Onirama
Encyclopedia
Onirama is a Greek pop rock
band that has had a number of hits in Greece
. They are known for their wide range of music, and party-like concerts.
Their first live performance was at club Mesogios in Thessaloniki
. Their concert and party-like live performances, quickly distinguished them among fans and people around Thessaloniki
, causing the band to take themselves more seriously.
In 2003 Christos Tresintsis joined Onirama and they began a series of appearances at clubs around Thessaloniki including Mylos, Shark, Rodon Club in Athens and several festivals. In mid 2003, the band renamed themselves Onirama as their band became more of a reality. The name comes from a Greek phrase "Onira Mas" meaning "Our Dreams".
In October 2004, Onirama began appearing at Malt & Jazz with their signature live performances causing talk around Thessaloniki. Around the same time, the band began writing their first album and searching for a record label.
In 2005 they signed with Lyra Records and released their debut album Diskolos Kairos Gia Prinkipes
(A tough time for princes) on 7 December 2005. The lead single "O Horos (Klise Ta Matia)" (The Dance, Close your eyes) became a radio hit and gained Onirama popularity, while the second single "Mia Mera Tha 'Rtheis" (One day you will come) also became a radio hit.
In the Summer of 2006, they made appearances all over Chalkidiki, while they appeared in Athens
all winter long with Antonis Remos. In January 2006, Onirama decided to change things up, and participated in an interactive musical performance directed by Rigos Kostantinos at Theatro Dasous in Thessaloniki. In the performance, the members of the band each unfold another aspect of their characters, while interacting with the audience.
In March 2006, Onirama was nominated for "Best pop band" at the 5th Arion Music Awards, while they also appeared with Ble
, Adrianna Babali, Vasilis Papakonstandinou, and Michalis Hatzigiannis
.
On February 21, 2007, Onirama collaborated with Antonis Remos
for the 4th MAD Secret Concert. At the concert, they sang many English hits, and fans nicknamed the collaboration "OniRemos". In summer 2007, Onirama and Antonis Remos toured Greece together.
For the winter season 2007-2008, Onirama successfully appeared alone at popular Club Cinema Live at Peiraios 130 in Athens with their signature live performances. In March 2008, they entered the studio to record their second studio album.
In June 2008, Onirama released their second album Klepsidra (Hourglass) which reached number 1 on the IFPI charts and later was certified gold. The album also placed at number eleven on IFPI's Year-end chart for Top 50 Greek albums of 2008, and number thirteen on the Top 50 Greek and International albums of 2008. The lead single "I Balanta Tou Trellou" (The crazy guy's ballad) instantly became a radio hit. The album also featured their first English
song to appear on an album, titled "Maybe Tonight". The title track "Klepsidra" was released as the second single, and reached the number 1 spot in airplay. "Oti Den Exeis" (Whatever you don't have) was released as the third single, and as of November 2009, is in the top 5 of the airplay charts. In June 2008, they appeared at the MAD Video Music Awards. Around the same time, they were also voted the "Next big name" in Greece by MAD TV voters.
Throughout summer 2008, Onirama toured all of Greece, while in the winter, they appeared with Despina Vandi
. Also, a major defining point in the group's career was on August 1, where the group performed as the opening act in front of thousands of people for international superstar Lenny Kravitz
on his Love Revolution Tour, which was a concert in Athens
.
On November 26, 2009 Onirama released a compilation album titled Horis Etia (Without reason). The two-disc album features collaborations with other singers covering songs from the band's first two albums, new versions of past songs, remixes, as well as some new songs. For the winter season, Onirama appeared in a concert series with Michalis Hatzigiannis
at club REX in Athens.
In early November, Onirama released a new studio album titled Sti Hora Ton Trelon. The album contains 12 songs, with two of them being in English.
and Cyprus
.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band that has had a number of hits in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. They are known for their wide range of music, and party-like concerts.
2000-2005: Beginnings & First successes
Onirama was founded in October 2000 from the idea of Thodoris Marantinis and Dionisis Prantzis after they met during their military services. Giorgos and Dimitris Kokonidis were also founding members, and a couple of months later Kostas Karakatsanis joined. The band originally started off as a hobby, with the name "Mixing Up The Medicine" inspired by lyrics from a Bob Dylan song. The name was a reflection of the wide range of music they played.Their first live performance was at club Mesogios in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. Their concert and party-like live performances, quickly distinguished them among fans and people around Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, causing the band to take themselves more seriously.
In 2003 Christos Tresintsis joined Onirama and they began a series of appearances at clubs around Thessaloniki including Mylos, Shark, Rodon Club in Athens and several festivals. In mid 2003, the band renamed themselves Onirama as their band became more of a reality. The name comes from a Greek phrase "Onira Mas" meaning "Our Dreams".
In October 2004, Onirama began appearing at Malt & Jazz with their signature live performances causing talk around Thessaloniki. Around the same time, the band began writing their first album and searching for a record label.
2005-2008: First studio album
Diskolos Kairos Gia Prinkipes
Dyskolos Kairos Gia Pringipes is the name of the debut album of the Greek musical group Onirama...
(A tough time for princes) on 7 December 2005. The lead single "O Horos (Klise Ta Matia)" (The Dance, Close your eyes) became a radio hit and gained Onirama popularity, while the second single "Mia Mera Tha 'Rtheis" (One day you will come) also became a radio hit.
In the Summer of 2006, they made appearances all over Chalkidiki, while they appeared in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
all winter long with Antonis Remos. In January 2006, Onirama decided to change things up, and participated in an interactive musical performance directed by Rigos Kostantinos at Theatro Dasous in Thessaloniki. In the performance, the members of the band each unfold another aspect of their characters, while interacting with the audience.
In March 2006, Onirama was nominated for "Best pop band" at the 5th Arion Music Awards, while they also appeared with Ble
Ble
Ble is a pop-rock band from Greece that emerged in 1996. Their music is characterised by their dark and introspective "Enohes"....
, Adrianna Babali, Vasilis Papakonstandinou, and Michalis Hatzigiannis
Michalis Hatzigiannis
Michael Hatzigiannis is a popular Greek Cypriot recording artist. From 2000 to 2009, Hatzigiannis has received over 30 certifications in Greece alone, making him one of most successful artists of the decade. Hatzigiannis is also known for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998...
.
On February 21, 2007, Onirama collaborated with Antonis Remos
Antonis Remos
Antonis Remos , is a Greek laïko singer.-Early life:Antonis Remos was born in Düsseldorf, West Germany. He was raised there by his Greek parents, and later his family moved back to their native Thessaloniki, Greece, where he finished school. During his childhood he got involved with music and...
for the 4th MAD Secret Concert. At the concert, they sang many English hits, and fans nicknamed the collaboration "OniRemos". In summer 2007, Onirama and Antonis Remos toured Greece together.
2008-Present: Klepsidra, Horis Etia and Sti Hora Ton Trelon
In June 2008, Onirama released their second album Klepsidra (Hourglass) which reached number 1 on the IFPI charts and later was certified gold. The album also placed at number eleven on IFPI's Year-end chart for Top 50 Greek albums of 2008, and number thirteen on the Top 50 Greek and International albums of 2008. The lead single "I Balanta Tou Trellou" (The crazy guy's ballad) instantly became a radio hit. The album also featured their first English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
song to appear on an album, titled "Maybe Tonight". The title track "Klepsidra" was released as the second single, and reached the number 1 spot in airplay. "Oti Den Exeis" (Whatever you don't have) was released as the third single, and as of November 2009, is in the top 5 of the airplay charts. In June 2008, they appeared at the MAD Video Music Awards. Around the same time, they were also voted the "Next big name" in Greece by MAD TV voters.
Throughout summer 2008, Onirama toured all of Greece, while in the winter, they appeared with Despina Vandi
Despina Vandi
Despina Malea , known by her stage name Despina Vandi , is a Greek singer. Born in Tübingen near Stuttgart, West Germany, Vandi's family returned to Kavala, Greece when she was six years old and she later enrolled at the University of Thessaloniki, but eventually dropped out to begin a career in...
. Also, a major defining point in the group's career was on August 1, where the group performed as the opening act in front of thousands of people for international superstar Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
on his Love Revolution Tour, which was a concert in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
On November 26, 2009 Onirama released a compilation album titled Horis Etia (Without reason). The two-disc album features collaborations with other singers covering songs from the band's first two albums, new versions of past songs, remixes, as well as some new songs. For the winter season, Onirama appeared in a concert series with Michalis Hatzigiannis
Michalis Hatzigiannis
Michael Hatzigiannis is a popular Greek Cypriot recording artist. From 2000 to 2009, Hatzigiannis has received over 30 certifications in Greece alone, making him one of most successful artists of the decade. Hatzigiannis is also known for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998...
at club REX in Athens.
In early November, Onirama released a new studio album titled Sti Hora Ton Trelon. The album contains 12 songs, with two of them being in English.
Studio albums
All the albums listed underneath were released and charted in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
| Year | Title | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Dyskolos Kairos Gia Pringipes | — |
| 2008 | Klepsidra | Gold |
| 2010 | Sti Hora Ton Trelon | — |
Compilations
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Horis Aitia | — |