Kostas Siozos shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kostas, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first thing I’ll do in the morning is to say thank you and how grateful I am for being where I am! Before I grab my coffee, I’ll hug my best ones! My wife, our two dogs and our cat! Then a little bit of coffee, breakfast and go for a walk with the dogs around the neighborhood. Pretty much this is almost the first 90 minutes in my morning. Oh, I also try to avoid any usage of my phone, social media, emails etc.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kostas Siozos and I am a Greek musician/producer based in Los Angeles, CA. I spent my childhood in a small town called Arta in the northwest part of Greece’s mainland. As a kid I was usually playing alone in our yard with my bicycle or watching MTV on the weekends. My sisters are older than me and when they were in high school, they were listening all that 80s 90s pop/rock music. As you imagine I was listening too to Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Guns ‘n’ Roses etc. But my biggest love became Metallica, when I got in my hands Master of Puppets tape (thank you Angelos)! I made a fake carton board guitar and I was listening to it for hours, pretending I was one of them. Then Iron Maiden, Slayer and Judas Priest came into my universe. So when I was 16, I decided to buy my first bass. I didn’t know how it sounds, I couldn’t even recognize it into the songs. But I saw a pic of Steve Harris and I was, he looks cool, so I’ll get a bass too! After that I was obsessed with bass. Metallica’s Cliff Burton became my hero! A year later I got into Jaco Pastorius, Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, 70s progressive rock, alongside with Tool, Sabbath, Motorhead and later into stoner rock.
After high school I moved to Athens and studied sound engineering for 2 years. At that time I formed my ex band “Heritage” and for 10 years we were touring around Greece, recording albums etc. I would say we were doing really good, but everything comes to an end. At the same time I was the owner of a rock bar for 8 years, called Old Post Cafe and later Miles (from Miles Davis!). I was also going to Philippos Nakas Conservatory to study bass, since I was self taught. There I met my teacher “Vangelis Boulouhtsis” (I highly recommend to listen to his band Chapter 24 or Kefalaio 24). This was the best decision I ever made. Amazing musician, teacher and a human being! He introduced me to different styles of music like latin, some jazz, funk, motown’s bass player James Jamerson and taught me Jazz harmony. That was my 20s.
In the beginning of my 30s I sold the bar and I decided no matter what, pursue a career in music. I got accepted at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Musician’s Institute here in Hollywood, Los Angeles College of Music and California College of Music both in Pasadena. Since I got a scholarship at CCM, I decided to study there. During school, the pandemic happened. It didn’t affect me much, because I was busy studying. So after graduation, I was doing remote recording work and playing in private parties. This is where the idea of my recording studio came.
Something I didn’t say is that, before I came to the US in 2019, I started writing music for my new project “Black Kaiser”. But because of school and trying to figure the new life in Los Angeles (during the pandemic), it went into ice for a couple of years. So in 2022 I started recording the first “Black Kaiser” songs and for the first time in my life I became the frontman. Right now, we are recording the first album and hopefully it’ll come out next year. Since there’s no label or investors, it takes a little bit longer to finish it. So I have a GoFundMe campaign for those, who want to be part of the process and help me finish it earlier.
Finally a month ago, I started my own business the “Sound of Doom Recording Studio” here in LA! It is a recording, mixing, mastering studio that combines both worlds of analog and digital sound. I am really proud of it and I can’t wait to work with more new artists!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
As a kid I was really shy. I didn’t want nobody say anything to me and make me uncomfortable. I was doing my homework and I was a good student at school. I remember one of my teachers saying to my mother that I am so good, that I could go to the law school with a scholarship. Believe it or not tho, I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life. The only thing I was thinking was Motocross bikes, but that’s a story for another time!
Even though I was listening to rock and metal music since I remember myself, when I picked up the bass everything changed. I was that’s it! This is what I wanna be in my life! So James Hetfield and Metallica, became my early influences.
When it comes to myself, I always listen to my heart. I don’t let the world to tell me who I have to be. Maybe somebody else brought you to this world, but your life is yours and you should do whatever makes you happy. Of course without hurting or disrespect other humans, animals and the nature.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If my youngest self was here right now with me, I would say to him that you’re doing an amazing job. Don’t worry what will happen. Keep doing what you’re doing. You have people that they love you and support you. Enjoy the ride. Maybe something didn’t happen the way you wanted it, but everything happens for a reason. All are lessons for later. You’ll see everything is gonna be all right. But most importantly, please don’t forget to take care of yourself. Physically and mentally.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My band “Black Kaiser”. This project since the beginning, is facing all kind of problems. It feels, it’s really hard to do it. But even all the struggles I am facing, there’s not a single moment I am thinking of quitting. It’s been six years, since I formed it and I haven’t played any shows yet, which what I love is being on tour and play my music. It took me four years to release the first three songs and now the album feels, it’s taking forever. But I believe so much on what I am doing and I know when I’ll release it and do my first shows, I will be so proud! I will be it was worth all the time I waited, I got angry, I got sad, I got impatient and if i had to do it all over again, I would definitely do it again!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
I will regret and I won’t forgive myself, if I stop doing what I am doing. The music industry is hard. Nobody tells you how exactly is and works. Maybe all of us hoping that one day somebody will see you, discover you and then that’s it. You became a STAR! But the truth is, all the information is out there. Now-days you can be a full time DIY artist. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. So the time is now, for all of us! Go do what you love the most. Be passionate and enjoy the ride. Don’t leave it for tomorrow. If you’re scared, that means something. Go after it, go after your fears! You don’t want to wake up one day old or be in your deathbed, wondering what if….
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soundofdoom.com & https://www.blackkaiserband.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesoundofdoom & https://www.instagram.com/blackkaiserband
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BlackKaiserBand
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSoundOfDoom & https://www.facebook.com/BlackKaiserBand
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KostasSiozos & https://www.youtube.com/@BlackKaiserBand
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/soundofdoomstudio & https://soundcloud.com/blackkaiserband
- Other: https://gofund.me/489f77fa
https://blackkaiser.bandcamp.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@blackkaiserband
Image Credits
Vasilis Gorogias, Mathias Fau, Chris Kissadjekian, Ali Martin, Kostas Siozos
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
