Spiros Soukis

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About Me

~SPIROS SOUKIS~

ROCKIN’ BLUES WITH GREEK SOUL

"Soukis's high energy and versatility with the strings makes him a dangerous man."

                                                                                                                -- Blues Revue

Spiros Soukis, guitarist/singer/songwriter, creates tunes that are spiced with funky grooves, shuffle beats and rock elements enlivened with European style and the freshness of Mediterranean breezes.

With his recent release, Sweet Thing (So Well Music), Soukis once again takes the listener on a musical adventure with his signature sound and versatile strings. Six songs cover a lush range of styles and moods - the exuberant title tune, Sweet Thing; country-rock ballad, Kathleen’s Song; straight-up rocker, Fool for Love; soulful-funk instrumental, Summer Breeze; funky blues rocker, Together We Will Grow; and You Don’t Really Love Me, a blues-rock classic in the making.

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Native of Athens, Greece, Soukis began his love affair with the blues filtered through the British Invasion and guitar masters Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Robin Trower and Jeff Beck. In time he learned about American slingers like Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Duane Allman and Roy Buchanan. Reading liner notes and scrutinizing recording credits led him to discover the original men behind the music like B.B. King, Freddie King, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. His studies in guitar and piano earned him a Music Theory degree from the Athens Conservatory. He performed and toured with Greek rock legend, Pavlos Sidiropoulos, then moved to Stockholm, in the mid ’80s, where he continued performing live while teaching music and earning another degree, in Musicology, from Stockholm University. Returning to Athens in the early ’90s, Soukis formed the band, That’s Why, performed widely, recorded regularly and toured extensively. That’s Why opened for a diverse group of musicians ranging from The Pixies to Peter Green - one of his earliest influences.

Fota Tou Iliggou (Lights of Vertigo), his first solo album, was released in Europe to overwhelmingly positive reviews and voted ‘CD of the Month.’ Reissued September 2000, its songs have been included in numerous compilations. Soukis moved to New York City, just when the U.S. Congress auspiciously declared 2003, “Year of the Blues.” A year later he released Transblues the first of his English-language CDs. Recorded in both Athens and his newly adopted hometown, the record consists of eight of his own songs on which he sings and plays guitar. Two smokin’ blues covers, captured live in the heart of Manhattan, round out this dazzling American debut. Loveborne Blues highlights the incomparable Soukis style that takes the listener on an aural journey through six shades of blue.

A consummate performer, Soukis regularly played at the late, great B.B. King Blues Club, the place for live blues in Manhattan. With his eponymous power trio, Soukis, or as a solo opener for many other artists, including Robert Randolph and Popa Chubby, he played right to the end, performing at the iconic club’s closing night, April 29, 2018, for a blues-fuelled finale. His electric and acoustic tributes to some of his favorite slingers - Eric Clapton, Robin Trower and Johnny Winter - are big hits in NYC’s premier clubs such as Cafe Wha?, The Groove and Bonafide. Soukis returns to his earliest musical roots at his popular ‘Greek Music Nights’ which he hosts and performs at the New York Open Center with an array of musicians playing traditional instruments. A dedicated teacher, Soukis has a large number of private students, some of whom are invited to participate in his master jam sessions at his private Manhattan studio. His music scores feature in a range of film genres from documentary to travelogue.

My Musical Education Background

Major in Music Theory from the Athens Conservartory in Athens -Greece

Graduate in Musicology from Stockholm`s Univercity  in Stockhom Sweden

Jazz Guitar Studies in Athens Greece

Genres and Subjects Taught

Blues-Rock-Jazz

A guitar virtuoso specialized in Modern Blues-Rock and some Jazz.

Lesson Rates

$80 for an hour in my Conveniently located midtown Manhattan studio

$100 for an hour at the student`s home

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

All ages and levels of playing are welcome.

From 12 -80.

My Certifications and Awards

Hundreds of Influences = Tons of Potential
While the most common blues names seem to start with “Blind” or “Sonny” or “Junior,” one name you will not find duplicated is Spiros Soukis. His music is original as he fuses the borders of past and modern blues. When I first gave this album a listen I thought of Rory Gallagher’s Blue Day for the Blues compilation. There may be only six songs on the disc, but the styles vary from sixties’ blues revival to futuristic space jams. Soukis’ high energy and versatility with the strings makes him a dangerous man. These songs show a depth of a musician who has studied and honed his craft well.
With six songs on the disc I figured that I’ll take the time to tell you a little about each song. “She Feels So Good” is the most typical modern electric blues song on the album. It’s catchy, has a strong rhythmic pulse, and clean tasty guitar work. Now the second song makes me think that Soukis has some harder roots. “Urban Embrace” reminds me of a Motorhead tune without the distortion or Lemmy. The simple riff and straightforward lyrics that open up the song for the scorching guitar solo let you see another side of this musician. It is not out of place on this album at all, but just shows the variety and amount of musicians that have influenced Soukis. And on that topic, don’t get scared away by the mention of Lemmy because then Spiros goes acoustic and gets as gentle as Dave Van Ronk on “Looking Out My Window.” It reminds me Gallagher’s version of “As the Crow Flies.”
The next two tracks follow a bit of the Joe Bonamassa stylings in the modern electric blues songs. “Come Into My Life” propels ahead with a steady beat that Soukis sings with his six strings. Then the band gets a little frisky as they bring a Latin-flavored beat to “Precious Love.” Again this shows how much complexity is in this music. The closing song is the instrumental track “Lovebourne,” which sounds like it could have been born on a night after hanging out with Jeff Beck. It is clean, quiet, and surreal. An atmospheric way to end an album with so many varied influences in one talented musician.
First and foremost Spiros Soukis is a very well-versed and learned musician. Loveborne Blues appears to be just a tip of the iceberg of what he is capable of creating. I feel like this album is one piece to a 500-piece puzzle that we need years to put together. Some musicians are worth that investment. With the right guidance and direction he could forge a great career for himself. Soukis has put the time into his craft, now it’s our time to make it payoff and listen to what he has to say.
Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax

My Musical Influences

The British Blues -Rock guitar masters:

Peter Green,Eric Clapton,Jimmi Page,Jeff Beck,Robin Trower,Alvin Lee,Rory Gallagher,Gary Moore.

American Players :

B.B.King,Johnny Winter,Harvey Mandel,Freddie KIng,Michale Bloomfield.

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