Monsieur Doumani

Monsieur Doumani
Background information
Origin Cyprus Nicosia, Cyprus
Genres World, Cypriot Folk, Cypriot Traditional Music, Mediterranean, Fusion
Years active 2011-present
Labels Monsieur Doumani Records
Website monsieurdoumani.com
Members Antonis Antoniou
Demetris Yiasemides
Angelos Ionas

Monsieur Doumani is a three-piece Cypriot band formed in Nicosia in 2011, nominated for "Best Group" in the Songlines Music Awards 2016.[1]

Formation and Background

The band consists of Antonis Antoniou (also member of neo-rebetiko group Trio Tekke) on the tzouras,[2] Angelos Ionas on the guitar and Demetris Yiasemides on the wind instruments. Each member comes from a different musical background but nevertheless all three are influenced by Cypriot tradition on various levels.[3][4] The band focuses upon the unique character of Cypriot folkloric music, enriching traditional songs with new arrangements, melodies, rhythms and sounds and crafting a style distinctively their own.[5] The band’s music is a blend of the traditional element with modern genres.[6] Their repertoire also includes their own compositions in the Cypriot Greek dialect,[7] which are inspired by contemporary Cypriot society, as for example the financial crisis that hit the island, the corrupted political system, social injustice and environmental issues.[8] They first performed live on 28 July 2012 at XORKO Collaborative Arts Movement's festival at Arminou village.[9]

Debut EP

In 2012 they produced their first limited-edition EP entitled Cyfolk, consisting of 8 rearrangements of Cypriot folk songs. The album was distributed only in Italy and it is now out of stock.[10]

Grippy Grappa Album

In May 2013 Monsieur Doumani released its first full-length album entitled Grippy Grappa[4][11] distributed by Proper Music Distribution. The album was produced in Nicosia, and composed mainly of reworkings of traditional Cypriot pieces.[12][13]

The album Grippy Grappa has received excellent reviews from international media such as the British newspaper The Guardian,[14] the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles[15] and the music magazine fRoots.[16] The album was amongst the Top of the World Albums according to the 95th issue of Songlines (magazine)[17] and it reached no.12 in World Music Network's August charts.[18] The album gained the group a "Best Newcomer" nomination in the Songlines Music Awards 2014.[19] In addition, the video clip of one of the album's songs called 'Out-of-touch guy' reached no.4 on World Music Network's November video charts.[20]

Sikoses Album

In March 2015, Monsieur Doumani released their second full-length album entitled Sikoses.[21] The album Sikoses was produced in Nicosia, Cyprus by Monsieur Doumani and consists of 13 tracks, 10 of which are originals and 3 reworkings of traditional Cypriot pieces.

Sikoses was nominated for the prestigious Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2015. It was awarded ‘Top of the World' in Songlines magazine issue #108 [22] and received outstanding reviews from other media internationally. The album gained the band two nominations in Songlines Music Awards 2016, in the categories "Best Group" and "Europe".[23] Sikoses also reached No.1 in World Music Network's June 2015 chart[24] and No.1 in the November 2015 Transglobal World Music Chart.[25]

Worldwide Success, Recognition and Awards

-In August 2012, Monsieur Doumani represented Cyprus at the renowned international festival Ferrara Buskers Festival in Italy and was awarded the 3rd place for the most favored group of the festival.[10]

-In April 2014 Monsieur Doumani were nominated for "Best Newcomer" in the acclaimed Songlines Music Awards.[26] The awards were voted by readers of the international music magazine Songlines and the general public.

-In 2015 Monsieur Doumani's album 'Sikoses' was nominated for the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik

-In June 2015 Monsieur Doumani's album Sikoses reached No.1 in the World Music Network Chart

-In November 2015 Monsieur Doumani's album Sikoses reached No.1 in the Transglobal World Music Chart

- In April 2016 Monsieur Doumani was nominated in the Songlines Music Awards 2016 in two categories: "Best Group" and "Europe". [27]

-Monsieur Doumani have performed in major festivals and venues in Europe, including WOMAD Charlton Park[28] 2014, Konzerthaus, Vienna, Songlines Encounters, Sommarscen Malmö etc.

Current members

Discography

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Songlines Music Awards 2016". Songlines. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  2. ↑ "Trio Tekke Interview". Avapolis. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "RootsWorld Reviews - Monsieur Doumani". RootsWorld. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  4. 1 2 "Grippy Grappa". World Music Central. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  5. ↑ "Live concerts and an album by Cypriot band Monsieur Doumani (in Greek)". Kathimerini. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
  6. ↑ "RootsWorld Reviews". RootsWorld. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  7. ↑ "Monsieur Doumani: Traditional Cypriot Songs in New Arrangements". Insight World Music Magazine. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Monsieur Doumani: "We are all responsible for the crisis, some of us more and some others less..." (in Greek)". Avgi.gr. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
  9. ↑ "Past Shows". Monsieur Doumani. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  10. 1 2 "Monsieur Doumani: i banditi musicali (in Italian)". Balcanicaucaso.org. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  11. ↑ "Monsieur Doumani – Grippy Grappa". Global Sounds. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  12. ↑ "MONSIEUR DOUMANI: Grippy Grappa by Chris Nickson". Sign Out. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  13. ↑ "Monsieur Doumani Grippy Grappa (in Greek)". Avopolis.gr. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  14. ↑ "Monsieur Doumani: Grippy Grappa – review by Robin Denselow". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  15. ↑ "Le monde des musiques du monde (13)". Les Inrocks. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  16. ↑ "fRoots August 2013 Edition". Frootsmag.org. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  17. ↑ "Top of the World: Monsieur Doumani – Grippy Grappa". Songlines. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  18. ↑ "August Audio Chart: Bio Ritmo, Maguaré, Jyotsna Srikanth & More". World Music. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  19. ↑ "Songlines Music Awards 2014". Songlines. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  20. ↑ "November Video Chart: Piers Faccini, Anoushka Shankar, Monsieur Doumani & More...". World Music Network. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  21. ↑ ""Sikoses": Οι Monsieur Doumani παρουσιάζουν τον νέο τους δίσκο (in Greek)". O Phileleftheros. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
  22. ↑ "Top of the World". Songlines. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  23. ↑ "Songlines Music Awards 2016". Songlines. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  24. ↑ "World Music Network Chart". World Music Network. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  25. ↑ "Tranglobal World Music Chart". Transglobal World Music Chart. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  26. ↑ "Songlines Music Awards 2014". Songlines. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  27. ↑ "Songlines Music Awards 2016". Songlines. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  28. ↑ "WOMAD Charlton Park 2014". WOMAD. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
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