Σtella

Hello! It's wonderful to talk with you as well!

I think my earliest memory is listening to Nikos Gounaris’ song Sousourada on my grandfather’s vintage phonograph. While I can’t say for certain that I fell in love with music at that moment, it was certainly a charming start. Another vivid memory is watching Superman III, featuring Christopher Reeve, where Clark Kent dances with Lana Lang to Earth Angel by The Penguins. I was quite young, but I distinctly remember rewinding the film repeatedly just to hear that song again. Perhaps that was when I realised this was the path I wanted to pursue. I instantly fell in love with that song.

I believe that we often derive greater enjoyment from experiences when we take our time with them. In today’s fast-paced world, I felt the need to slow down and draw inspiration from artists like The Penguins, Litsa Sakellariou, Jenny Vanou, and a touch of Sade to see what would emerge. I truly enjoyed the process of creating this album; it felt like a unique space was formed.

That moment marked a small sense of liberation within me. I was facing a challenging year, grappling with personal issues, and when I embarked on that long boat ride to Anafi – an eleven-hour journey – I felt a renewed sense of freedom from everything and everyone. It was as if I was beginning anew.

I believe it all began when I composed the instrumental for Omorfo Mou. As I contemplated the lyrics later on, I felt a strong urge to write them in Greek for some reason — perhaps the music and the song’s vibe took me there. I then thought about  doing a cover of Ta Vimata by Litsa Sakellariou, which has always been one of my favourite Greek songs. I’m thrilled to have sung both of these songs in Greek for this album — it felt truly amazing!

Ta Vimata has been one of my favourite Greek songs for quite some time. I’ve been listening to it repeatedly, and I absolutely adore it. After recording Omorfo Mou, I felt that the album needed one more song performed in Greek.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have collaborated with Rafael and Gabriel on this album. They are both exceptional musicians and guitarists, and their contributions provided the warmth I was seeking.

That's right! To be honest, we still haven’t met in person! I think it turned out well for us. Most of our collaboration happened during Covid, which gave us ample time to exchange files, reflect on ideas, and come back with suggestions. I would share music I was listening to with Rafael, and we’d draw inspiration from those tracks. Once the songwriting process was finished, I would begin considering the production, often incorporating some of the initial audio Rafael sent me if I felt it suited the track.

The song Adagio draws inspiration from Jenny Vanou’s Je T'attends. This song is a true gem, and it greatly influenced me. For me, it serves as both the starting point and the guiding compass for the album’s overall sound.

It’s is a song that’s inspired by Sade. When Rafael first sent me the instrumental parts, I was captivated by the guitar's melody, but I found the drums to be more aggressive than I wanted. I was aiming for a softer, more intimate sound. It took some time for the song to evolve into its current form, but I believe the journey was worthwhile.
Also, around that time I was into Pose, a television series about New York City’s ball culture, an LGBTQ+ subculture in the African American and Latino communities throughout the 1980s and 1990s, so some of the lyrics were inspired from that show and the stories behind it.

Travel. I spent a lot of time contemplating the idea of travel and its impact on people. Some people never remain in one place for more than two or three months; they are always on the go. This made me reflect on how such a lifestyle affects a person and how it can make it difficult to truly commit to anything or anyone.

I would describe it as a personal reflection that I hope will evolve into a universal meditation.

I almost always include an instrumental in my albums. I feel it gives the record space and time to breathe.

It was Christmas 2021 when my bike was stolen, and I felt pretty devastated by the whole situation. I was upset, so I began playing a melody on a small synth I have at home, and that’s how the song came to life. I really missed my bike, but it almost transformed into a love song.

I believe that over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly interested in exploring a more organic sound, especially when paired with some analogue elements. Although I am never sure when it comes to new music, sometimes what’s created can also be a surprise for me as well. I like the notion of serendipity in music.

I’ll be performing tracks from my new album, Adagio, as well as songs from my previous album, Up and Away!

Love.