THE BALKAN SKA ROCK BAND FROM GREECE THAT INTRODUCED THEMSELVES THROUGH THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2013 WITH THE SONG…
BBC News :
“KOZA MOSTRA IS APPARENTLY ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING BALKAN SKA BANDS”
Bild News :
“FOR THESE GREEKS THERE IS NO ECONOMICAL CRISIS”
When Ilias Kozas ( lead singer & creator of Koza Mostra ) was composing “Alcohol is Free” on 2013, he could not even believe that the title of his song would become a symbol of freedom and optimism. Koza Mostra formed in 2012 by Ilias Kozas . In order to persuade their audience that “anything can happen anywhere” they decided to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 accompanied by Agathon Iakovides (one of the most significant singers of “rebetiko” style of music) with the song “Alcohol is free” not only winning the national final with the largest percentage on audience voting ever, but also becoming one of the most beloved bands at the contest in Malmö (Sweden) winning the 6th place in the final chart despite their greek politically allegorical lyrics.
On the 22nd of March 2013 Koza Mostra , counting less than one year of life , released their first album , titled “Keep up the Rhythm” and selling over 130.000 copies, on which they had the honor to work together with Paul Hitter (one of the most influential Gipsy Artists) , the artist behind most of Gogol Bordello’s artwork. Mr. Hitter created the whole artwork of Koza Mostra’s CD and wrote in it, the following beautiful words:
“I FELT MORE TO GET TO KNOW KOZA MOSTRA AT A FESTIVAL
SOMEWHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE, AND
IT WAS THE BEST LIVE ACT I SAW IN THE LAST YEARS…GOT THE
SAME FEELING AND ENERGY THAT I GOT AT THE GOGOL
BORDELLO LIVE SHOWS…”
Paul Hitter’s CD cover Their exquisite fusion of many music genres, including Ska, Balkan, Rock, Punk, blended even with "Rebetiko" (traditional Greek music genre) from the interwar period, mark “Koza Mostra” as a “one of a kind” band. Currently they are recording their second album in which they will collaborate with some international artists.
“Giorti” is a first taste of the new album .
Also following a “requirment” of the same of “Mikis Theodorakis” (link 1 , link 2) one the biggest worldwide composers ever , they are already working on an album that will contain covers of his greatest songs , becoming at the same time the first of new generation’s artists who did so.
Koza Mostra till now count lots of performances around Europe, sharing festivals with artist such as : Gogol Bordello , Goran Bregovic, Transglobal Underground, Dubioza Kollektiv, Vinicio Capossela , Dub Pistols or Fanfare Tirana . Some of the band’s European performances highlights:
ITALY 2013 : Clip 1 Clip 2 FRANCE 2012 : Clip 1
Koza Mostra band consists of:
Ilias Kozas : Lead singer // Guitar Dimitris Panelas : Trumpet // Vocals Theofilos Sotiriadis : Saxophone // Vocals Pavlos Theodorakis : Drums Dimitris Goundonas : Guitar Dimitris Christonis : Bass Live Sound Engineer: Themis Dimitrakopoulos.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE : http://www.koza-mostra.com
FACEBOOK PAGE : https://www.facebook.com/KozaMostraOfficial
BOOKING / INFO: [email protected] Koza Mostra’s official videos:
Alcohol is Free: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_xQTlRbLJY
Desire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3G2nOlydtQ
Me trela : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9OM19tCWoc
Lianohortaroudia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeYgfJACXWE
Eurovision final appearance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AfrOZersNk
Live preview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FdaRoq9JrA
Live onstage cam video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9o2gNYFW1U&spfreload=10