John Kampouropoulos is one artist you really should get to know. He’s a Greek artist with a propensity for storytelling, creating gorgeous soft rock songs like his latest release, Silence. If you missed Silence when we initially reviewed it, a full stream can also be found at the end of this interview.
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new track called Silence. What can you tell us about the song?
Silence was written right after I was released from the hospital, where I was admitted due to a sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Since then, my left ear is no longer functional. I’m deaf by 50%, with only my right ear working properly. What inspired me to write the song was the actual first hours after the incident; I was surrounded by a dreadful silence, as my brain had been trying to compensate the loss, and fight the shock I was feeling. It was as if everything went to mute mode. When I returned home after a week-long treatment, I just had to sit down and depict my ordeal. It’s because of that loss, I now strongly feel and sympathise even more for people with 50% lost eyesight, or 50% lost hearing and so on. It’s a really difficult situation, but I gotta live with it. And learn from it.
How has the reception to the track been so far, and where can it be purchased?
People were initially shocked by the story behind the song; and twice as much, as they delved into the details of my ordeal and the emotional impact through the song. So, in a way, I guess the song was quite popular just by its topic, followed by a cover much relevant. Silence can be purchased as a wav file, an mp3 or on similar formats. There is no hard copy at the moment. And of course, it can be added to playlists, when using Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, etc.
Do you have any more singles planned for the near future?
Of course I do. There will be 2 more singles coming up for a release. But this might change, as I like to write songs that somehow bind to each other. Like a concept record.
Are there any plans to release a new album or EP anytime soon?
An EP mostly.
You’ve been part of the music industry for several decades now. What is the secret to your longevity?
Being foolish enough and romantic enough, to say the least! Just like some other specific activities in real life, being an artist and creator isn’t just ‘a decision’. It’s what defines us, it’s who we are, it’s who we’ve ever been since the beginning. I’ve been in several, non-music related jobs in my life so far. Now I’m nearly 50 years old and I know I’ll never fit in the way I do in music.
Silence is a soft rock song. What/who are you most influenced by when making this song? What have you been listening to recently?
First of all, I didn’t know it was a soft rock song! But if you say so, I’ll try to be more specific. There are lots of influences- even classical music. For this song specifically, I am not sure – and that’s totally honest! It’s a mix of 70’s ballads with elements of some possible 80’s indie touches. I really don’t know. Maybe hypnotherapy could reveal much more! Recently, I’ve been listening to mostly complete underground music; songs written by songwriters I met during the pandemic, through social media. What saddens me though, is that there is good music out there; all we have to do is spend a little more time searching, rather than scrolling.
You’re from Athens. What is the local music scene like?
The Greek music scene in general is a very small, in comparison, but it’s also a very self sufficient industry, tethering to indie and mainstream in an all-Greek way. Like in many places of the world, creativity has been relocated to short videos, or short clips for fun, while music has been altered to fit into a very short frame of spare time to absorb and relate. We do have lots of bands, but with medium impact, mainly locally. Those who can afford -and they are not so many- book gigs abroad.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?
I like surprises. I even surprise myself sometimes. For the moment, I can only lay back, lay down and take some time off from a pile of things that stressed me and made me push myself to the limits – hence the SSHL. An EP, a single or an album- these are all in for the future, yet I’m not in a hurry.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Unfortunately I had to cancel everything. Some contacts about gigging in Scotland had to be postponed, because of my SSHL incident and its aftershock. I will re-evaluate by spring this year, and I probably will resume booking in the UK.
Any last words for the fans?
Despite the incident, I am still around. Tune in for some more exciting stuff.