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 Lisa PunkrPrincess Interviews
Nik Lavithi
Interview By: Lisa PunkrPrincess
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 Punk Globe: Hi Nik at what age did you start playing music? And can you give us a little history on your background?
Nik Lavithi: I first picked up a bass guitar when I was around 13 years old after I heard Jean Jacques Burnel of the Stranglers play Peaches, I thought his style and playing was amazing, It made me wanna play the bass. I grew up listening to punk, lucky enough to see such bands as The Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned, the Stranglers in the early years of punk. It was a great time to be around in the British punk scene. I was asked to join a band called The Gimmix coz they had two gigs coming up and I had 3 weeks to learn the songs. And from there I went on to join many other bands to where I am in the present day. Not only in two bands, but doing my solo project as well.
Punk Globe: Can you give us a little history on Tealeaf and The Glory? How the music is different and what do they have in common besides you?
Nik Lavithi: Tealeaf is me; it was a nick name given to me at school coz no one could pronounce my surname. There are two songs/videos out so far that bear the name Tealeaf where I have other friends to do the singing. The Glory in my opinion are a great band and could be and should be bigger than we are, the music is fast and furious, whereas Tealeaf is a little more musical and a lot more time taken over on the production. The thing with the Glory, we are all mates including ex band members.
 Punk Globe: Have you released any new music? And will there be any new releases in the future?
Nik Lavithi: Yes, The Glory released an album on the LAD Records Label called "the best of The Glory. Also we have had two tracks on a CD called "Music to bleed to" "Tealeaf released an EP called Surveillance featuring Wendy X on vocals. And I have just completed my first solo album called "The Demon in me" due for release around December and will be available on all major download sites. And Tealeaf had a track go on a compilation CD in support of the fire fighters of Arizona.
Punk Globe: Who has influenced you to be the musician you are today?
Nik Lavithi: Like I said Jean Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers is my hero, But Duff McKagan also is another hero of mine, And of course Lemmy of Motohead.I would say these are the main three people that have had a say in how I play and I how I conduct myself on stage.
 Punk Globe: Of the projects you have done do you have any that are your favorites?
Nik Lavithi: I have to say my solo album, I played all the bass, most of the guitar and vocals, and I wrote all the songs apart from one (Surveillance) And also I have to say a big thank you to Andreas Samiotis of San Andreas studios for the production. I really enjoyed seeing the album develop and become the album it is.
Punk Globe: Who are some local bands you enjoy listening to and going to their shows?
Nik Lavithi: I don't get to see too many local bands these days, but I did get to see the Army of Skanks ( a female band with guy on drums) and Mantra Sect (Killing Joke sounding band) I went to see GBH recently and Gaz and Colin of the Glory supported them by playing in Rabid on a one off gig (I think)
Punk Globe: Tell us about some of the bands/musicians you have worked with?
Nik Lavithi: I played bass in a rock band called Lithos and the guitarist James Owens is an amazing guitar player. Paul Allison is a great friend of mine and someone who you should be in a band with. And Mark Magee former guitarist of the Glory, another great guitarist. Harri Kakoulli ex Squeeze (he will kill me for mentioning him)
 Punk Globe: Do you write all your own music?
Nik Lavithi: Yes I write all lyrics and music to my songs That way I have full control of how I want them to sound and anything with the Glory we all chip in.
Punk Globe: Any upcoming shows?
Nik Lavithi: Not just yet, we are all practicing very hard in order to get tight. We are planning to do gigs hopefully 2014 and do a USA tour and Festivals in Europe And I am hoping to do some Tealeaf gigs as well.
Punk Globe: This is a fan/friend question- What is your favorite drink? And where is the strangest place you have woken up?
Nik Lavithi: I have two favorite drinks, beer (Lager) and Frappe (Cold coffee). I went to see the Stranglers once, got drunk and missed the bus home and slept in a dust bin in a church grave yard.
 Punk Globe: Question from Woodstock Punkrock- What do you think your music brings to those listening?
Nik Lavithi: I try to do something different which is very difficult these days, so my album has a mixture of acoustic, punk and rock on it. I am really not a fan of covers so I try to stay away of doing any. If I am going to buy someone else's album I wanna hear original material. Also I like to involve as many people as I can. It makes everything seem more meaningful that other friends and acquaintances want to be involved in something that I am producing.
Punk Globe: Where can we find your music?
Nik Lavithi:
Surveillance video link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCopsdwWAto Hot Kiss video link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ReaOWpK8CI The Glory Nobodys War - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAogEuNMmOE Website - www.theglory.co.uk Face book - https://www.facebook.com/nik.lavithi Reverb Nation – http://www.reverbnation.com/tealeafglory?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav Number one music - http://www.numberonemusic.com/tealeaf/ Tealeaf ft Wendy X & SanAndreas - Surveillance EP - iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/surveillance-feat.-wendy-x/id634864578?uo=4... Tealeaf ft Wendy X & SanAndreas - Surveillance EP - Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Surveillance/dp/B00CVHBBH6/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1369132663&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=Tealeaf+ft+Wendy+X+%26+SanAndreas  https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bt3zi2cdgdbrfd644epbndv65by&tid=song-Tmraq4d24sb26hladdcrrurixfi&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsInNvbmctVG1yYXE0ZDI0c2IyNmhsYWRkY3JydXJpeGZpIl0 Tealeaf ft Wendy X & SanAndreas - Surveillance EP - Junodownload http://www.junodownload.com/products/tealeaf-wendy-x-san-andreas-surveillance/2188594-02/ Tealeaf ft Wendy X & SanAndreas - Surveillance EP - Djdownload http://www.djdownload.com/mp3-detail/Tealeaf+Feat+Wendy+X++San+Andreas/Surveillance/LAD+Publishing/6639084 Tealeaf ft Wendy X & SanAndreas - Surveillance EP - Deezer http://www.deezer.com/pt/album/6612275 http://www.deezer.com/pt/album/6612275 www.deezer.com http://www.deezer.com/pt/album/6612275 Best of the Glory https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-best-of-the-glory/id560246413 |
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