NapaCartel

Percussionist ZODIAC is a unique talent on the Island of Cyprus. He is the Master of creating spontaneous, awesome grooves instantly, to whatever track a DJ plays. He never knows the track order in advance, he just improvises with incredible ingenuity to whatever sounds he is hit with.This ability, although natural, has been honed from many years of experience. As a child he was passionate about music, and particularly rhythm, and acquired his first Bongo drums at age 14. He then set about teaching himself in earnest.

Pretty soon, he was proficient enough to play at venues such as Ronnie Scotts in London. His main passion was for Latin American/ African grooves, and he played with as many diverse artists as possible in order to gain the valuable experience he sought.Through his years as a constantly performing 'live' Artist in the UK and Europe, he played with bands in the genres of Indie Rock, Alt Rock, Blues, Soul/Funk, World/Latin, Jazz/Folk, Pure Jazz and Reggae.He has shared the stage with names such as 'the Kinks', Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), blues guitarist Albert Lee, Trevor Burton (The Move), 'Skunk Anansie', 'Echobelly' and 'Dodgy'. He has played at major music festivals in the UK such as Glastonbury, The Great Green Gathering and the Llarmer Tree. He has also 'sessioned' on many albums.

Following his move to Cyprus, he became an 'unknown quantity', and he had to start afresh in relaunching his career. As stated, ZODIAC's experience lay in playing with 'live' musicians, but he found the scope for this rather limited on Cyprus. A new approach was called for!Recognising the fact that the main social scene in Cyprus is 'clubbing', and therefore the musical preference is for House/R&B, he developed a unique playing style that encompassed all of his experience, but which would Jam with, and enhance these musical genres.

His first engagement was with GURU Bar in Agia Napa, where he has become the resident percussionist playing to ethnic/oriental/ Latin Funky House with DJs Theo and Yioti Jones. From the GURU connection, he has played with DJ Ravin (Buddha Bar, Paris), DJ Carlos Campos (Barrio Latino, Paris), and DJ DIMI.EL (Buddha Bar, Dubai). ZODIAC has since played in a regular collaboration known as 'Funk Jelly' with DJ's Theo & Yioti, at Domus, Nicosia and Nissaki Beach Bar, A. Napa. He has appeared at the Castle Club, A.Napa with DJ Steve Richards, Ammos Bar Larnaca with DJ Andy Previnca, and played at Graffiti Limassol, Guaba L/ssol, and Mukta Nicosia.

Since collaborating with the Napa Cartel, he has played at their events at 'Club Bling' in Nicosia, and 'The Basement' Club in Limassol.ZODIAC's future projects include a collaboration with talented Cypriot R & B /Rap recording Artist Alexis Melekkis...so watch this space!