Interview with Theofil Tsiolakakis: Music seems to has a continuous streaming but not in a particular order

Bio from Facebook page

Mean Flow was created by Theofil Tsiolakakis as a solo project in January 2014. He started using only keyboards but with so many influences from almost all types of rock and not only rock (post punk, darkwave, minimal synth, industrial, psychedelia, folk rock, neo folk, ambient, dark ambient, no wave, punk, progressive rock, krautrock, electronic music, electro, pop, post rock, ethnic, ethereal, etc). Almost every kind of music that excite almost all feelings and senses.

Theofil Tsiolakakis started playing music in 1984 by forming band Life In Cage in Thessaloniki, Greece, first singing and playing bass with Chris Skordylis guitar and Manolis Romenis in drums who left the band soon for studies. With the addition of Babis Argyriou (Radio Free Pirate Radio Station, Lazy Dog Records, Rollin' Under fanzine-record shop and later mic.gr e-zine), in guitar and keyboards, Giorgos Kyriakos "Grandfather" (guitarist of International Comedy & Mushrooms) in drums and Kosmas Efremidis in bass, released a self-titled cassette (1985) the first of Lazy Dog Records. Also Life In Cage released 2 more songs in first cassette compilation of Lazy Dog Recods called "Give Bees A Chance" (1985) but without Theofil, and Argyriou singing. After this release, many changes made to band members but with no other release.

Theofil then playing again bass and singing with Chris Skordylis again in guitar, formed Delirium releasing a song called Hamena Esthimata (Lost Feelings) in next Lazy Dog cassette compilation, "No Dogs Fly Here" (1986). Drummer was George Vogiatzis (later known as George Animal) (later member in many bands as Hydes, No Sin and now Minor Mine). Skordylis also played in bands as Candy Cover (support Savage Republic), Sunsteps (support Fuzztones), etc.

Last years Theofil with Chris Skordylis try to be active again as a duo with Chris' songs. They released a song called Sound Of The Rain, as Chris Skordylis featuring Theofil Tsiolakakis,. included in digital only free bandcamp release "The Greek Underground Scene 2013 Compilation". Tsiolakakis : voice, lyrics - Skordylis : all instruments and recording. Link of this compilation here : http://thegreekundergroundscene.bandcamp.com/album/the-greek-underground-scene-2013-compilation. 

And from January 2014 Theofil started his solo project with keyboards called Mean Flow writing many songs in the year and made many collaborations with other artists. He also wrote a song called "Minimal Point" and asked many other musicians from all over the world and who made their own version/mix.

Finally after he started a project with Alex Amerantropoides (aka Obu Tarn) called Drowned In The Sewers just recording a same title song, then he joined Alex's project (dark ambient, noise, experimental) called Pineal Neuron Trauma along with Hexon Xon (solo project : Human Virus Transmission) from Italy. Alex Amerantropoides also creates the videos of their songs. 

Influences

Almost all types of rock and not only rock (post punk, darkwave, minimal synth, industrial, psychedelia, folk rock, neo folk, ambient, dark ambient, no wave, punk, progressive rock, krautrock, electronic music, electro, pop, post rock, ethnic, ethereal, etc). Almost every kind of music that excite almost all feelings and senses.

Interview

You worked with a plethora of artists over the years. What collaborations were/are the most interesting and important to You and why? 

I think all collaborations were/are interesting because I have learned and I keep learning to work with different people from all over the world and with different kinds of music, and so, with different ways. They helped me to extend my musical horizons and to learn more kinds of music and to keep experiment with music, something I like very much. So I have mixed other musicians’ music, they mixed mine, I add music parts to other people’s music and I worked together with other people, too.

Can You tell me, in short the main ideas are behind Your music? Could You name Your favorite Your compositions / albums / collaborations? What about the new album? 

I’m influenced from so many kinds of music and almost every kind of music that excite almost all feelings and senses. There are many main ideas behind my music : feelings (sadness, melancholia, angriness, even happiness), experiments-new  sounds, theories, ideas, believes, ways of living and many others. The life itself.   

It’s so difficult to name my favorites compositions/albums/collaborations. Every track has its story and the meaning of its creation. 

I wrote so many tracks these last 2 years, when I thought and chhose “Mean Flow” as the name of my solo project, so I released 1 album at 2014 and 4 albums till now at 2015. The last one released in June and it’s called “Viridis Achates” and its duration exceeds 4 hours. And I’m ready to release another new album called “Inmost Silence”. The main feature is that there is so much variety in music style among my tracks.

The sound is magic. You‘ve proved it. But, what ends, when there‘s no sound?

Thank you! I’m not sure if I understood this question. If you mean what is next when music is over, when a song is finished, I hope there are some more seconds after the end of music that there is still magic in mind. And I hope, too,  there are also concerns, about life, human relations, etc.

What is and what is not a Sound Art? 

I rather think I’m not the specialist to answer this question.  But I’m a supporter of free personal opinion in most things in life. Of course there is a theory in music but I think there are no limits in making music and the interesting point in music is when there is different music, not the same standards of music. Also I believe that when your main reason to write music is money and fame then maybe the result is less artistic music although it’s not the absolute point. So it’s subjective opinion what is sound art and what it isn’t.

What do You think about relations between the old art and computer art? Are they compatible?

I haven’t thought much of it but I think there are relations because as many people say “music is one thing”. And I think you can combine many things and styles in music. Music seems to has a continuous streaming but not in a particular order. Generally I think is the ideas behind music that are the main point. The music organs (including computers) are the “tools”. The point is the people who handle these “tools” to have ideas and feelings, too.

What do You think about thousands of neofolk/industrial/ambient/tribal/electroacoustic/avangarde etc. bands/projects? Is it a kind of trend, or just a tendency forwards better music?

I think I’m part of this, my project is one of them. In any style/kind of music there is variety and so there is variety in these projects, too. Of course last years you can record music even from home (as I do), with so few “tools” (as I do) without much money. So it’s good this situation for people who have ideas and the ability to write music, to do it, and the listeners have to decide if they like them or not. A chance for more people to express themselves.

What do You know about Lithuania? What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do You value most? 

I’m sorry, unfortunately I haven’t listen anything from Lithuania before, until now I’ve listened your music that I honestly liked it very much.

Could You tell more about Greek scene?

I think there is interesting music as there is in many countries, too. There are many people who play/write music in much different style. Maybe from 80’s and then there were more interesting bands/musicians when punk/indie/post punk/dark wave scene started. From then there are more and more interesting bands/projects playing many styles of music. There are also many people who write electronic/experimental music (like I mostly do) many years now. And I also learned through facebook / internet, enough persons most of whom, write their very interesting music at home (like me). Some mew, mostly unknown experimental, name/projects I can mention: Adarca-a-dwa (a person also with many more project names), After The Pulse, Anosia, Azargled, Astrofaros/Astrogazer, Asymmetroi Faroi, Moody Alien, Morket, Saint De L’Abime, Unsample, etc.

FACEBOOK PAGES LINKS

1. Mean Flow : https://www.facebook.com/MeanFlow
2. Minimal Point by Mean Flow - a simple tune with many and different mixes : 
https://www.facebook.com/Minimal-Point-by-Mean-Flow-a-simple-tune-with-many-and-different-mixes-1452728795014032/
3. Pineal Neuron Trauma : https://www.facebook.com/PinealNeuronTrauma
4. Chris Skordylis featuring Theofil Tsiolakakis : https://www.facebook.com/Chris-Skordylis-featuring-Theofil-Tsiolakakis-619897228095441
5. Delirium (Delirium GR) : https://www.facebook.com/Delirium-GR-218542941679811
6. Life In Cage : https://www.facebook.com/Life-In-Cage-273450302820165

FULL YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS

1. Mean Flow : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsFSekCwrQxCKnDj7_ObH90vKSgPl_UPG
2. Minimal Point by Mean Flow - a simple tune with many and different mixes
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsFSekCwrQxD2HfWytxVE9ULtkka9oJKS
3. Pineal Neuron Trauma :
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsFSekCwrQxAVy-oaKbCNJ8O5okukyqi4

4. Chris Skordylis featuring Theofil Tsiolakakis :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cip2NYF6_pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrBkMz2I1IQ
5. Delirium (Delirium GR) :
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsFSekCwrQxDT1sSS3OT7I2QeZnFCwiLE
6. Life In Cage : 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsFSekCwrQxBuTwOFxZBv0HHXeFwbyZp_

DISCOGS - DISCOGRAPHY

1.Theofil Tsiolakakis: http://www.discogs.com/artist/3461174-Theofil-Tsiolakakis
2. Mean Flow : http://www.discogs.com/artist/4135400-Mean-Flow
3. Drowned In The Sewers : http://www.discogs.com/artist/4138463-Drowned-In-The-Sewers
4. Delirium (Delirium GR) : http://www.discogs.com/artist/1956700-Delirium-22
5. Life In Cage : http://www.discogs.com/artist/1872730-Life-In-Cage

Anyone can download most of Theofil Tsiolakakis songs from bands/projects he is/was member/participated in following links : 

MEAN FLOW ALBUMS DISCOGRAPHY (BANDCAMP)

1. Mean Flow - Imaginary 10'' #4 (December 16, 2014)
https://digitaldizzy.bandcamp.com/album/mean-flow-imaginary-10-4 
2. Mean Flow - Minimal Point Remixed (January 20, 2015)
https://digitaldizzy.bandcamp.com/album/mean-flow-minimal-point-remixed
3. Mean Flow - Unsolved Labyrinth (April 10, 2015)
https://digitaldizzy.bandcamp.com/album/mean-flow-unsolved-labyrinth
4. Mean Flow - Beauty Underground (June 16, 2015)
https://digitaldizzy.bandcamp.com/album/mean-flow-beauty-underground
5. Mean Flow - Viridis Achates (September 14, 2015)
https://digitaldizzy.bandcamp.com/album/mean-flow-viridis-achates
Also there are many participations (65 ‘til now and more to come) in various artists compilations all over the world most of them free downloaded but almost all of the Mean Flow songs included in albums. More details about compilations/splits discography in Mean Flow discogs link http://www.discogs.com/artist/4135400-Mean-Flow.

DROWNED IN THE SEWERS DISCOGRAPHY (Participation in compilations)

1. http://fractionstudiocompilation.bandcamp.com/album/andreas-n-18-extraterrestrials-compilation-fraction-2015
2.  https://garbagemenpukingnetlabel.bandcamp.com/album/gmp-500

CHRIS SKORDYLIS FEATURING THEOFIL TSIOLAKAKIS ((Participation in compilation)

1. https://thegreekundergroundscene.bandcamp.com/album/the-greek-underground-scene-2013-compilation

DELIRIUM (GR) DISCOGRAPHY (Participation in compilations)

1. https://lazydogrecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-dogs-fly-here
2. Also in various artists compilation, Periergo Den Ine To Oniro (1990)

LIFE IN CAGE DISCOGRAPHY
1.  https://lazydogrecords.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-cage
2. https://lazydogrecords.bandcamp.com/album/give-bees-a-chance*
* without Theofil Tsiolakakis

https://soundcloud.com/theofil-tsiolakakis