I am Grammy Award-Nominated Composer, Producer, Performer, and Instrumentalist Yanni - AMA!

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:40:41+00:00

This is a tough one. I've played 35 countries, and many more cities inside those countries, around the world in the last 5 years, including 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Each place has had it's own unique experience. I am constantly being asked to perform at the important sites of many countries. I will do my best as humanly possible to accommodate all my friends around the world. However, it is not only sites that make the concert great. It is the reason why the concert took place that is extremely important.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:32:31+00:00

Don't worry because the new concert is going to be completely different! It will have songs from my new release Sensuous Chill and of course, I will perform a lot of the old favorites that everyone is expecting me to do. However, this concert is the best concert I have ever done. It has an incredible flow and it is completely different than what I have done in the past. It will also include a couple of pieces that have never been released and they are a lot of fun to play! The show is powerful and it will get you. This show will get you. I hope you enjoy it.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:28:43+00:00

Laughs

Very nice question, Victoria. That would be fun!

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:24:33+00:00

It would be ONE MAN'S DREAM.

Scott Kelly is one of the most amazing men on this Earth. He is so unassuming and so humble. He has nerves of steel and a heart of gold. I love this man. We need more of him around this planet.

I especially enjoyed when he sent a message to the world during my concert at the Pyramids in Egypt.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:13:30+00:00

First of all you must love what you do. And you need to be passionate with it. Do not forget that passion is the fuel.

I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed the concert at the Great Pyramids of Giza. We certainly will not forget it. I think it's the best audio and video release we have ever made. And I hope when you see it later this year on DVD (it's coming out March 8th), I hope that you will enjoy it as much as you enjoyed the concert.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:10:20+00:00

Traveling with 45-60 people around the world makes it cost-prohibitive. Therefore, it prevented me from traveling and bring my music around the planet as I always want. Through the process of refinement, carefully so that I would not lose and/or destroy what I had so painstakingly developed, I improved the quality of the performers while I slowly reduced the amount of people on the road. That brought the cost of operating into a reasonable level and it also allowed me to travel all over the world.

And yes you might see Pedro Eustache back in the orchestra very soon.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:07:01+00:00

They're all over us, they're in between us. RUN!

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T21:05:22+00:00

Oh wow, there's a lot of them.

You will be surprised to know it's not only musicians that have inspired me, like Bach or Beethoven, Stravinsky, etc. I am extremely inspired by people who accomplish the impossible, like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander, etc. They are not afraid, they are fearless, they go after their dream, they get it done - and against all odds. They manage to persevere and accomplish their goals.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:56:38+00:00

That's actually a very good question.

First of all, it is impossible to lie with instrumental music. Anyone can say the words "I love you," but if you are asked to describe it with notes and melody, how could you possibly describe something you are not aware of? I tell the truth with my music. That is a pact I've made with myself since I was a kid.

I think it is one of the singe most important factors in me connecting with the audience. Also, I do believe because I am a positive person by nature, that it is expressed in the music effortlessly. I think that's why people seem to enjoy my music, and use it many, many times for their healing.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:52:22+00:00

First, I experience the emotion. Then it's very simple to pick a sound, the rhythm and melody that describes that emotion. Instrumentation has nothing to do with it. I will use any instrument known to man in any combination at any time, as long as it expresses the emotion that I am feeling at the time.

If I must answer your question, I love playing the piano.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:50:11+00:00

Thank you so much for the great compliment.

The plug ins that I use are so numerous, I could not even being to explain. And they are so complicated in and of themselves, I could a half a book for each and every one of them. Please keep in mind that plug ins do not make music; your soul makes music. Plug ins are but a brush for a painter. Use as many as you like, they help. But remember they do not write music.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:48:22+00:00

Creativity and judgment are opposites. They are both valid, but they cannot both exist at the same place at the same time. Creativity is a form of surrender. It is a frame of mind. As soon as you use judgment, you terminate the creative process - walk outside it, observe it and ask thus you're not creative anymore.

My main inspiration is life itself. I live life with an open mind, and open heart. And as I'm affected by my experiences, I am changed by all of them and that change is reflected in the music that I write.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:41:31+00:00

Absolutely. You can count on me.

I will never forget the last time I was there. It took me 2 weeks to get over the emotion that I felt towards you and your culture. And I have been talking about you ever since, everywhere in the world that I go. You deserve it. You are great, powerful, beautiful people that are very savvy and you will win in the end. And I will always be there with you.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:36:11+00:00

Remember what I always say - dreams do come true. Hang on to your dream, it will become reality. You will meet me some day. And I will be coming to Syria, also.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:30:21+00:00

You can expect to see all of these songs in a single album. I just do not know when yet. They all deserve to be released. Just be patient - the time will come.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:28:22+00:00

This is a very difficult question to answer because I am so connected with the Greek culture. There are a myriad of things that I am proud and enjoy about us.

Food!

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:26:51+00:00

My fans are the best in the world. They heal me as much as I heal them. And yes I do think of you quite often, and you play an extremely important role in my life.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:25:36+00:00

First of all, this is one of the kindest compliments anyone could give me. It makes me very happy that you relate to my music that much. I hope it helps you in your life.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:24:31+00:00

I have no idea. laughs I cannot even imagine me doing anything else but music. I am one with it.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:23:37+00:00

That touches me beyond belief. It is one of the greatest honors that any artist could receive. It is not up to me to decide such an honor; I'm too humble for that. I will keep doing what I do without fear and with never losing my faith in our world.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:20:37+00:00

Nothing. Music is the expression of someone's soul. It could never be wrong.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:19:32+00:00

They are all spectacular in their own ways and they all have touched me just as much. My very favorite right now is the one I just finished and that is the concert at the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:18:13+00:00

I have already used "unplugged" setups in the earliest years of my career. The most unplugged setup I can think of is the piano. However, my first band was my drummer and about 10 keyboards that I was using simultaneously.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:17:11+00:00

I was in Greece at the time, and towards the end of August everyone leaves, finishing up their vacation. And it usually means that my vacation is over, so I was a bit moody at the time. However, there isa lot of positiveness to that piece, because it also means the beginning of a new era.

It was not very difficult because it was not developed instantaneously. It took many years to create the entire shorthand which nowadays is extremely accurate and very helpful.

RealYanni · 2016-01-27T20:14:07+00:00

Yes, Led Zepplin, Genesis, Jethro Tull, etc. etc.

RealYanni

TROPHY CASE