British Cypriot singer Zach Koullas is carving out his own musical identity, blending R&B and Afrobeats with Greek melodies and lyrics. We caught up with the North London-born artist to discuss his musical journey, his latest release, EROTA, his upcoming performances and his ambition to bring Greek music to a wider audience.
Zach, tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I was born in North London to Greek Cypriot parents, with Greek music playing a massive part in my upbringing. My paternal grandparents are from Rizokarpasso and Gerani, and my maternal grandparents are from Petra and Ineia.
After leaving school, I went straight into work. My parents were supportive of my ambition to pursue music, but they also encouraged me to have a job alongside it. I’ve always worked while pursuing my passion, but there is no job quite like music. It’s what I love, and I believe it’s what I’m best at.
I remember my mum bringing home university prospectuses and asking whether I wanted to look at different courses. I opened one, looked at the first page and thought, this isn’t for me! I knew I wanted to pursue music.
It’s not an easy industry, and I’m still working towards where I want to be, but I believe in following what you genuinely love.
When did your passion for music first begin?
Music has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was a child. Michael Jackson was one of my biggest idols. I used to watch him on TV and imitate his performances.
Greek music also had a huge influence on me. There’s something about listening to Greek music that gives me a completely different feeling. It might sound cliché, but I think there’s a connection to our culture that is difficult to explain.
My parents would play Greek music in the car, and I would attend live concerts. Those performances made a lasting impression on me. Watching artists such as Antonis Remos command a stage made me think, I want to do that one day.
I also met Konstantinos Argiros when he first performed in London at the Cypriot Wine Festival, and I’ve supported Stan at Trent Park Country Club and Eleni Foureira at KOKO.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?
Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber were definitely two of my biggest influences.
I had an unexpected opportunity to speak to Justin Bieber on TikTok when he accepted my request to join his live broadcast. I was with my photographer, planning a shoot, when Justin went live. We couldn’t believe it when he accepted! I managed to have an actual conversation with him about touring. It was an incredible experience, especially because he was someone I’d looked up to for years. It reinforced my belief in manifestation and in the idea that you should never stop dreaming.
I also listened to a lot of R&B, particularly artists such as Justin Timberlake and Usher, as well as groups like Boyz II Men.
I love older music, too, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. I appreciate great vocalists, and Whitney Houston is one of my favourite female singers.
Greek music has always been equally important to me. I grew up listening to artists such as Antonis Remos, Konstantinos Argiros and Pantelis Pantelidis, and their vocal styles influenced me so much.
How would you describe your sound and the kind of artist you aspire to become?
When I first started making music, I simply wanted to be a singer. I didn’t know exactly what my sound should be, so I experimented with different genres. I started with R&B, then explored trap, pop and Afrobeats. I’ve always enjoyed trying different things, and I wouldn’t want to box myself into one particular genre.
However, I think you can hear an R&B influence in most of what I do. Something interesting I’ve discovered is that Greek music has also influenced my vocal style. The riffs, runs and melodic flourishes that you hear in R&B are techniques I also associate with Greek singing.
When I started working with other musicians and producers, people would ask how I could do certain things with my voice. I didn’t initially realise that much of it came from listening to Greek music throughout my childhood.
That combination has become an important part of my identity as an artist.
Tell us about your latest release, EROTA. Was this your first time singing in Greek?
EROTA began as a completely different song. It was originally called Cheat Code, and I wrote it in English at home. I put together the initial beat and recorded the vocals myself before taking the track to my producer, Zeeko.
He worked on the production, added his own ideas and helped develop the sound. When he heard my original vocal recordings, he felt they captured something authentic that we shouldn’t try to recreate in the studio. We kept those original takes, which gave the song a very personal quality.
The track initially had an R&B and Afrobeats feel, but I wanted to introduce Greek instruments. We started adding bouzouki melodies and other Greek musical elements until the song developed a much stronger Greek identity.
At one point, Zeeko said that the only thing missing was for me to sing in Greek.
I had thought about doing that before, but I was nervous about how people would respond. Our community can be very protective of its culture, and I knew people would have strong opinions about how Greek music should sound.
Eventually, I decided that I shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with my own heritage. I wrote the Greek verse myself, although I asked friends to help me check the phrasing and pronunciation. Because we speak a Cypriot dialect, I wanted to make sure the lyrics would sound natural to Greek listeners, too.
The response has been incredibly encouraging. People were asking why I hadn’t released the song earlier and when they could hear the full version. That reaction gave me confidence to explore this direction further.
Why was it important to bring Greek music into a contemporary sound?
I think there is so much potential in bringing different cultures and musical styles together. Look at the global success of Spanish-language music. Artists such as Bad Bunny have shown that you don’t have to sing exclusively in English to reach an international audience.
Greek music has its own identity, melodies and traditions, and I would love to see more of those elements reaching people who might not normally listen to Greek songs.
I also think Greek music can connect with listeners from other Mediterranean backgrounds because of the similarities in our melodies and musical traditions.
For me, the combination of R&B, Afrobeats and Greek music feels natural. It’s not about trying to follow a trend. It’s about finding a sound that represents me. EROTA has shown me that people are receptive to this approach, and I want to build on that with my future releases.
You’ve performed at community events, including supporting Antigoni in London and appearing in Millfield Theatre’s immersive experience, The Only Way Is Cyprus. Is there something special about performing for your own community?
Absolutely. Greek music is very personal to me. When I perform for the Greek Cypriot community, I feel that connection immediately. I might begin a set with English R&B songs, and people enjoy that. But when I announce that I’m going to sing something Greek, you can see people look up and become more engaged.
There’s something special about being able to share that part of myself with people who understand its significance. I also feel a responsibility to do the music justice because I know how much it means to our community.
What is your connection to Antigoni and the Lewis sisters?
Nina Lewis is my auntie, and the girls are my second cousins. They got in touch just as I was starting to tease EROTA and told me they wanted me to perform at their event.
I was originally expected to perform EROTA, but I also had the opportunity to sing some other Greek material.
Earlier that week, I supported Antigoni in London. We’re friends and I’ve known her family a long time. It was a great experience that allowed me to reach new audiences and introduce my music to people who may not already be familiar with my work.
What else can we expect from you?
There’s more music coming, particularly songs that combine Greek elements with contemporary sounds. EROTA has been received so positively that I feel encouraged to keep developing that direction.
I’m also working towards doing my own headline show. I’ve performed at various events and supported other artists, but having a show of my own would be a significant milestone.
I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. On Friday 30 October, I’ll be supporting Hovig at Faces nightclub in Gants Hill. I met Hovig this summer when I attended his show at Lush and had the opportunity to chat with him backstage. He was incredible and so lovely to speak to.
Then, on Thursday 5 November, I’ll be supporting Evangelia at XOYO in London, where I’ll also be previewing new music.
What advice would you give to young people in our community who want to pursue music?
Don’t take no for an answer.
In our culture, there can sometimes be an expectation that you should become a doctor, a lawyer or follow a more traditional career. There’s nothing wrong with those professions, but if you’re passionate about something creative, you should give yourself the opportunity to pursue it.
I’m still on my own journey, and I’m nowhere near where I ultimately want to be. The music industry is difficult, and there will always be people who tell you that you aren’t good enough or that you should do something else.
I auditioned for The X Factor when I was 16 and again when I was 18. The first time, I was placed in a boy band, and we progressed through the early stages before having to withdraw. When I auditioned again, I joined another boy band. We got through the first stage and bootcamp, performing at Wembley Arena in front of thousands of people.
Although it didn’t lead to the outcome I had hoped for, it taught me a lot about the industry and about myself. Those experiences were stepping stones, even if they didn’t feel like it at the time.
My advice is to believe in yourself, work hard and take things one step at a time. Don’t become so focused on where you want to be in five or ten years that you forget to work towards the next opportunity in front of you.
You never know what might happen. If you keep going, learning and improving, you give yourself the best chance of achieving what you want.
Finally, what would you like to say to everyone who has supported you so far?
A massive thank you. This is probably the most supported I’ve ever felt in my music career, and I’m incredibly grateful. Whether you’re Greek, Cypriot, or simply someone who enjoys Greek music, the support has meant so much to me.
I’ve noticed that people who discover me through EROTA are also becoming more interested in my English-language songs. That’s really encouraging because I want people to see both sides of what I do.
I’m not going anywhere. There’s plenty more music to come, and I hope you’ll continue to support me as I develop as an artist.
Interview by Andrea Georgiou
