Music in Athens is much like the city that surrounds it. New and old come together to form a rich blend of fusion from which the city drinks. This June, I spent a few days exploring the culture, history, and musical soul of the metropolis.
When searching for what shapes the city musically, the first thing that came to mind was raw instrumental articulation. In the Western world, this expression is at its finest in both jazz and hip-hop, with cultures, landscapes, people, and places shaping both genres. In an attempt to discover a similar cultural blend, I decided to begin with the familiar, researching Greek Jazz and Hip-Hop to unearth some of the country through a personal lens. As I embarked on my journey to Athens, I had only scratched the surface of what the city had to offer musically, but I was ready to experience as much as I could.
Getting into the city early in the morning, I loaded what I could onto my battered Walkman, grabbed my tangled earbuds, and began my journey in earnest. I walked the city streets at an unsteady pace, adjusting my steps to match those of the people around me. Striding, I soaked in the bustle of the urban sprawl. The metropolis’s once-stark white stucco was now faded to a dull grey. Mopeds split lanes at harrowing speeds. And politics were enshrined permanently on the city’s walls.
The first album that shot through my tangled wires was Terror X Crew’s, I Gefsi Tou Menous. Its temperament like a punch to the mouth. MCs Artemis and Efthimis sport a flow reminiscent of Hip-Hop eccentrics, such as Public Enemy, with the group’s rapid rhyme style tracking well over their contrasting sounds. Songs like “I komposta” focus on a more hard-hitting/hardcore style, highlighted by a run-and-gun lyrical tempo. However, tracks like “I epistrofi” are more akin to the experimental, with my first reaction to the track being a mix of surprise and a question… “Is this vaporwave?”. Altogether, the album was engaging, featured Greek homages, and served as a starting point for understanding the political/social climate of Athens.
Next, I strayed towards the ancient ruins of the city. Queuing up the next track on my list, “Collection of Sand” by Thodoris Ziarkas. The single incorporates intricate yet traditional Greek woodwinds, contrasted by a jazz-inspired slap bass. The resulting sound is tangible, with native instruments, such as the Cretan lute, elevating the lineage that hung in the air. This track is interesting and unique to Greece, with traditional sounds and contemporary jazz clashing to form a sense of ‘here and back again’ as I walked through the ruins.
After experimenting with some of the Greek sounds, I needed to know more about the local scene, and what better place to do so than a record shop? DISKADIKO – where I had the opportunity to stop – is a testament to the communal values I’ve gleaned from Greek music. The owner, Angelos, was welcoming and helpful with his recommendations, steering me in the direction of his jazz label, Trumpetfish. The albums I picked up were All We Got Is Time and Petrichor, both released in 2025 and 2023, respectively. “All We Got Is Time” is a very downtempo track, featuring a fusion of analog synthesizers and contemporary sounds. In contrast, Petrichor’s “The Coldest Summer” focuses on personal sound, with the trio lacking the accompaniment of drums. Instead, using alternate forms of percussion, with the most frequent form being through the staccato of the piano and the thump of the bass.
As I immersed myself in the grandeur and musical history of the region, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the music and what I’ve seen of Greece as a culture. It shocked me how freely and openly heritage is incorporated into Athenian daily life, whether that be music that focuses on traditional sounds or the use of ancient Greek amphitheaters for contemporary events (for example, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, which hosts the renowned Epidaurus Festival). Traditional and cultural heritage is alive and thriving in Athens, and it’s refreshing to see such an intentional focus on preserving it.
All in all, the musical culture I experienced during my visit was impactful and showcased the rich heritage and history of Greek culture. As a visitor to Athens, I was only able to experience a small part of the city. Still, through interactions at DISKADIKO and the feelings I felt from artists such as Terror X Crew and Theodoris Zackarias. I left Athens feeling connected to its music and excited to explore more of its soundscape.
