Introducing Sonica by Christos Yerolatsitis

Sonica is a synth-centered group that combines nu-jazz with vocabulary from ambient, electronica & funk. It is a creation of the Cypriot pianist and keyboardist Christos Yerolatsitis and his debut as a solo artist.

Our daily experiences, the changing times, and the changing world are undoubtedly reflected in our music. Sonica was born out of the — what has felt like a decade-long — COVID-19 reality. The pandemic unearthed issues and emotions that many of us were unaware of. It was a time for reflection for many and for some — a time to face our demons, inwardly and socially. Sonica’s track listing reflects that reality. From receiving the bad news to splitting into groups (Announcement, Resistance, Separation), losing track of time (Tomorrow’s Yesterday), finding an escape from one’s own home (A Long Drive), and adjusting our lives to the online space (Virtual Party) — Sonica offers their impartial commentary on the situation.

The question “What is Jazz nowadays?” is a large part of Yerolatsitis’ work. Often hard to define, Nu Jazz or Jazztronica are some keywords that come to mind. Even though Christos enjoys working on production and creating multi-layered soundscapes in the studio, he places just as much importance on the live performance. The album was created by combining synths with impeccable live drumming by the Cypriot drummer Stelios Xydias. The band’s live set-up features additional keyboardist Antreas Panteli and bass player Andreas Rodosthenous. Leading up to the album release, two live videos were recorded, and are available on Youtube.

The Cypriot pianist and keyboardist Christos Yerolatsitis is a forward-thinking musician whose eclectic tastes have led him to explore the forever-changing musical landscape where different music genres blend into one another.

christosyerolatsitis.com
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