Born on the Cycladic island of Skinoussa into a musical family of many generations, Nikos drew his first musical inspiration from his grandfather and father.
He studied western classical violin at the Athens Conservatory and at the National Conservatory. At the age of fifteen, he began collaborating professionally with Dora Stratou. He participated in making both audio and film recordings of traditional music from Evros (northeastern Thrace) all the way to Cyprus.
He has been active in the systematic recording of the musical tradition of Kythira in the album: Perasma sta Kythira (Passage to Kythira), produced in collaboration with the cultural association 'Myrtia Kythiron', as well as of the traditional music of Amorgos in the album: Perasma stin Amorgo (Passage to Amorgos), in collaboration with the cultural and artistic syllogos 'Simonidis'. He completed the research and recording of the musical tradition of the northeastern Aegean islands, and presented it in the album Anatolika tou Aigaiou (The Eastern Aegean). Other recordings include three albums with his own songs: Archondissa tou Limaniou, Antikeri and Choros sta Kymata, as well as two recordings with singer-interpreter Eleni Legaki: Agapi kai Thalassa and Otan akouo to violi.
He has participated in international festivals and won the third prize in the International Festival of Traditional Music 'Sharg Taronalari' (Melodies of the East), organized in Samarkand under the aegis of UNESCO.
In 1990, together with other leading musicians, he formed the musical group 'Keros', which has performed in concerts, both within Greece and in other countries.
He has collaborated with leading performers of Greek traditional music, as well as with composers and singers, in the musical genre known as 'entechno'.
He has taught traditional music at the University of Southern Μaine. In 2001, he founded the recording company 'Keros Music' which has as its goal the systematic recording, documentation, and advancement of traditional Greek music.
Source: www.oikonomidis.gr
