Strings Attached
I was delighted to be invited to catch Bill and Ems, aka Dejavu, playing live at Lithos Bar & Grill in Larnaca. On that night they were joined by Andreas, their drummer, and as a trio, they go by the name ‘Strings Attached’ I really loved this gig so much, especially their covers of Fever, and Hotel California, so I grabbed the chance to ask Bill if we could get together for a chat.
The Old Days
Over a lovely coffee, we reminisced about our first meeting many years ago, when Bill was a guitarist with Lithos Rock Band. I asked how it all started? Bill now age 34 said “I started playing guitar when I was 15, back in my hometown, Thessaloniki, Greece”, he laughed as he said “I’ve played in so many bands” … The biggest one I suppose, was ‘NoGreed‘ a rock metal band based in Thesoloiki, playing mostly progressive rock”.
Cross Range
I asked who influenced him, and he said, “The Scorpions, Iron Maden, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Zee Zee Top, and Eric Clapton … and which tracks? … Bill said, “I loved, Sweet Home Alabama, Johhny be Good, It’s my Life, by Bon Jovi, and Fever” the Elvis version. I said that’s quite a cross-range and he laughed and agreed, saying “I love so many different styles of music”
A Star
Ems, age just 23 is from Kent … her parents moved to Cyprus just after she was born, she entered her first singing competition at only age 11, and then The Search for a Star competition in Cyprus where she came third. I asked her which genre she loves and she said ‘Jazz’ … I have to say, I adore her jazzy voice!
Different Genres
Bill and Ems got together in 2020, Bill explained “we met at one of my gigs, at Waves Cocktail Bar, where Ems was waitressing at the time, and we sort of hit it off from day 1, and then slowly, slowly, this just happened”. Em’s pushed Bill to learn different genres and he appreciated her style and so he did. Now, together if they play a swing track, you’ll hear a bit of Bills’ rock there, and a little bit of Ems’ Jazz, Bill continued “we call it PMJ, … it’s like a Post Modern Juke Box” … I thought ‘that’s a great description’!
DeJaVU
Bill told me; “we bought a new loop pedal recently and now we make our own backing tracks even better, then I play guitar and do a bit of vocal and Ems sings with her sweet voice and incredible range”. He continued; “We take modern songs and twist them into classic jazz, we create everything, even our backing tracks, and the melodies just mix into each other and I’m sure you’ll sense a bit of Deja Vu” … I asked ‘how long are your sets?”, Bill said, “Our sets normally run for 2 to 2.5 hours and you can choose the mix … We can make it melodic, party or rocky”!
Events
You’ll find Dejavu playing the circuit around Cyprus, but they are also available for Birthday Parties, Weddings, and special events as a Duo .. Drummer Andreas, from the West Coast, a Drum Teacher by trade, can join the Duo to make a threesome called ‘Strings attached’ adding that real feel to the beat … check out my live Video cover of “Cocaine’ by singer-songwriter J. J. Cale in 1977, but of course, this is the Eric Clapton version.
Open All Year
Daily 24/7
Directions
You’ll find Bill & Ems playing all over Cyprus … Follow them on their Facebook pages below for the latest dates and venues booked …
More …
Network Number: 9013
