If you like your blues music soaked in emotion, then Dimitris Loizos is your man! The singer-songwriter has a real knack for music, as displayed in his new release, Make Up Your Mind. It’s a banging tune and one that I just can’t stop listening to – check out the track at the end of this interview!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new track called Make Up Your Mind. What can you tell us about the song?
Make Up Your Mind is a song I really wanted to write. It’s a classic 12-bar slow blues song and it’s all about me journalling and sharing some of my truth. But the goal of the song is for the listener to interpret the music and connect it to their own experiences, feelings, and emotions. For a long time, I wanted to create a blues album, and this song is the beginning.
How has the reception to Make Up Your Mind been so far, and where can it be purchased?
The reception of the single has been amazing! I’m blessed to have an audience online and the song has already been played in all of the corners of the globe. From Australia to India, to Iran and the US and UK. I’ve received a ton of messages and emails about it and I’m so pleased that my hard work has paid off and people enjoy this song. It can be streamed on all streaming platforms and it can be purchased on my Bandcamp.
Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?
Yes! The next release is called I Know I’m in Trouble and it’s going to be released on the 24th of May! I’m so excited for this one.
Are there any plans to release an album or EP in the near future?
Yes, both singles are a part of my upcoming EP named Back to the Blues. This EP is my first ever blues album and I’m really excited to share it with everyone.
Your music has a bluesy sound. What/who are you most influenced by? What have you been listening to recently?
This is a great question and I can talk for hours about this, but I’m going to mention only a few of my favorite artists! Some of my biggest influences are David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, BB King, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Mark Knopfler. Recently I’ve been listening to artists like RY-X, Olafur Arnalds, Hania Rani, Ibrahim Maalouf and more meditative music. I’m working on a few different album concepts for 2025 that will have a combination of the blues and the more atmospheric styles I’ve been enjoying recently.
What is the writing and recording process like for you?
Writing is an interesting process as for each song, it might be a bit different. I usually start with a guitar part and everything stems from there. I usually rely on my intuition and my instinct instead of scales or music theory. It’s all about the message underneath and the emotions that you capture. And this is where the recording comes into place. I’m really picky with my recordings as I want each element to be recorded well and to have a sense of what we’re trying to achieve with each song if that makes sense.
The recordings for this single and upcoming EP have been an interesting journey as I’ve been utilizing the power of the internet. The drums were recorded in Italy, the bass and keys have been recorded in Greece and everything else I’ve recorded in my home studio. I love that nowadays you don’t really need to hire a very expensive studio to make music, I can make and produce my music from my bedroom with just a laptop.
Where are you based? What is the local music scene like in your area at the moment?
I’m based in London but I’m originally from Athens, Greece. The local music scene in London is wild in a good way. You can find amazing talent playing for pubs or open mics on a Monday afternoon. I love London for this as it never stops to amaze me with how good the quality of music is here.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?
Apart from the upcoming EP, I will be releasing a few singles in September/October. I’ve recorded a cover of Maggot Brain and I’m really excited to share with everyone.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
No plans for a tour at the moment, but I’m hoping for a tour in the UK & Europe in the fall of 2024 or early 2025.
Any last words for the fans?
I just want to say thank you for having me and thank you to everyone who has streamed my music! In the day and age we live in, supporting small artists means so much more than we might think. 1000 listeners can make or break someone’s career and I’m so grateful to have had people streaming my music. Also, if you want to reach out to me for anything, my inbox is always open. I try to reply to all of my DMs and comments! Thank you.