Giannis Margaris gave a revealing interview on the website hit-channel.com and Iro Tzimika. The winner of The Voice 2017 is introduced again because he has a lot to show. Not only as a singer, but also as a person. Special in music, but with a nice thought in his life.
Read the interview:
John! We studied it a lot, we finally found ourselves in Panormou!
Hero, hello! And he says this was the interview, I'm leaving! (laughs) Yes, well, we met and I am quite happy, because we also met in the area where I live which is very beautiful.
How much do you like it here? Why did you choose it?
I like it a lot, but I chose it completely by accident. When I decided to come and stay permanently in Athens, I was looking for houses and the first thing I found was what I live in now. I liked it, it was economical, nice… And the park next door is called "Sofia Vembo", so I was excited about it too! (laughs)
You are having a good time from what I see though. Have you found yourself? Did you settle down?
Calm down I can not tell you that I am. To some extent, yes. I'm trying to find a way to walk in life. After the game I got a lot of information and I did not know how to deal with it. After about a year, I did it! (laughs) So I would say it is also a transitional period. Think I was quite sad in the past. But now, I'm fine!
That is, now you realize what had happened…
Exactly. Now I understand that I am the winner of "The Voice", because I had taken all this very "seriously". Now I understand that people support me, love me and of course there are those who judge either badly or beautifully. But I'm in the creative phase, I write a lot and I try to find my genre in music, which is important to me.
What influences you the most in life? I ask this, because you told me that you were also quite sad…
I was very affected by the negative comments. Not in terms of my voice and songs, but in terms of my face. I do not mind being called speechless or irrelevant. I'm bothered to be called bad, arrogant and of course unknowingly… I generally correct myself when I see something I do wrong and I have done it several times. But yes, these comments bother me a lot. And especially in the game. Because I was very low key. For example, I would say "thank you" and leave! (laughs) It bothers me when they talk about the "man" John and they actually touch on what I have worked on a lot! But all is well now!
Why do you think people judge so much and to a bad degree?
People will always judge someone who is exposed to something. I had to know this before I went into the game and into any game. That people will see me, some will love me, some will not and he goes on to say… But what I told you before came to me, a little heavy! (laughs) But it is part of the job, that you will be judged for everything and you learn every day and even more.
But let us leave these and I want to go to your beginning and Cyprus. You have 4 other brothers. How do you see the capital, from where you lived in such a small village?
We are exactly 5 brothers. As for Athens, the first word that comes to mind is chaos! (laughs) It's very crowded, a lot of buildings, a lot of cafes, gray weather… Lots, lots, lots! But my life was very heavy with the homeless and how many there are and it is an issue that I help as much as I can. The economy may have been going a bit in Cyprus a few years ago, but as soon as I came here, I said "it is not possible for so many things to happen, it does not apply". It's just that everything is bigger than what I lived in Cyprus.
What does Cyprus have that Greece does not have, or specifically Athens?
I think in Cyprus or where I lived and went out more, in the bigger cities like Larnaca and Paphos, what is missing in Athens is calm. Go somewhere alone. In Athens he wants you to take the car and drive long enough to see the green and be completely alone! (laughs) I really miss the green from Cyprus, without having buildings around. The energy of Athens is a bit strange. But it excites me and spoils me at the same time! (laughs)
What do you remember most from your childhood?
I think nothing! (laughs) I do not have many memories, the truth is, they have been deleted. (laughs) I will not be the classic kid who will tell you, I recall playing in the yard, because I did not play in the yard! (laughs) I was a little apathetic. I had friends, but my good friends became in high school, before that it was all occasional. I think up to high school I was the same person. Specific interests. But with the advent of music in my life, at 17, everything changed and from there I think, a new life began for me! Almost everything has changed. I calmed down and wanted to speak through my music alone. The reason I changed completely was the music.
Until you joined The Voice, what did you do in Cyprus?
After school I went to the army, where there was the first shock with my hair, where I cut it! (laughs) My hair was much longer than you knew me. I had a lot of wool! (laughs) Then I worked on a grill and made the grill! I baked everything. From swordfish, to lasagna and piglet. (laughs) I had to work to make money. At the same time I took classes and got a degree in vocals with honors! And in the summer before The Voice, I also sold T-shirts that said "Ayia Napa"! (laughs) But think that in this job, I saw the announcement that the game is coming out on TV again! It came to me on facebook! (laughs) And from there it all started, because I made the application and they called me after two hours…
You also said that you had gone to the older one and did not even pass to the first phase…
Yes, I did not pass. I was not ready at all.
Do you believe in timing?
I believe very much and I think it was the right time to show what I really am. It is not just a matter of vocals. I was a very different person. What we said before, that I saw everything very differently in life. So when I changed my attitude, my life changed too. The first time I went with strange feelings the second time I was quite relaxed, I wanted to go and get far, but I had already said "Whatever is to be done, let it be done"…
So came your big win and you are now the winner of The Voice, Giannis. But I do not want to over-analyze it, I just want to ask if the next months that came, were exactly as you expected them? That is, after your victory…
Yes, I thought so. I am somewhat alternative for the Greek data, but I will tell you the truth, that I came out, I did not come out a winner, what I do now, I would do even if I came out second or third. I do not think I have been given tremendous opportunities in life, because I am the winner of The Voice, but because I am John. I am who I am and I would do the things I want.
A "special" artist wins The Voice. So you are not someone who sings folk…
I can tell you it excites me, but it also makes me sad, because I told you that I do not like to be judged negatively for this reason. That I do something different. I would like to be loved for what I do. But it excites me and I like being considered an alternative. Either from my thought, or from my mind, or from my soul, or from my music.
Did the game change you?
It made me stronger. I had to change and see all parts of the world. Victory only helps people to know you. Then it is clean in your hand and how long you can endure.
What do you think makes you special?
This is very general. But perhaps one of my "peculiarities" is that I really tell you, I can not hold a grudge against anyone. But to anyone and I will give you a shocking example. There was a kid who insulted me a lot on youtube and in the comments below my songs. At a point where he wished I was dead… I was very upset and I really cried from his words at some point. He did not know me, I did not know him and I was thinking, why should he say such things. So, I send him a message! He was the only one I sat down to answer something so hard. I sent him and asked him why he curses someone who may be his age, who starts something on what he loves etc… And then we sat down and talked, he said sorry and since then we talk. I can not hold a grudge against anyone really…
Do you think there are bad people?
Do not believe! I think everyone is good. There is just the moment of error. And for everything there is the right moment to understand them. Hence what we say that we regret something we did at the time. It happens that we go out of ourselves and evil comes out…
Let's go to your song entitled "And from below paradise" ες Tell me everything about it!
By the time "and below paradise" was found (laughs) I had listened to several songs to conclude. In general, we looked for it a lot with my company, Minos, but also with Kostis Maravegias. I also wrote, Kostis also wrote, others wrote about me, that made me so happy, that someone wrote about me and my voice. Anyway, with the many and the few, the lyrics were found by Thanos Papanikolaou and the music was by Kostis Maravegias. Special music, I also liked the lyrics a lot and it came out! I love it and I hope people loved it too…
The verse says "everyone around me lives something big" τι What phase are you in?
(laughs) I definitely do not live something big! (laughs) This song is really my whole life. I always live love alone! I have said this again, of course, but I really live it alone! (laughs) I have not experienced love equally. He is always one-sided (laughs)
(laughs) So since the last time you said that, nothing has been found, do you want to tell me equal?
No! (laughs) maybe it's that I haven't found myself in this area yet. It is not just the right person to come. You must first fill in your own gaps and love yourself first, for who you are, for someone else to love you. I want to find a man who will look me in the eye, more than I look at him. It's a great conversation, but it's it! I have a mania to tell you with my eyes, so… (laughs)
We talk, we both have a great conversation, not jokes… (laughs)
Chat, really. So, if this person is found and comes into my life, either now, tomorrow or in five years, I can really give it all up, because for me love is the last thing you will do in this life! Love just ends your life… (laughs) It's what we say clearly that love is the end…
You are very romantic though…
I'm yes. Maybe I would say imaginative. Which I can tell you helps me a lot! (laughs)
Love is to imagine and great inspiration for your songs?
It's obvious and what I can tell you, is that the next song that I have discussed with the company and it is being processed, talks about a love that did not exist. In the end he says that this never happened! I have put emotion and soul. I am so in love that I live love alone! (laughs) I have written forty pieces, for example, but I do not live it, it is not entirely my experience… It is imagination and experiences from friends! I live them in my imagination, finally! (laughs)
What do you want to do with music?
I want to find the ultimate way of expression through my music. I express myself to some extent, but I am not 100% happy. But I believe this will come with the experiences and the experience that I will gain. And I want to make a lot of my own pieces. I want to be in a studio and melt day and night.
Did you have a tendency to run away after the game?
(laughs) and if I wanted to I could not disappear, because it becomes very promo, many interviews etc. But I had time to see my own people and I was a black mess we say. I cried a lot όμως But now that I think about it, I really needed a few days alone in the village, to lock myself in my room and realize what happened. It took me 6 months to figure out what happened. It was very intense and I did not expect it to end that way.
Young artists everywhere. What do you think is what one should have in order to do things in the field of music in Greece?
It must be true and it must be itself.
Do you have friends new singers?
I have several friends and I have kept several contacts from the game. It is enough to match the other and have chemistry. It's not just your genre, because many artists only hang out with artists from the same genre of music. At the moment I have not had the chance to make "big" friendships.
Now let's go to the big change of your appearance, which was obviously the hair! You cut it all and took it out live on facebook!
At first it bothered me that it was the "trademark" as some people said and that was what added a "peculiarity" to me. It was very intense, because I was walking down the street and it was the wool that stole the show. She was a personality in her own right. It was me and the wool. End. (laughs) It was really funny. But there was no preparation to cut it, it was just a time when I had not felt enough adrenaline inside me and I go to my hairdresser and as I stood, I tell him you shave it all over and we upload a video. And so it happened without a second thought…
Comments from acquaintances and friends who knew "wool"? (laughs)
My mother had told me she was going to commit suicide! (laughs) and my sister did not talk to me for some hours. (laughs) They really took it to heart! But generally after that I will not grow them again… I do not think I want!
What fills you in Athens? Let's move on to the relaxed part of our conversation…
I really like the walk. Either with friends or alone. I do not like to sit in cafes and drink coffee for hours at all. I do it a few times. I like talking to people, going out at night somewhere relaxed to drink a beer. But in general I like the house very much. I'm a full house cat! Also let me tell you that I hate movies. (laughs) I do not see!
(laughs) Why? So you do not have a favorite movie?
I am bored! I have tried to see many times… I just can not! But as for the favorite movie, I have and it is "Strella". This movie touches on terrible topics and above all is love. The pure love that can simply puree your brain! To just love something that just moves…
I see you also have a tattoo that is a body on a human brain…
So, yes! What we call mindfuck! (laughs) And generally I only have women on my tattoos. I love women and because I grew up with women, with my mom and my sisters more, because my brothers were older and more independent, it made me "fall in love" with the female figure! And from artists I like more women. It is like doing the most beautiful creatures!
If you could tell me an incident that you lived and that you remember now lately and why you have left…
We were one day with a friend of mine on the subway. At that moment, I was very happy and I was shouting as we talked and laughed. And my friend comes back and says to me "Wow, calm down" and a gentleman answers her "Let the child cry and laugh, he gives us joy in the morning and he is the only one to have a good day". You do not know how beautiful I felt. I was thinking about it all day and I thought that this is also a purpose in my life. To make people feel good in any way.
Favorite areas in Athens?
I like Metaxourgio, Gazi, Kerameikos, Exarchia. Although the first area has a bit of a "bad" name, which from what I understand has come out in recent years, it has incredibly hidden shops that you can discover.
To close and nice I would like you to tell me a madness that you have done with friends and you laughed a lot.
Madness, eh? One thing I remember is that we walked down the street and played normally in a play, but in a phase where in the play one is pressed by a car and we all have to scream together. That is, he goes to cross the road and we are all "No, stand almonds" (laughs) Imagine that everyone was looking at us, we became resilient, because we did it 2-3 times along the way!
Your next plans?
Definitely a new song will come soon as I told you and from appearances I have various projects in my mind, as well as one that will be called "Spring Smell" and will be done when I go to Cyprus from next month.
Give me a wish for the end…
All I can say is that we have a passion for what we do. And this wish was given to me by a grandmother, on a mountain in Cyprus when I went on a trip. And when she told me, to have only passion in my life, I looked into her eyes and that is exactly what they had at that moment. So I say this and I will say it, because he has died and because he has certainly told others this and it changed their lives, as it changed mine, I feel that I want to continue what he did. And I say children again, only passion!
Source: hit-channel.com