From maddie@getinpr.com
A rare feat for a well-versed hand that has helped shape an island’s electronic music scene and now DJs from a pedestal, Valeron’s brand new 2022 album Aroma frames Greece’s diverse musical history through a contemporary lens and acts as a testament to the current collaborative milieu of the island — a dance between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern instruments, all acoustic and recorded live, with the Mykonos native‘s hovering hand on mixers and synths.
The album is a passionate ode to the musical heritage of the Cyclades from a personal perspective, which comes as no surprise to Valeron’s admirers. Following the release of the album recently, we had the chance to catch up with the man himself, Valeron, to find out more.
Connect with Valeron on Instagram
Hello Ilias! For some of our audience that may not know you, please tell us a bit about yourself, your musical background, and your Valeron project.
Hi there, and thank you very much for having me. I am a Greek artist called Valeron. I’ve been performing music for the past 25 years, and I’ve already produced over 300 songs and created 4 personal albums. At the age of 16 however, I thought my life would turn out very differently. I was a professional tennis player then. Inevitably, music transformed my whole life and of course all of my plans.
You recently released your latest single “Fragile”. Can you tell us about that?
So one of my favourite ever Sting songs is called “Fragile”. Since last summer, this song—which we first performed live—has evolved into the band’s epilogue at every show. I made the decision to rework it, record Gabriel’s voice and release it as an official single. I used the guitar as the key instrument and enriched the original melodic theme, by adjusting the synthesisers and vocal phrases.
This is the lead single from your new album ‘Aroma’. Can you give us any insight into the album project?
Yes of course. Aroma is my fourth personal studio album. The majority of the melodies were composed while we were performing live, and others were produced in the studio. The album’s concept/philosophy is largely the same as that of the previous albums — we blend electronic music with traditional instruments, ranging from downtempo to deep house. In addition to Greek melodies and songs, we also perform music from the Middle East, the Balkans, Latin America etc.
Has this LP been in the works for a long time? And was there anything that influenced/inspired its creation?
The vast majority of the album was written during the lockdown, which was a very hard period for me and everybody else in the music industry. At first, I felt it was difficult for me to feel creative, but along the way, I took advantage of the time I was locked up at home to create music with my band. So, this album was mainly created during the isolation period of the pandemic.
How was the album created and what does your current studio set up look like?
I continually learn from every recording and production to attempt new things, to integrate new instruments and styles of music on each track.
The same lesson that “aroma” and every album I’ve created up to this point has taught me is that the only way to succeed is through the power of teamwork and the inspiration that comes from what the heart feels magic.
How much involvement did your band have in the making of the album?
The band was heavily involved in the whole album. The majority of the melodies were composed while we were performing live, and others were produced together in the studio.
You have a very successful career to date. What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Follow your heart, and never give up.
What do you like to do when you’re not making music and traveling the world?
I love playing tennis, watching movies based on true stories, kitesurfing, traveling, seeing the sunset and of course, spending quality time with the people close to me.
Lastly, what does the rest of 2022 look like for you?
Lots of touring, and of course the release of the album. I hope you all enjoy it and I hope to see you on a dance floor very soon 🙂
Thank you so much and best of luck with the album release!
Thank you so much!