Mixalis Xatzigiannis

Biography

Early years and Career in Cyprus

Mixalis Xatzigiannis (Μιχάλης Χατζηγιάννης) is one of the most popular Greek singers. He was born in Nicosia, Cyprus on 5th November 1978, although his parents originate from Keryneia, from where they fled following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. He is a graduate of the Cyprus Music Academy (Royal College of London) with a degree in piano, guitar and music theory.

When he was 15, he participated in a song contest in Cyprus, "Afetiries" where he won the first prize. He started his career in Cyprus with three records that all went platinum: "Senario", "O Mixalis Xatzigiannis Traguda Doro Georgiadi" and "Epafi". He also participated in a musical production in Cyprus called "Pygmalion".

In May 1998 he represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest. He performed the song "Γένεσις" (Yenesis - Genesis), a composition of his own and took the 11th position.

Career in Greece

Later in Athens, Greece he collaborated with the composer Yiorgos Hadjinassios and the lyricist poet Michales Bourboulis to create the album "Άγγιγμα ψυχής" (Angigma Psychis - Touch of Soul), which was released in December 1998. The album had music pieces and songs for the TV series bearing the same title. The album went platinum. The two songs main songs are "Άγγιγμα Ψυχής" (Angigma Psychis - Touch of Soul) and "Το Σώμα Που Ζητάς" (To Soma pou Zitas - The Body You Seek).

In March of 2000 Hatzigiannis released his first solo album, "Παράξενη Γιορτή" (Paraxeni Giorti - Strange Celebration). Other composers and lyricists contributed to the making of this album, which was to produce some of the biggest hits of that year. The song "Μόνο Στα Όνειρα" (Mono Sta Onira - Only in Dreams) stayed at number one in the Greek radio airplay for several weeks. And two other songs from the album, "Παράξενη Γιορτή" (Paraxeni Giorti - Strange Celebration) and "Και Θα Χαθώ" (Ke tha Hatho - I’ll disappear), had similar successes. The album went double-platinum and was a career landmark for the young singer-songwriter in the Greek music scene. In November of the same year, he started to perform live shows in Athens.

Early in 2001 he released the CD single "Δεν Έχω Χρόνο" (Den Eho Hrono - I Have No Time). It soon reached the top of the charts and went platinum. Later that year, he appeared live with the great Greek singer Haris Alexiou to great reviews. That summer, he toured Greece for the first time.

In the spring of 2002 he released his second solo album "Κρυφό Φιλί" (Kryfo Fili - Secret Kiss), which has since gone triple-platinum. This album contains a series of big hits such as "Είσαι Εδώ" (Ise Edo - You Are Here), "Το Σ'αγαπώ" (To S’ Agapo - I Love You), "Χωρίς Αναπνοή" (Horis Anapnoi - Breathless), "Η Εκδρομή" (I Ekdromi - Excursion), "Καπνός" (Kapnos - Smoke) and other. This album established him as one of the most successful singer-songwriters and promising performers in the Greek music scene. In the summer of 2002 he toured Greece again with even greater success. And in winter he shared the same stage with another Greek icon, singer Dimitra Galani.

In 2003 he released "Μόνος Μου" (Monos Mou - All Alone), an E.P. containing five songs, which went triple platinum. One of the songs, "Αν Μου Τηλεφωνούσες" (An Mou Tilephonouses - If You Called) became a hit and the demand for strong airplay kept growing for months. And it still remains one of the most popular ballads in Greece. In the summer of 2003 he toured Greece with 63 sold out shows.

He received three awards in the official Greek music awards in 2003 and four in 2004, including the award for the best male performer of the year.

In April 2004 , he released his third solo record, "Ακατάλληλη Σκηνή" (Akatalili Skini - X Rated Scene), which increased his popularity in the Greek music scene. On 30th April 2004, he represented Cyprus at the official enlargement ceremony which took place in Warsaw, to mark the accession of ten new countries into the European Union.

In the summer of 2004 he toured Greece and sang at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens. In winter he made about 100 appearances in Athens and Salonika with the hugely popular singer, Paschalis Terzis.

In the summer of 2005 he toured Greece once again ending in September at Lycabettus Theatre, Mount Lycabettus, Athens with two sold out, recorded, concerts. In October he travelled to Australia for the first time and had three concerts. In November he started performning with Antonis Remos, in Athens until April 2006.

In March 2006 he released his first live album taken from the recorded concerts in Lycabettus with three new songs, "Δε Φεύγω" (De fevgo - I'm not Leaving), "Δεν Είμαι Εδώ Για Κανένα" (Den ime edo gia kanena - I'm Not Here For Anyone) and "Μοιάζουμε" (Miazoume - We're Alike) all becoming hits. The live album also contained a DVD with photographs of scenes from the concerts and backstage.

Later in April, he toured Canada and the U.S. with George Dalaras. And in May he went to Salonika where he appeared with Natasa Theodoridou. In summer he toured Greece performing 50 sold out concerts. In August he released a single, "Ola i tipota" (Ola i tipota - All or nothing).

In December 2006 he released his fourth studio album, "Φίλοι και Εχθροί" (Fili ke ehthri - Friends and Foes) with some songs becoming big hits - "Να Είσαι Εκεί" (Na ise eki - Be There), "Αισθήματα" (Esthimata - Feelings), "Χέρια Ψηλά" (Heria psila - Hands High) and other. On 15th December, 2006 he began performing in Vox in Athens.

In March 2007 he collaborated with German Rock band, Reamonn and released the hit "Tonight" with Greek lyrics by Eleana Vrahali. The song is included in the re-release of "Wish" by Reamonn and "Φίλοι και Εχθροί" (Fili ke ehthri - Friends and Foes) of Michalis Hatzigiannis.

Later in June he released the single "Πιο Πολύ"(Pio Poly - More) with four songs: the new song "Pio poly", a Passion remix of "Pio poly", the duet "Tonight" with Reamonn and a Moscow electro mix of "Heria psila". He also started his summer tour in Greece,after his appearances in Vox which ended in May.

In October and November he will tour in Germany,the Netherlands,Switzerland and Belgium.

Discography

See also: Michalis Hatzigiannis discography

Cyprus

Albums

• Senario(1995)
• O Mixalis Xatzigiannis Traguda Doro Georgiadi(1997)
• Anonimon Patridon(1997)
• Epafi(1998)

Cd Singles

• Genesis(1998)(cd-single)
• I Mikres Mas Istories(2001)(cd-single)

Greece

Albums

• Parakseni Yiorti(2000)
• Krifo Fili(2002)
• Akatallili Skini(2004)
• Live(2006)
• Filoi Ki Ehthri(2006)

CD Singles

• Mono Sta Onira Versions(2001)
• I Titli Tou Telous(2001)
• Den Eho Hrono(2002)
• Monos Mou(2003)
• R-20(2004)
• Oniro Zo(2005)
• Ola I Tipota(2006)
• Pio Poly(2007)

Guest Contributions

As a singer

• Aggigma Psihis(1998) [3 songs]
• Parakseno Fos - Haris Aleksiou [Duet]
• I Orhistra Tou Pemptou Galaksia [2 songs]
• OST Treasure Planet(2002) [1 song]

As a composer

• Vale Mousiki(2003) - Despina Olympiou [1 song]
• Ehume Logo(2004) - Despina Olympiou [3 songs]
• Ola Sto Fos(2004) - Eleftheria Arvanitaki [2 songs]
• Os Eki Pou I Kardia Bori Na Anteksi(2005) - Natassa Theodoridou [4 songs]
• Pedi Akoma(2006) - Eleni Peta [2 songs]
• Vrohi Ton Asterion(2006) - Glikeria [3 songs]
• Pame Makria(2006) - Kostas Makedonas [2 songs]
• Ine Kapies Agapes(2nd edition 2006) - Pashalis Terzis [1 song]
• Mazi Horista(2007) - Despina Olympiou [13 songs]
• Me To Na Podi Sta Astra(2007) - Giorgos Dalaras [2 songs]

Video Clips

• To Soma Pou Zitas (1999)
• Mono Sta Onira (2000)
• Paraxeni Yiorti (2000)
• I Titli Tu Telus (2001)
• To S'Agapo (2002)
• Xoris Anapnoi (2002)
• Ise Edo (2002)
• Monos Mou (2003)
• Party (2003)
• Yia Sena (2004)
• Pu Ine I Agapi (2004)
• Afta Pu Tha Lega Se Sena (2005)
• Oniro Zo (2005)
• De Fevgo (2006)
• Ola I Tipota (2006)
• Na Ise Eki (2006)
• Heria Psila (2007)
• An Den Kitazo Esena (2007)
• Pio Poly (2007)
• O Paradisos [De ftiahtike Gia Mas] (With Despina Olympiou-2007)

Awards

• Pop Corn 2001: Best new artist
• Arion 2003: Best pop artist, best pop album, best artistic singer
• Arion 2004: Best artistic song(Monos mou), Best modern laikos singer, Best singer of the year, Award for the most selling cd-single(Monos mou)
• Mad Video Music Awards 2004: Best pop video-clip(Monos mou), Best artistic video-clip(To Parti), Best video-clip of the year(Monos mou)
• Arion 2005: Best artistic singer, Best pop singer, Best pop album(Akatallili skini), Best pop song(Gia sena), Best album of the year(Akatatallili skini)
• Mad Video Music Awards 2005: Best video-clip of the year(Gia sena)
• Status 2006:Best male singer of the year
• Arion 2006: Best artistic song(Na minis edo)
• Cyprus Music Awards 2006: Best Greek song(De fevgo), Best Greek cd-single(Oniro zo)
• Status 2007:Best male composer of the year
• Cyprus Music Awards 2007: Best Male Artist, Best cd (Fili & Ehthri), Best cd-single(Ola i tipota)
• Mad Music Video Awards 2007:Best pop video-clip(Ola i tipota),Best video-clip of male artist(Ola i tipota),Best video-clip of the year(Ola i tipota),Most played artist

External links

• Official Website
• Official Forum
• Official Fan Club
• MySpace
• Eurovision profile