I don’t like solo projects. Itseems selfish and it discourages the members to participate into the music, andit makes them feel distant from it. I prefer a band with steady members. I feelthe combination is right between us… we worked very well together and we havethe same passion and madness for music.

Now a questionthat I guess you get from many: how did you manage to get all these big namesunder a single roof?? What was your selection process/aims and where thereother names on your list – why these specific musicians?

Well, I can say that I was lucky! It allstarted by aiming high and sending a demo song to John West. I was and I am afan of his magical voice for more than 10 years now, and working with him was adream come true. I asked him to record just one song (Ultimate Pain) just forme, because I composed that song imagining only John’s voice in it. I gotpositive answer, we both liked the result of the first song very much… and Iasked “shall we record more?” and he replied “as many as you like”. Neverthought of any more musicians participating because I had no budget for a wholealbum… but John suggested finding more musicians replacing drums and bass, andthanks to him I could now have the attention in order that I can be takenseriously and finally work with musicians I never thought it would be possibleto work with. At first I worked with Bobby Jarzombek, we recorded two songs butsadly he was too busy touring and we couldn’t go on. So I found an equallytalented drummer who has a great variety in all music styles, Charlie Zeleny.For bassist, John suggested Steve DiGiorgio and of course having this legendarybassist would be amazing. Steve liked my music a lot and he got on board. Iconsider them Mythodea band members and they feel the same.  I can’t describe how happy I am having suchtalented and great people in my project. The rest of musicians came alongwithin the years of self-producing slowly the album. It was a slow process butvery necessary… I learned so many things having all these guys as mentors andgradually improving myself both as musician and sound engineer.

I read that you write all the music for the project– how long did it take you to complete the music for the album? Will there bespace for other composers in the future for MYTHODEA?

Yes, I compose all themusic for Mythodea. Composition is something that I love and I’m trying toevolve in. Most of the music was already made, but in primate stages… theysounded demo, and 4-5 years ago didn’t have a good picture of my style. I wascomposing how I felt, and whenever I was inspired without forcing myself.Having no deadline for completing my album, was a good chance for improving thealready composed songs and create more, and at the same time improve myself assound engineer. You may have a good composition but the way you can orchestrateit and how you can present it takes the half of your effort. My style ismultilayered and everything is on the move... so, having so many instrumentsplaying all together is a very challenging task both as an arrangement and amix.
I haven’t worked together with another composer in the past. I wouldn’t mind,but I believe that the sound will be totally different. 

What is the lyrical story of the album? To meit sounded a kind of “Ode to the Greek Gods” (laughs) – is there a specificstory or concept behind it?

Haha, thank you verymuch! This is actually a very honoring title!
This album is not a concept though, but the themes are similar. They have to dowith the human nature itself. Everything that we experience in our lives, our feelings,disappointments and temptations. I have plans though, of making in the future aconcept album or a concept song. I think it is very appropriate for my style ofmusic.

How would you characterise the MYTHODEA sound? Wouldyou like to assign some tags for the benefit of our readers? Surely the term “progressive”is a valid one…
I’m not very fond oftagging, but of course they are useful for the listeners to get an idea of whatto expect to listen in a band. Mythodea is a symphonic progressive metal band,with all the creation effort being focused not to impress with technicalskills, but mostly it is focused on the music itself, in the description andpresentation of its lyrical theme.  Iwould characterize Mythodea as a heavily orchestrated melodic music, a balancedcombination of symphonic soundtrack music and power progressive metal band,which both depend on the other. Most bands compose the riffs and their musiccould stand easily with just only the main band playing, without the orchestra.My music would sound incomplete without the orchestra, it plays a great role tomy music.

I believe the termProgressive Rock is a tag describing originality, so I would say that it is thetag of no tag in music. Music has no limits, so personally when I compose I’mnot thinking that now I’m going to create a power song, or a technical hard-to-digestsong or anything like that. I have a theme in my mind, and depending on that, I’mtrying to express it as well as possible, and that only leads me to theappropriate music. I like the term progressive, because I aim for originalityand to evolve musically but always keeping in mind the beauty of music.Predictions about progressive rock… I’m very optimistic that listeners’ hungerfor a better, honest and more interesting music will make progressive genre tohave more and more fans. I’m hoping that metal in general will finally be moreappreciated. There are great minds and talents, and I hope they will see thelight of day and be recognized.

Buzz word:influences – what are your influences as a musician (e.g. other musicians,bands, styles) and which of these found their way through to your music?

Whatever I’m listening to and keeps meinterested in, I can say that it’s my influence.  The way that a composer orchestrates a fullorchestra, or a guitarist composes riffs, even experiences in my life, broadensup my ideas. My favourite bands are Symphony X, Adagio, Evergrey among fewothers, but my main influences are composers from baroque and classical eralike Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, and more recent composers from the movieindustry like John Williams, James Horner, Howard Shore, Danny Elfman etc.

I would say that my music is a mixture of allthis, All these composers and bands have helped me find my way and finallyshape my own sound.

What’s your personalphilosophy or/and mottos of your life?

I believe that the ability to think foryourself, being original as a person and having the wisdom to take selfless decisionsno matter the cost, is my main philosophy. Self-preservation and survival byhurting others are primitive instincts that only education and music can helpkeep away from and evolve as better people. I mentioned music also because asPlato said music indeed“gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, acharm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything.”

What would you advice someone who is currentlyaspiring to sink her/his band in the challenging world of progressive rock?

I’m quite new to this.I can’t tell that I have much of experience. The only thing I could advise frommy brief journey making this album and working together with such greatmusicians, is to take your time, be patient, don’t be very eager to releaseyour music to the world, unless you are very happy with it and you dideverything you could for it. Just be yourselves and enjoy the creation of yourmusic, and time will tell about the rest.

The album has been released onlydigitally – do you see this as a more direct way of promoting your music? Wasthere/is there any interest from record labels in releasing your material nowor in the future?

Producing an album is very costly. I self-producedit, and it took me four years to complete it. After mastering it, and feelingthat I had to move on, I thought that it was about time to release it. Surely,digital release is fast and easy way for the artist, but it’s not the best.Most listeners want to have the actual CD with the booklet, and artwork intheir hands. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bare further costs so I made only adigital release for the time being. Hopefully, a record label will help me soonwith the physical release. I’m expecting some answers from a few. Thanks to thecrises which has affected all of us, has affected also the labels. Booking acontract is not easy no matter how good or bad the music is. No matter if alabel helps me or not, I will make a physical release also in the near future.

I enjoyed the album quite a lot but I will tryto remain as unbiased as possible (laughs) – what has been the reaction to thealbum so far from the press and metal fans?

I’m very glad that youenjoyed the album! Receiving positive feedback it is the best reward for me.Thank you!

It’s two months afterthe release, the exposure process is kinda slow, but I’m very happy that thepeople who have commented in facebook, youtube and e-mails and from thereviews, were very kind and generous to my music. It is a nice feeling that mywork had only positive reaction (so far!). I hope more people will get to know Mythodea and then I will have abetter picture of how they think about it.

Do you (as Christos) have any sideprojects/musical collaborations beyond METHODEA? How do the members of the projectbalance their time between this and other projects?

Mythodea is the onlyproject I work on. I just want to make as many albums as possible! The othermembers of course they are super busy with many projects at the same time. Thefact that I only compose the music and there is no deadline makes it quiteeasy. They don’t have for now to balance their time with me and the otherprojects. When I will be ready I will notify all the rest members and we willthen work all together. For now we just keep in touch as friends, and exchangeideas for the future.

Are there plans to see MYTHODEA live in Greeceor elsewhere? I can imagine that it would be a challenging task to get allmembers together and reproduce the album in a live set?

Yea, it’s a bitdifficult for something like that to happen. Maybe it would be easier for me togo to USA instead of them to come all over to Greece.  My maininterest for now is to make more studio works… and if there will be the rightresponse it would be great to play some Mythodea music to the fans. The idealfor me, live or studio work, would be to play together with live full orchestra .

What does the future hold for MYTHODEA? Anyfurther surprises?

Well, yes… I’m workingon it!  I’m hoping that you will enjoy the second album evenmore when of course I release it. It’s very soon to tell, but the four songs Ihave composed already sound different and promising. It’s still the Mythodeayou have heard already, but more evolved. Depending on finance of course Iwould be happy to work with additional talented musicians or even with a liveorchestra… all depends on what future holds.

A message from your part for the collaboratorsand members of ProgArchives is…

Happy and prosperous2013, and I would like to thank the collaborators and members of ProgArchives forwelcoming me to their musical family. I really appreciate it and I’m honored!

Any final words?

Just a big thanks toyou Thanasis for this interview and your interest in Mythodea.
I would like to invite everyone to feel free to join to Mythodea facebook pageso you get all the updates and have a talk about the band or music in general.
All the best!

MYTHODEA’s profile onPA: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7737

MYTHODEA officialwebpage: http://www.mythodeaband.com/home.cfm

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MythodeaBand

Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/MythodC