Harmolipi (Joyful Sadness) and the importance of Apodimi Compania in the cultural scene of Greek – Australia

Harmolipi (Joyful Sadness) is Apodimi’s 9th album, released in 2023 and marks the band’s 39th birthday which coincides with its 2023 tour of Australia.  Apodimi Compania is mainly a concert-stage performance and album recording band that revives and arranges lesser known songs and tunes from the Folk and Rebetika musical traditions of Greece.

This album includes arrangements of songs and tunes from the Folk tradition, the Smyrneic and Rebetika pre-war era, as well as the post-war era. There is also a song written by band member Yiannis Niarhos dedicated to the memory of long time and now deceased Apodimi member, Hector Cosmas.The arrangements respect the idiom, the cultural, social and historical background in which these songs were created, songs of Joy and Sorrow, of Harmolipi.

Nowadays, Melbourne’s Rebetica and Folk music scene, enriched with new arrivals from Greece, people who migrated to Australia due to the financial crisis of 2010 – 2020, owes much to the presence and style of music that Apodimi Compania featured and played in their youth back in the day. If today Music Festivals in Australia invite Greek – Australians or musicians from Greece  to perform, this is mainly due to Apodimi who paved the way back then playing at all major Folk Festivals.

For Greek-Australians of the last forty odd years, Apodimi Compania is a life-long constant, as well as a means of forging individual and collective ethnic and aesthetic identities .Every tour of the band in Australia becomes a cultural event and an excuse for the gathering of old friends which circumstances have sent to the four corners of Oceania.

Unfortunately, to date, there are no in depth historical and sociological studies regarding the presence and significance of the Greek Community in post – war Australia.Nevertheless, if and whenever these studies are conducted, rest assured that they will have extensive references to the work and legacy of Apodimi Compania.

KostasKaramarkos, Journalist
Melbourne, 2023.

2017 marked the year of another Australian tour and of course there had to be an accompanying album to go with it. They say that when you’re on a good thing then why change it? So, accordingly a number of relatively unknown Rebetika, Folk songs and Amanedes were recorded. Joining the band was its newest member, Vangelis Votteas on fiddle. Guest musicians were Christos Biniaris, Avgerini Gatsi, Yiorgis Stoyiorgis and Hara Tsalpara and Sotiris Letsios on one track. The cover art-work was by Panayiotis Vasilatos and sleeve notes by Kostas Karamarkos.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

In 2012 as the band prepared to organize its following year tour of Oz and so record its customary accompanying album, tragedy struck. Founding and long time member Hector Cosmas passed away. It was a massive blow to all and there was talk of disbanding .Months later, towards the end of the year, it was decided that the band should not fold and continue to play, as Hec would have wanted us to do so.

The band returned to its old formula of Rebetika and Folk songs, this time recording a couple of Amanedes as well. Guest musicians were Christos Biniaris, Sotiris Margonis, Klearhos Korkovelos and Nick Manikas. The cover art-work was by Panayiotis Vasilatos and the album was dedicated to the memory of Hec.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

The year marked another tour of Australia, so that meant  another album , this time the band’s sixth. The same line-up as with the previous album, recorded  a selection of Rebetika, a mixture of pre-war and post-war songs. Guest musicians were Chrysoula Kechagioglou and Kostas Kopanitsanos. Cover art-work by Persephone Ioasonidou and support by John and Suzie Rerakis.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

This next release also signaled another change in the band line-up. Yiannis Niarhos and Maria Dikta were the new members and the band recorded a selection of Rebetika, mostly pre-war songs. It is essentially a live recording with no overdubs. Guest vocalist was Fanis Sapatinas.  Cover art-work is by local artist George Kordis, photo by Michele Malanos and sleeve notes by Stathis Gauntlett. Like its predecessor “Love’s Follies”, this album would not have been possible without the assistance of two old band friends, John Grivas and George Kapnias.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

Eleven years is a long time between albums, but that is how much time it took for the band to release its next album. By this time, three of the key members had moved to Greece and along with new member Marios Papadeas this album was released on a major Greek label. The focus was on Rebetika… the band had gone back to its roots, so to speak. With the instrumentation in mind (mainly the fiddle, santouri, banjo and guitar) a selection of lesser known pre-war Rebetika were recorded. Guest musician was Manousos Klapakis on percussion and for the first and only time so far the band departed from its customary cover art-work and featured a band photo by Aussie artist Jackie Mitelman.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

Soon after the release of “Homeland” the band line-up had changed and with its new members, Apodimi recorded its third offering, this time a mixture of Rebetika and Folk music. Lesser known Rebetika, Folk songs and instrumentals and a couple of original compositions are presented. Andy Irvine was in town and composed a great set of tunes especially for the band, “Take no prisoners / Old Brunswick Town”. Guest musicians on a couple of tracks were Michael Melambiotis and Tony Hargreaves. The cover art-work was again by Nick Soulakis. Sleeve notes were by Stathis Gauntlett.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

Apodimi’s second recording is a somewhat departure from their first. The reason for this being that when Peter Leman suggested we record with touring Irish legend Andy Irvine, we thought that Greek Folk music would suit a collaboration, rather than Rebetika. And what a thrill and honour it was to record with Andy. With that in mind, the band recorded various Greek folk songs and instrumentals, plus an Irish ballad, John Barlow, that Andy contributed (and which Andy has never re-recorded). Andy also played on several of the album tracks along with guest musicians, Rena Hatzilepou, Michael Melambiotis, George Lentzios, Mairead Hannan and Tony Tiganis. The cover art-work was by Anastasia Bekou. Sleeve notes by Kostas Karamarkos.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com

This is how it all began. On the instigation of Peter Leman, the arts officer for the City of Brunswick, the original line-up of Apodimi recorded their first Lp-recording for Brunswick Recordings, released in 1987. The album focuses on pre-war and post-WW2 songs as well. A few are from the anonymous period of composition and apart from a couple, most had never been re-recorded up until the time of this release. Guest musicians were vocalist Rena Hatzilepou, accordeon player Nick Sereslis and fiddle and santouri player Christos Pantzaras. On it’s re-release the album featured the cover art-work of local artist Nick Soulakis. Sleeve notes were by Stathis Gauntlett.

If you want to buy this album send us an e-mail to contact@apodimicompania.com