International DJ and violin virtuoso Andre Soueid is heading to Australia next month for the first time.
The Lebanese musical artist has a huge Greek following and has become popular for his mash up of ‘An Eisai Ena Asteri’ by Nikos Vertis.
Another remix of a Greek song he has done it ‘Na Ti Xerese’ by Despina Vandi.
He’ll be playing in Melbourne on Melbourne Cup Eve November 4 at Trak Lounge and Sydney on November 9 and 10 on Seadeck Sydney Cruise.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Soueid said he is looking forward to his first tour of Australia.
“It has always been a dream to perform there, I can’t wait to meet the people and explore the country and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with fans in such a vibrant environment,” he said.
One of the key aspects of Australia that he is excited for is the huge multicultural populations here.
“The diverse ethnic populations in cities like Sydney and Melbourne especially the Greek and Lebanese communities create a vibrant atmosphere that I really look forward to experiencing.”
“My goal is to share my music with audiences from all backgrounds, and I’m eager to connect with both the local and multicultural communities in Australia.”
His mix of ‘An Eisai Ena Asteri’ came from a love of Greek music and its emotional vibe Soueid said and he never thought it would become such a hit.
“Honestly, when I started the mashup, I didn’t think it would become so popular.”
“I just wanted to mix one of his best tracks to share the emotional depth and give listeners something nice. The great response was such a nice surprise I wasn’t expecting that.”
Soueid has toured globally and told Neos Kosmos he loves performing in Greece and Cyprus.
“Greece and Cyprus… they share a similar culture to ours, making me feel like I’m in my second home,” he said.
“The traditions there resonate with those of the Lebanese people, and the warmth of the audiences is incredible.
“They truly appreciate art, love to celebrate, and know how to enjoy a good party, which makes every performance a joy.”
As Soueid brings his music to Melbourne and Sydney, he’ll be supported by local Greek acts.
In Melbourne he’ll be supported by Algorythym Music – Yianni Moutopoulos and Aki Daikos.
“We are so excited to be supporting an internationally renowned artist that is paving the way of a new category of music,” they told Neos Kosmos.
“We are excited to showcase the intertwining of instruments and digital music to create a new and exciting sound.”
Also part of the supporting act is Manoli Adamakis.
Manoli discovered his passion for the violin at the age of six, his musical interests range from classical to contemporary pop, film scores and Greek traditional music.
He also has a special love for Byzantine music, which he incorporates into his performances.
Manoli is excited to be part of the support act for Andre Soueid as he draws inspiration from the passionate violinist, whose diverse musical style and ability to convey rich compositions have greatly influenced Manoli’s own performances.
Over in Sydney Souied will be presented by FiloXenia, a group of three best friends who have performed at weddings, clubs and events across Australia, Greece, Cyprus and France.
They got together with the vision to fuse Greek music.
The group told Neos Kosmos that they are excited to promote Soueid in Sydney.
“Like thousands of other fans globally, we fell in love with his mashups incorporating melodic techno and Afro house and infusing Greek and Arabic lyrics. Something that we resonate with on a personal level, being Greek/Cypriot and also on a professional level, as we perform in a similar style with a DJ, bouzouki and drummer.”
FiloXenia first saw Soueid at a club in Limassol called BREEZE, and were instantly hooked.
“We left thinking the same thing… we need to find a way to bring him to Australian shores and play to the dedicated fans on the other side of the world.”
For more information or tickets head to www.exedra.com.au and @filoxeniaband on Instagram.
