Stereo Mike
Encyclopedia
Mihalis Exarhos (born 1978 in Piraeus
, Greece
), known professionally by his stage name Stereo Mike, is a Greek
hip hop
artist. He is the first MTV EMA Award
winner in the "Best Greek Act" category. Stereo Mike represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
alongside the singer Loukas Giorkas
with the song "Watch My Dance
", placing seventh with 120 points.
, Greece
to a Greek father and Croatian
mother from Rijeka
. At the age of 18, his musical interest brought him to London
for education in the field at the universities of Leeds Metropolitan University
and University of Westminster
. In the next four years he obtained two degrees, Bachelor of Music Technology and Master on Sound Production. During his studies, Exarhos worked as a sound producer at Vault Recording Studios in Hackney
, London
, where he worked with several British hip hop
artists, including Klashnekoff
, Bury Crew, Skinnyman
, Taskforce, Iceberg Slim, Mike GLC and JMC.
Exarhos also worked as a producer at AMG Records, which led him to his first recording contract as "Stereo Mike" with AMG's hip-hop sub-label Mo' Money Recording$. Within two years he composed and produced his debut album, while accepting a postgraduate lecturing position at London's University of Westminster
in music production
. He released his debut album in Greece titled Satirical Nomads by Mo' Money Recording$ under license to Universal Music Greece
. The album's singles included the anti-racism anthem "O Allos Babis" and the remix "I Polis".
Stereo Mike was nominated at the Mad Video Music Awards in 2005 for "Best Hip-Hop Video Clip" and in 2008 for "Best Hip-Hop Video Clip" and for "Video Clip Of The Year".
Stereo Mike subsequently signed to Minos EMI
for his second album titled XLI3H
, which is leet
for the Greek word Εξέλιξη, meaning evolution
. He is concurrently doing research work toward a PhD
in music
.
Stereo Mike is the first MTV EMA Award
winner in the "Best Greek Act" category, which came into effect with MTV
's 2008 regional launch in Greece. He was also nominated for Greece in the category of Europe's Favourite Act for 2008.
Stereo Mike with Loukas Giorkas
represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
in Germany with the song "Watch My Dance
".
2005 Mad Video Music Awards:
XLI3H
:
2008 Mad Video Music Awards:
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), known professionally by his stage name Stereo Mike, is a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artist. He is the first MTV EMA Award
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
winner in the "Best Greek Act" category. Stereo Mike represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Greece took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, held between 10 and 14 May 2011, placing seventh. On 2 March 2011, as part of the selection process organized by the Greek national broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation , six competing acts—Antigoni Psihrami, Kokkina Halia, Loukas...
alongside the singer Loukas Giorkas
Loukas Giorkas
Loukas Giorkas , is a Cypriot singer and the winner of the first season of the Greek version of the television talent series The X Factor. In September 2009 he released his first EP album, Mazi, which attained gold status. He studies Biology at the University of Patras...
with the song "Watch My Dance
Watch My Dance
"Watch My Dance" is a song by Cypriot singer Loukas Giorkas featuring Stereo Mike. It has represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. A snippet of the song was released by broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation on 9 February 2011 along with the other candidate songs from the...
", placing seventh with 120 points.
Biography
Exarhos was born in 1978 in PiraeusPiraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to a Greek father and Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
mother from Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
. At the age of 18, his musical interest brought him to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for education in the field at the universities of Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
and University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
. In the next four years he obtained two degrees, Bachelor of Music Technology and Master on Sound Production. During his studies, Exarhos worked as a sound producer at Vault Recording Studios in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he worked with several British hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artists, including Klashnekoff
Klashnekoff
Darren Kandler, known by his stage name Klashnekoff or Ricochet Klashnekoff, is a Jamaican-English rapper from east London. Klashnekoff was born in Hornsey, but then moved to Hackney in London where he began his career in rapping...
, Bury Crew, Skinnyman
Skinnyman
Skinnyman is an English rapper who was born in Leeds, Yorkshire and moved to Finsbury Park, London at a young age. He grew up on the Six Acres Estate next to Andover Estate...
, Taskforce, Iceberg Slim, Mike GLC and JMC.
Exarhos also worked as a producer at AMG Records, which led him to his first recording contract as "Stereo Mike" with AMG's hip-hop sub-label Mo' Money Recording$. Within two years he composed and produced his debut album, while accepting a postgraduate lecturing position at London's University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
in music production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He released his debut album in Greece titled Satirical Nomads by Mo' Money Recording$ under license to Universal Music Greece
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. The album's singles included the anti-racism anthem "O Allos Babis" and the remix "I Polis".
Stereo Mike was nominated at the Mad Video Music Awards in 2005 for "Best Hip-Hop Video Clip" and in 2008 for "Best Hip-Hop Video Clip" and for "Video Clip Of The Year".
Stereo Mike subsequently signed to Minos EMI
Minos EMI
Minos EMI is the domestic trade name of EMI Music Greece, a record company in Greece. It is the Greek record label division of the British-based, multinational EMI Group....
for his second album titled XLI3H
XLI3H
XLI3H is a hip hop album by 2008 MTV EMA Winner for Best Greek Act Stereo Mike and was released by Minos EMI...
, which is leet
Leet
Leet , also known as eleet or leetspeak, is an alternative alphabet for the English language that is used primarily on the Internet. It uses various combinations of ASCII characters to replace Latinate letters...
for the Greek word Εξέλιξη, meaning evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
. He is concurrently doing research work toward a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in music
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
.
Stereo Mike is the first MTV EMA Award
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
winner in the "Best Greek Act" category, which came into effect with MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 2008 regional launch in Greece. He was also nominated for Greece in the category of Europe's Favourite Act for 2008.
Stereo Mike with Loukas Giorkas
Loukas Giorkas
Loukas Giorkas , is a Cypriot singer and the winner of the first season of the Greek version of the television talent series The X Factor. In September 2009 he released his first EP album, Mazi, which attained gold status. He studies Biology at the University of Patras...
represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Greece took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, held between 10 and 14 May 2011, placing seventh. On 2 March 2011, as part of the selection process organized by the Greek national broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation , six competing acts—Antigoni Psihrami, Kokkina Halia, Loukas...
in Germany with the song "Watch My Dance
Watch My Dance
"Watch My Dance" is a song by Cypriot singer Loukas Giorkas featuring Stereo Mike. It has represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. A snippet of the song was released by broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation on 9 February 2011 along with the other candidate songs from the...
".
Singles
Satirical Nomads:- 2004: "O Allos Babis"
- 2004: "I Polis"
2005 Mad Video Music Awards:
- 2005: "Pump ItPump It"Pump It" is a song by The Black Eyed Peas that heavily incorporates music from the Dick Dale version of the song "Misirlou"...
/MisirlouMisirlouMisirlou , is a popular Greek song with popularity in five styles of music: Greek rebetiko, Middle-Eastern belly dancing, Jewish klezmer, American surf rock, and international orchestral easy listening .- History :...
", feat Eleni Tsaligopoulou ShayaShaya (singer)Marianna Hansen , known professionally as Shaya, is a Danish-Greek singer. Shaya was a member of the girl band Hi-5, the result of the Greek version of the talent show Popstars...
& Lagnis NTP.
XLI3H
XLI3H
XLI3H is a hip hop album by 2008 MTV EMA Winner for Best Greek Act Stereo Mike and was released by Minos EMI...
:
- 2007: "Fevgo", feat Haris AlexiouHaris AlexiouHaris Alexiou is a Greek singer. She is considered one of the most popular singers in Greece and has been commercially successful since the 1970s. She has worked with important Greek songwriters and composers, has performed at top musical theatres all over the world and has received several awards...
- 2007: "Des Kathara (Face à la merFace à la mer"Face à la mer" is the name of a 2004 song recorded as a duet by singers Calogero and Passi. It was the second single from Calogero's third studio album, 3, on which it features as third track...
)", feat Andriana BabaliAndriana BabaliAndriana Babali is a Greek singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born and raised in Athens, Babali studied economy and music, just to decide she wanted to follow the art way. She began singing as a vocalist with Nikos Portokaloglou Band at 1998... - 2008: "Anagnorisi"
- 2008: "Alli Mia Nihta", feat ShayaShaya (singer)Marianna Hansen , known professionally as Shaya, is a Danish-Greek singer. Shaya was a member of the girl band Hi-5, the result of the Greek version of the talent show Popstars...
- 2009: "Peraia Mou"
2008 Mad Video Music Awards:
- 2008: "S'opoion Aresei (Dansonra)", feat Tamta
- 2008: "Piase Me", feat Eleni Tsaligopoulou
- 2009: "Peraia Mou"
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
- 2011: "Watch My DanceWatch My Dance"Watch My Dance" is a song by Cypriot singer Loukas Giorkas featuring Stereo Mike. It has represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. A snippet of the song was released by broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation on 9 February 2011 along with the other candidate songs from the...
" (credited to Loukas GiorkasLoukas GiorkasLoukas Giorkas , is a Cypriot singer and the winner of the first season of the Greek version of the television talent series The X Factor. In September 2009 he released his first EP album, Mazi, which attained gold status. He studies Biology at the University of Patras...
and Stereo Mike)