NEWS: Within weeks from their release, songs "China Girl" (6/22/04), "Climb into my Benz" (9/8/04), "Satisfaction" (7/23/04), reached top 10 at Broadjam in categories, such as : the California Top 10, United States-North America Top 10, Rock Top 10, Production - Male Vocals Top 10, Rock - Modern Top 10, Progressive Rock Top 10, New Wave Top 10 !
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After producer Jimmy Hunter and I finished my first CD - Mission Dark - Jimmy told me that he could get Paul Warren (guitarist for The Temptations, Rod Stuart, Joe Cocker, Richard Marx, Eros Ramazzottii) and Bob Birch (current bassist with Elton John, formerly with Jose Feliciano) to play on my new CD.
Although Jimmy was drummer for Ray Manzarek's (from The Doors) Nite City, Village People, Nick Gilder, Steppenwolf, I still thought he was joking. It wasn't until I saw Paul hauling 7 guitars worth over $50k into the studio, and Bob actually shaking my hand, that I realized something special was about to develop.
In this second effort at Cazador studio we took a fresh approach moving from Mission Dark's computer generated compositions to exploring new levels of rock live intensities and energies by utilizing Hunter's savage drumming and the Cazador world class rhythm section of legendary bluesman Paul Warren and the rock solid Bob Birch.
Needless to say, the sessions were dynamic and the artistic creativity was overflowing. Studio sessions went on for months, and I found myself every time with the mike in my hand, having a blast; compelling vocals croon and whale tones were meant to salute Bowie, Morrison, Plant and Bono. The whole thing was a trip which kept us off our feet! I think the result is awesome! But, you'll be the judge...
LA Town Colors reflects on the cultural variety and way of life found in LA but could very well represent any major metropolitan area. In many ways, some of the lyrics - as reflected in "Flying Home" and "LA Town" - have served as my wake up call against a routine lifestyle full of anxiety and speed, my defense against insanity - i.e., doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...
This exciting project was recorded in Los Angels at Cazador and was mastered at the birthplace of rock and roll in Memphis by Brad Blackwood of Euphonic Masters.
MORE on Niko (AKA Nick Poulios):
Niko was born and raised in Athens, Greece.
Niko's first solo performance was during school graduation at the age of 12. As a teenager, Niko played quitar and was lead singer in a band called "The Makers". The Makers played in local theaters and clubs in Athens, Greece.
Post "Makers", Niko was lead singer for "The Jaguars", a top rock band in Greece. The band did covers for the Stones, Hendrix, etc. and appeared in numerous top clubs in Athens, including "On the Rocks", "Delta", etc., and had several outdoors concerts. The Jaguars also appeared on national Greek television and movies.
Niko moved to the US (Virginia - New Jersey) for college but his true passion remained music. Niko's music reflects on life experiences and is assembled in his "Book of My Life".
For a couple of decades Niko dreamed of somehow publishing and/or performing his music but it wasn't until after he moved to Los Angeles in 2001 that all this work started to appear, initially in "Mission Dark" and currently in "LA Town Colors". Each project took six months of studio time, and there is more where this came from...
While producing music, Niko continues to head a medical research group in Los Angeles specializing in genetic and other disorders. Niko has 4 college degrees, including a PhD and he is the author of over 100 scientific publications in various medical journals on several diseases and therapies, such as hemophilia, HIV, HCV, CAP, etc. Currently working on Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis...
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