Grammy Nominated Eric Alexandrakis Releases TERRA -

By Katie Van Lew

His life wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Growing up, Alexandrakis’ life was intensely academia focused. His parents have PhDs in physics and philosophy. Despite his parents’ accomplishments in their own fields, Alexandrakis had a desire to pursue a passion unlike theirs: music. At six years old, Alexandrakis began studying classical piano and continued for the next decade; in the process of his studies, he found that he was able to transfer his skills to other instruments. Even at the University of Miami, his passion for music and hunger for creativity deepened tenfold. By the time Eric had graduated from university with a degree in English literature and public relations, Eric went on to pursue a graduate degree in music business.

With a persisting vigor to create innovative and unique sounds, Alexandrakis has worked tirelessly, overcoming the unthinkable to cultivate his brand. By 25 years old, Alexandrakis was developing his first album, 9 Demos on a 4 Track, when he was diagnosed with cancer. Despite the many tribulations and obstacles that were set before Alexandrakis, he employed the time spent in the hospital to focus his energy on his love for music, something cancer could never strip him of.

Today, Alexandrakis, a two-time cancer survivor, has had much success during rather turbulent and transformative life experiences. Since his career began, Alexandrakis has released three albums: 9 Demos, I.V. Catatonia, and his latest album Terra. I.V. Catatonia, which captures his experience of being a two-time cancer survivor, was awarded a 2019 Grammy nomination for The Best Spoken Word Album category. His latest album, Terra, was also included on the 2020 Grammy ballot.

Terra, which was produced by Alexandrakis on a 16-track machine, is hard to define, as the sound of the album pertains to a uniquity that is unlike other artists of 2020. This album is not a simple feat to digest, and it certainly cannot be listened to only once. The most admirable and simultaneously mesmerizing aspect of the album is that Alexandrakis only used the 16-track machine mentioned, and therefore had to work with limitations to bridge the gap between his artistic vision and the album. Aesthetically, the album is reminiscent of ‘60s rock and features a psychedelic spin that keeps the listener on their toes. Each track has its own unique sound which in itself becomes a series of experiences tied together to make this album Alexandrakis’ own symphony to life.

The opening track to this album, “Now Boarding: Flight EA918” establishes the essence of the album. He is taking off, much like an airplane, offering the listener his accompaniment on the long journey which is Terra. Alexandrakis’ lyricism shines throughout the album, his lyrics not only expressing the multitude of adventures and experiences that pertain to his life of travel, but also self-exploration. The album is an emotional rollercoaster of experience and introspection. The overall sound of the album is not of an artist who is actively trying to discern their sound, or manipulate it to the likes of others, but it expresses an undeniable certainty about Alexandrakis. The feelings evoked in this album are organic and true to the many emotions that are attributed to the many motions of life.

“Mediteranean Sun” offers a subtle Beach Boys vibe, if rock and psychedelic melodies collided. He sings about the solitude and ease that summer brings, culminating into the feeling of driving to the beach during the summertime.

As much as Alexandrakis is capable of delivering an upbeat summer anthem, he is capable of flipping the switch as well, deviating from blissful reminiscence to songs of unexplainable and almost haunting emotion such as that in his seven-minute-long track, “Pain.” This track is void of lyrics and instead builds up into a catastrophic symphony of instruments clashing and meshing all at once. It elicits an internal struggle and perhaps is anger and frustration if emotions could be harnessed into melodies.

This album can be assimilated to the experience of traveling. It’s the experience of getting on a flight. The process is very routine and calculated. It’s when the passenger is thousands of feet up in the air that the realization strikes: that feeling of flying high, being untouchable while going to one’s destination. In Alexandrakis’ happier songs, such as “I Love Me,” there is a distinct carefree melody that propels the song forward. It’s serotonin in its most pure form; it is as if Alexandrakis, flying high above the clouds, achieves his pinnacle of happiness. Despite the pleasure of flying high, quite literally and emotionally speaking, there is always the possibility of the plane being steered off course. Alexandrakis, in this album, conveys that life will not always be a straight path to one’s destination. There is going to be, “Turbulence,” as one of his interludes expresses. The album deeply expresses the unpredictability of life in all its mess and beauty, along with the feelings that inevitably coincide with it.

Overall, this record is definitely hard to interpret if the listener fails to seek the deeper emotion embedded in each track. Come fly the world with Air Terra and experience the symphony of Alexandrakis’ life.

TERRA is available on streaming platforms everywhere.