Today we’d like to introduce you to Olympia Papageorgiou.
Olympia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Larnaca, Cyprus which is a small Greek island in the Mediterranean. I come from a Cypriot and American background. I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t singing. I also began to play the piano at a young age but focused more on singing as time went on. There are several singers and musicians in my family, so music was definitely a large part of my life. My family eventually moved to America and I began voice lessons and joined chorus in school. When I was 17, I met a friend that had a studio in his home and began recording covers. The first song I ever recorded was “Fever” by Michael Buble. I loved the feeling of recording music and the fact that I could sing a song and have an mp3 of it totally blew my mind.
During my junior year at Kennesaw State University, I met Emmanuel Juin who owns the record label Qurriculum Global. I was signed soon after and released my first single “Falling Apart” in 2017. My dreams were coming true and still are. I recently released my first music video for my single “SALUD” and I still have to pinch myself that this is my life. I am blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love while pursuing other passions and interests at the same time. Aside from music, I also dance and have decided to continue my education by pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Who said you can’t accomplish multiple things?
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been smoother than expected because of my support system, my Orthodox faith and the fact that I was signed to a label that values me and not just my voice. I mean, there are always weird struggles and things that prevent you from releasing music on time or that prevent you from having healthy and safe work relationships. I think most women will relate to this. Being in the music industry, you sometimes have to deal with some sketchy characters. Some people think that because you are a woman, they can take advantage of you and convince you to do things by telling you they will cut you a deal. I wasn’t that desperate. My safety and health are way more important than a deal within the industry. Luckily, I kept up communication with my parents and they always helped me check out the person before working with them.
There are always issues with the technicalities of recording and releasing music. It was quite a struggle releasing SALUD. Sometimes there are delays that you have no control of.
When releasing a project, you also need promotional works, photoshoots, makeup done, outfits purchased, venues booked, performances and more. All of that takes the money and I am blessed to have a team that helps me fund those things. I recommend not shoveling money into random stuff because it “looks good” but instead, being careful to select the best engineer, recording studio, and people to work with. Quality over quantity. You can cut costs by making your own covers, buying affordable outfits and using social media to market your music. If you have extra cash, invest in someone to market your music for you to help push your brand along.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I do so many things! Specifically, with music, I love singing R&B as well as pop/world sounding music. I am proud of the fact that I am able to be versatile because my voice allows it. I don’t feel limited which is great. My biggest focus right now is more of the international/world sound and I am enjoying it thoroughly. It is just fun dancing music and it’s great to sing on tracks like that. I work closely with Qurriculum Global (aside from being an artist) managing the social media marketing and team/artist organization. It’s amazing to be able to make a difference within the record label I am signed to.
I am a graduate student and love school. I will be pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology beginning in August.
I also do some freelance consulting for artists (or anyone really) who want to set up their social media profiles and make their image more professional. I do face-to-face meetings to assist with social media tips as well as marketing advice.
Having multiple passions and goals is very important so that you are able to succeed in multiple areas in your life. If one thing happens to not work out, you have other things that will keep you grounded and focused and not totally defeated.
I feel like I am known for a few things. I believe strongly in certain things in life and I stand by them no matter the pressure around me. I am me all the time with everyone. I strive to be kind and understanding with others as well as honest and transparent.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I met my now manager, Amber “Gold” Parker, through a mutual friend. I would say getting advice and networking opportunities from friends that you trust is the best way to find other people that will want to work with you and genuinely help you. It is also important to understand that you do not need to do all of this on your own. Even the biggest names have large teams that help them further their craft. Keep your eye out for networking opportunities locally by checking hashtags like #networkingmusic etc.
Pricing:
- Face-to-Face Social Media Consulting – 100$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://olympiapapageorgiou.com/
- Email: papageorgiouolympia@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olympiapapag/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Olympiapapag/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/olympiapapag
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kxm8lGR5x4
Image Credit:
Broderick Armbrister, Valentinos Loucaides Photography, Lethal Media Productions
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