When Maria Seitanidou arrived on the island of Lesvos 16 years ago as a newly appointed teacher, she couldn’t imagine the place she had chosen to live in or the many experiences that would follow. An island with a rich musical tradition, influenced by the opposite shores, with people who love to celebrate life and have a good time, and a large community of people from other parts of Greece as well as Turkey. She soon found herself surrounded by notable musicians such as Solon Lekkas, Nikos Andrikos, Alekos Kafounis, Yianna Maistrelli, Giorgos Skomvoulis, Panagiotis Kaitatzis, and many others, some of whom had settled on the island, while others just passed through for a short time. After all, Nikos Andrikos had established the Eastern Music Studies Center, which attracted musicians from all over the world.

Along her journey, she met Antonis Mylonas, a master of the folk guitar and instrument maker, with whom she had two children. Although their personal paths diverged, they continue to collaborate musically in various musical groups.

In recent years, another talented musician, Nikolas Pantaleon, joined this large musical family. He came to Mytilene for his studies at the university and, with his passion and talent, quickly became an integral part of the local music scene, which is not insignificant in the broader Greek context of Eastern music.

The three of them—Maria, Nikolas, and Antonis—will take us on a journey to a nostalgic café in Lesvos, playing beloved songs from the interwar period.

Maria Seitanidou sang the main score for the movie DJAM by Tony Gatlif, starring Daphne Patakia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1p8thV_drc