Hello. I compose rock, progressive rock and also music for solo classical guitar and duets, trio or quartet of various instruments. I'm professor of classical guitar and music theory and I have composed music for theater. I'm also the producer of my own projects in cooperation with session musicians. Finally, I work as session guitarist.
I play classical as well as electric, acoustic guitar and electric bass. I compose various styles of music, mainly rock. I have played in numerous live concerts as solo classical guitarist and/or in duets with other musicians/singers and also with orchestras. Furthermore, I played electric & acoustic guitar in many gigs with various local professional bands (rock music) and as a bass player dance-pop and alternarive rock of the 80's and 90's. Finally, here in Athens. Greece,I formed a band named Steelwood where I compose progressive rock - hard rock music and I will release as a producer the first album of the band. As session guitarist, I prefer to work with scores except if someone needs original solos & riffs by me which is something where I can be very creative.
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Interview with Nikos Papaspyropoulos
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Music for two theatrical plays. A lot of work that had to be produced in a tight schedule. I was the composer and the multiinstrumentalist.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Personal production of my band's ( Steelwood) album.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: I recommend Miss Dia Gianopoulou. With her amazing voice sings the song that I have uploaded. Also, Mr George Loukissas. His voice has a character and special texture and he is very inventive in metal music.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital is easy to use but analog is perfect. So, I prefer D/A.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: The quality of the composiitions and /or the skillfull playing of the instrument.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The artistic emotion that is offering after a piece is completed.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Usually, they want the job to be done soon, which, I think many times is not a perfect condition for a quality work.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I'm specialized only in classical guitar and classical music.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I try to figure out what are their needs and what exactly is the feel that they want from the composition and/or playing.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Rock and neo-romantic.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Any artist who is passionate and consistent. Great artists like St. Wilson, Leprus; J. Satriani have shown new ways of expression.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Before you go to the studio be prepared with pre-production, orchestration and be sure that the instruments/vocals are ready for recording. Always be flexible while in the studio: many new ideas appear (!!!) ,but, be sure of what you want because it'is easy for you to be lost and time costs money. That's why you need first to write down the scores...
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: To listen to my work.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A classical guitar, some percussions, an acoustic guitar, scores and a lot of pens.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I'm teaching guitar more than 20 years and I play a lot more. I make music since my teens but I'm involved in production in the last 10 years.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Progressive rock, hard rock and classical guitar's and other classical instruments' music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Patience, improvization and guitar playing..
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Dynamic sense and strong feelings.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: In terms of composing, first I study the lyrics to internalize its sense and rythm and then I organize the structure of the piece. Then, I improvize and throw away a lot of material untill I will feel the "chills" which are a strong motive to continue to the path that they show me.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: DAW, 12 channel analog mixing console, clavinova piano, Fender blues Deluxe amp, SR Techn. amp for acoustic instruments & vocals, Jam pedals, Road & beyer mics.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: R. Beato, Garry Moore, St. Wilson, J.S. Bach, A. Barrios
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Original compositions and guitar solos/riffs
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $400 per song
- Composer OrchestralAverage price - $400 per song
- Film ComposerAverage price - $100 per minute
- Classical GuitarAverage price - $100 per song
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $70 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $50 per song
- Luthier Masaru Kohno
- Fender strat. 1989
- Ibanez
- Jam pedals
- Fender BluesDelux amp.
- Roads mics.