In his latest single “Home,” Greek singer-songwriter Eric Alexandrakis invites listeners on an intimate journey, exploring life’s struggles and the quest for happiness. Drawing from the wellspring of musical legends like Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Neil Young, Alexandrakis has crafted a rock anthem that strikes a chord with anyone looking to shed the burdens of their past and embrace a more hopeful future.
The track, bolstered by collaborations with talented musicians such as drummer Ryan Hoyle and expertly mixed by Paul David Hager, masterfully balances personal introspection with universal themes. “Home” showcases Alexandrakis’ knack for weaving powerful lyrics with an eclectic soundscape, serving as a soulful reminder of where true contentment can be found.
In this exclusive interview, we’ll delve into the inspiration behind “Home,” uncover Alexandrakis’ creative process, and explore how he uses the concept of “home” as a metaphor for happiness.
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Congratulations on the release of your new single “Home”! How does it feel to finally share this song with the world?Thank you. I’m pretty consistent with releases, but it never gets old. It’s always exciting, and always feels like some kind of contribution to something. I can’t quite put my finger on what it contributes to, but something.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind “Home”? What sparked the idea for this song?I’ve been studying a lot of music from the 70’s, but mainly Neil Young, early Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Nesmith, Bob Dylan, early Springsteen, Melanie Safka, so musically it comes from there. I’ve always been mostly into British bands, classical and soundtracks, so this was a stretch, which as an artist and working musician, a stretch comes with the job. The spark came from having a bad day.
How would you describe the sound and style of “Home” compared to your previous work?I feel it’s like it’s catchy Alternative with Americana touches. I never fall into any set category, as what I do is always my own thing that has some kind of identifiable thread of me going through. I don’t compare anything I do to anything before it. It’s like saying, “Well today is better than last week.” What’s the point?
What’s the story behind the lyrics of “Home”? Is there a personal experience that influenced the writing process?There is a personal experience, but I don’t care to share it. It’s really meant to encourage anyone stuck in mud, to pull themselves out, and find where they belong, because there is always something better…and something worse.
How do you define “home” and what does it represent to you?“Home” in this tune is a metaphor for happiness.
Were there any notable challenges or breakthroughs during the recording process?I’m usually a one man show, and don’t collab on solo stuff. I’ve only done it twice in all of these years. This time I got lazy, and got my friends to also play and mix, and it went as well as I expected, totally elevating the track, and me as an artist.
How did you choose the instrumentation and arrangements for the song?Drum wise I fell in love with Ryan Hoyle’s [Collective Soul, Pet Shop Boys, etc.] drumming about 10 years ago, and have always wanted to play with him. Steve Ferrone is always my main drum collaborator, but he was on the road, so this was a chance to work with Ryan.
Lead guitar vibe, I’ve been wanting to record with my buddy Mark Scandariato for 30 years, and finally the right vibe came up. He toured a lot in the 90’s opening up for people like Bob Dylan, Hootie, Spin Doctors, Charlie Sextant, The Mavericks. When he put down his parts, his playing defined where I was going to take the track, so I made him a coproducer as it would have sounded very different without his lead guitar arrangements.
Mike Surratt is an extraordinary accordion player, so diverse, and just serious about his craft, so that was easy. Akis Amprazis on electric bass is an old pro friend in Greece, and being that he was into King Crimson like me, I thought it would be super cool to include him. He also plays with one of Greece’s biggest bands Pyx Lax. Paul Hager [Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, Devo, Jonas Brothers, Van Halen] who mixed is an old friend as well, but also the top pop mixer in the world, and that’s always a no-brainer.
How do you stay inspired and motivated to create new music?People like me are wired to do it. It’s never a choice, it’s more like an instinct and a need to do it, like feeling the need to eat, or express something. Most don’t understand that. You can’t tell someone not to be gay for example, because it’s all about chemistry. Same thing here. Being driven to create is about brain wiring.
How has your personal life and experiences influenced your music, particularly on “Home”?I don’t like to share personal experiences publicly in music. If I do, I usually project it onto a character, or make up a scenario around the thing I’m thinking about. Same thing with “Home”. I’ve never lived in a field near a train depot, but every line presents something personal, just not what it sounds like.
What do you hope listeners take away from “Home”?That it inspires someone needing a leap, to take that leap, and I don’t mean off of a building.
Looking back on your musical journey, how has your approach to songwriting and production evolved?When I started, it was all about production. I loved the studio process, experimenting with sounds hours/days on end. Now, I’m much more interested in creating a feeling via the songwriting craft, and prefer to move faster. I’m not a perfectionist with production anymore, but I am with vibe and feeling. I am though a craft perfectionist…my craft, not with what the accepted norm is.
What’s your favorite lyric or line from the song?“Sleeping with snakes and fakes, the venom, it’s all high stakes.”
If you could have any artist feature on a remix of “Home”, who would it be?Noel Gallagher.
