Greek composer Thanasis Papakonstantinou has launched a new musical project titled Parapombi, releasing six digital singles dedicated to traditional Greek laiko music. The tracks will be issued in pairs at regular intervals throughout the summer months.
The first two songs in the project, Parapombi and Thrypsala, are performed by Greek singer Sokratis Malamas. Both recordings are already available across all major digital streaming platforms, marking the start of the release series.
Papakonstantinou is a prominent Greek singer-songwriter whose work blends traditional folk melodies with modern acoustic elements. Malamas is a widely recognized Greek vocalist who has frequently performed with Papakonstantinou. Laiko music is a genre of Greek urban popular song that gained widespread popularity in the mid-20th century, often highlighting acoustic stringed instruments like the bouzouki.
Tribute to four decades of song
Papakonstantinou described his new venture as an effort to collect laiko-style songs he has written over roughly four decades and record them together. He explained that the recordings serve as a tribute to laiko music as well as a tribute in memory of his childhood.
The concept of digital 45s references an earlier era of the recording industry, when issuing two songs on a small vinyl disc was a primary method of music distribution. By adapting this format to a modern digital release, Papakonstantinou created a series of songs that connects with the history of laiko music and the memories of an entire generation.
Musical origins during the dictatorship
Papakonstantinou traced his primary musical influences back to his childhood during the 1967 military dictatorship in Greece. He noted that laiko compositions alongside demotika traditional folk songs sung by his parents and relatives provided an important counterweight to the prevailing musical reality of that era, playing a key role in shaping his artistic aesthetic.
These twin roots of laiko and traditional folk music subsequently became fundamental components of Papakonstantinou's creative work. The composer stated that both influences have now returned to the center of his artistic focus with Parapombi.
Following the digital pairs released during the summer, all six recordings are expected to be compiled into a physical release on vinyl and CD by the end of 2026 under the unified title Parapombi.
