Onirama

Onirama is a Greek pop rock band that has had a number of hits in Greece. They are known for their wide range of music, and party-like concerts.[1]

Onirama
Onirama backstage at Theatro Dasous in 2007
Background information
OriginGreece, Thessaloniki
GenresPop rock, rock
Years active2000 - present
LabelsLyra Records
Associated actsMixing Up The Medicine
Websitewww.onirama.gr
MembersThodoris Marantinis
Giorgos Kokonidis
Dimitris Kokonidis
Alexis Papakonstantinou
Christos Tresintsis

Career

2000-2005: Beginnings & First successes

Onirama was founded in October 2000 from the idea of Thodoris Marantinis and Dionisis Prantzis after they met during their military services.[2] Giorgos and Dimitris Kokonidis were also founding members, and a couple of months later Kostas Karakatsanis joined. The band originally started off as a hobby, with the name "Mixing Up The Medicine" inspired by lyrics from a Bob Dylan song. The name was a reflection of the wide range of music they played.

Their first live performance was at club Mesogios in Thessaloniki. Their concert and party-like live performances, quickly distinguished them among fans and people around Thessaloniki, causing the band to take themselves more seriously.

In 2003 Christos Tresintsis joined Onirama and they began a series of appearances at clubs around Thessaloniki including Mylos, Shark, Rodon Club in Athens and several festivals. In mid-2003, the band renamed themselves Onirama as their band became more of a reality. The name comes from a Greek phrase "Onira Mas" meaning "Our Dreams".[1]

In October 2004, Onirama began appearing at Malt & Jazz with their signature live performances causing talk around Thessaloniki. Around the same time, the band began writing their first album and searching for a record label.[1]

2005-2008: First studio album

In 2005 they signed with Lyra Records and released their debut album Diskolos Kairos Gia Prinkipes (A tough time for princes) on 7 December 2005. The lead single "O Horos (Klise Ta Matia)" (The Dance, Close your eyes) became a radio hit and gained Onirama popularity,[2] while the second single "Mia Mera Tha 'Rtheis" (One day you will come) also became a radio hit.

In the Summer of 2006, they made appearances all over Chalkidiki, while they appeared in Athens all winter long with Antonis Remos.[1] In January 2006, Onirama decided to change things up, and participated in an interactive musical performance directed by Rigos Kostantinos at Theatro Dasous in Thessaloniki. In the performance, the members of the band each unfold another aspect of their characters, while interacting with the audience.

In March 2006, Onirama was nominated for "Best pop band" at the 5th Arion Music Awards, while they also appeared with Ble, Adrianna Babali, Vasilis Papakonstandinou, and Michalis Hatzigiannis.[3]

On February 21, 2007, Onirama collaborated with Antonis Remos for the 4th MAD Secret Concert.[2] At the concert, they sang many English hits, and fans nicknamed the collaboration "OniRemos". In summer 2007, Onirama and Antonis Remos toured Greece together.

2008-Present: Klepsidra, Horis Etia and Sti Hora Ton Trelon
Onirama while performing at Agia Triada, Vrontou, Pieria.

For the winter season 2007-2008, Onirama successfully appeared alone at popular Club Cinema Live at Peiraios 130 in Athens with their signature live performances.[2] In March 2008, they entered the studio to record their second studio album.[4]

In June 2008, Onirama released their second album Klepsidra (Hourglass) which reached number 1 on the IFPI charts and later was certified gold. The album also placed at number eleven on IFPI's Year-end chart for Top 50 Greek albums of 2008, and number thirteen on the Top 50 Greek and International albums of 2008.[5][6] The lead single "I Balanta Tou Trellou" (The crazy guy's ballad) instantly became a radio hit. The album also featured their first English song to appear on an album, titled "Maybe Tonight". The title track "Klepsidra" was released as the second single, and reached the number 1 spot in airplay. "Oti Den Exeis" (Whatever you don't have) was released as the third single, and as of November 2009, is in the top 5 of the airplay charts. In June 2008, they appeared at the MAD Video Music Awards. Around the same time, they were also voted the "Next big name" in Greece by MAD TV voters.[7]

Throughout summer 2008, Onirama toured all of Greece,[8] while in the winter, they appeared with Despina Vandi. Also, a major defining point in the group's career was on August 1, where the group performed as the opening act in front of thousands of people for international superstar Lenny Kravitz on his Love Revolution Tour, which was a concert in Athens.

On November 26, 2009 Onirama released a compilation album titled Horis Etia (Without reason). The two-disc album features collaborations with other singers covering songs from the band's first two albums, new versions of past songs, remixes, as well as some new songs. For the winter season, Onirama appeared in a concert series with Michalis Hatzigiannis at club REX in Athens.

In early November, Onirama released a new studio album titled Sti Hora Ton Trelon.[9] The album contains 12 songs, with two of them being in English.[9]

Current members
  • Thodoris Marantinis - lead vocals, guitar
  • Giorgos Kokonidis - lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Dimitris Kokonidis - drums, percussion
  • Alexis Papakonstantinou - bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Christos Tresintsis - keyboards, backing vocals

Past members
  • Kostas Karakatsanis - violin, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Dionisis Pratzis - bass guitar, backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums

All the albums listed underneath were released and charted in Greece and Cyprus.

Year Title Certification
2005 Dyskolos Kairos Gia Pringipes —
2008 Clepsydra Gold
2010 Sti Hora Ton Trelon —

Compilations
Year Title Notes
2009 Horis Etia —

References
  1. "Onirama: The Band" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2008-05-06. Onirama.gr. Retrieved on July 10, 2008
  2. "Βιογραφικο: Onirama" (in Greek). MAD TV. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  3. "Οι καλλιτέχνες των "Αρίων"" (in Greek). MAD TV. Retrieved on July 10, 2008
  4. "Στο studio οι Onirama" (in Greek). MAD TV. Retrieved on July 10, 2008
  5. "Annual Charts- Year 2008: Top 50 Ελληνικών Aλμπουμ". IFPI Greece. January 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  6. "Annual Charts- Year 2008: Top 50 Ελληνικών και Ξένων Aλμπουμ". IFPI Greece. January 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  7. "Mad Poll: Οι Onirama το επόμενο μεγάλο όνομα" (in Greek). MAD TV. Retrieved on July 10, 2008
  8. "Καλοαρινη Περιοδεια Των Ονιπαμα ΕΡΙΟΔΕΙΑ ΤΩΝ ONIRAMA" (in Greek). Onirama.gr. Retrieved on July 10, 2008
  9. Staff (October 21, 2010). "Οι Onirama επιστρέφουν με νέο album!" (in Greek). MAD TV. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
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