| Andreas Akratos |
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"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice".. This kind of "cheesy" motto of an early 90's hardcore group (and nowadays famous pioneer "Scooter") is enough to describe what music could have been for a 15-year boy in Athens in mid 90s. Been raised in a multi-faceted musical world (early piano classes, vinyl pieces from classical music to Deep Purple, full-throttle 80s radio influences from an "24/7 on" radio tuner), this boy was quick to delve into what was to be felt in Greece as "our acid house era". Hundreds of listening hours of pirate radio stations, tapes of unknown origin with recorded underground sets and an unrestrained imagination for a world to be discovered were enough to introduce A.A. to music. Radio producing became the objective and the means at the same time, music was the driving force. The mid 90s find young school actor A.A. producing for Piraeus municipality's Channel 1 for a culture-oriented Saturday morning show, piling up vinyl from wherever possible, making "juvenilia" mixed tapes and hanging out sometimes at various clubs.. Moving to Corfu in 1996 meant the introduction to a transition period of one-off parties, the much reputed "Music Is..." Saturday night show on Star Fm 88,8 , monthly residencies with Greek and foreign guests in local major clubs (Coca Club, SAX, Hippodrome, Loft). A unique "party" feeling stemming out of every set under his "Quintessential" moniker (together with his other half... in music and partner in crime, Nikos Koskinas) and others, a continuously updated music library and an energetic and fruitful promotional activity were more than enough to gain a secure place for A.A. in the local dance scene. 2002 turns out to be the landmark in A.A. course., since he joins Greek pioneer and top artist Petros” Floorfiller” Kozakos in his highly acclaimed and respected Agency Floorfiller Bookings & Promotions. Engaged in the management and production sector, A.A gets into the world of international artists and top Djs, while at the same time finds his place on the decks together with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Deep Dish, Seb Fontaine, Anthony Pappa, Quivver, Chris Liebing, Michel de Hey, Leeroy Thornhill etc and top Greek artists, be it in One-off events mainly, but also at festivals (ENERGY Dance Festival - Greece, INFINITY - Netherlands). Currently, you may catch up Α.Α. on his "Loving Vibes" on LIFE 892 (www.life892.com) every Wednesday midnight (local time), for a more afterhours and downtempo aspect of electronic dance music. He also hosts or appears in various gigs/events, setting a meeting point for "Friends & Lovers" of today's underground dance music! |
