MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

If you haven’t heard or discovered George Perris, here’s the 411. He was born in Athens — not Georgia but in Greece — to Greek and French parents. He wanted to be a singer since he was a child. He accomplished that goal in a major way and now has released his third English album titled No Armor. He is an international recording artist and sings in Greek, French, English and Spanish. This is his 10th studio album in a career that began in 2005. Oh, and Perris just recently came out publicly as gay.

That last bit of information and the beauty of his voice accompanied by his natural good looks was plenty of reason to learn more about his new album and passion for singing.

This led to an insightful conversation with The Rage Monthly about his decision for revealing his sexuality at this point in his life and career. As Pericles, an Athenian statesman in ancient Greece, said, “Wait for the wisest of all counselors, time.”

When listening to No Armor for the first time, I was reminded via the sound of your singing voice of David Gates from Bread, John Denver, Don McLean and Josh Groban. You’ll have to tell me if some of those singers ring a memory bell regarding their voices.

What a compliment, thank you! They all have beautiful voices with a very distinct color in their voice! I have come across all of them and admire them, even though I wasn’t really influenced by them.

Your album is beautiful, thoughtful and romantic at times. This is your third English singing album, and what excites you vocally and emotionally about the selection of songs you presented for this latest release?

This is my first album made almost entirely of covers. During the pandemic, like most of us I felt the need to go back to the basics, to listen to the music that made me who I am. I chose these specific songs because each and every one of them has been a steady companion in my life for some reason. They speak a truth to my existence that is beyond any explanation. That’s why I chose them all based on emotion and not vocal dexterity or anything else. They have a healing power. I see this album and the song choice as a step back, to better shine the path ahead of me.

I truly think based on the quality of your

Shining Light on a New Path

OUT SINGER GEORGE PERRIS WITH NO ARMOR

photography by elina giounanli

voice that there is an open door for any material you enjoy singing. When you titled the album No Armor, was this a reference to personally letting your guard down in the public arena as far as sharing your gay sexuality at this point in your life and career?

Aw thank you! I really appreciate that. Working on my voice so that I could be technically free to sing as many genres as I could has always been very important to me.

As for the title, not at first, as the actual song was written way before I decided to share my private life publicly. However, as we were finishing the album and all its elements were put in place and I had a more conscious notion of what this album meant for me, it felt like the proper title. Removing that last bit of armor and having the courage to be completely open and vulnerable, gave me a strength that I hadn’t thought of before.

My thoughts as a gay man who is not famous and came out in 1983 to his family and friends is that it truly is a never-ending process of discovery as to if it makes a big deal or not in your life . . . meaning your sexuality doesn’t define you as a human being. Now if you are in the public eye, it does make it a lot harder to be honest as to when you want to let this personal fact be a public record of you as an artist. Your thoughts on this?

Of course, your sexuality doesn’t define you completely as a human being; however, being honest about it, I think is a big deal in someone’s life. How can you have an honest and true relationship with your family and friends if they ignore who you love? There’s a wall there that won’t allow you to have an open channel of communication and understanding. And I think that most of the times, the fear of sharing our private life with our loved ones stems from us. There’s a sense of shame that is palpable in gay men of my generation. I think it’s because the normality of a gay relationship was never visible in the media growing up. It wasn’t a part of the public discussion. Thank God things have changed now. As for an artist, I believe that if they make good music, then the audience will follow. However, people will always want to know even a few things about their favorite artist’s private life. If they don’t get to know him, then how are they going to put him into their home and their lives?

“AS WE WERE FINISHING THE ALBUM AND ALL ITS ELEMENTS WERE PUT IN PLACE AND I HAD

A MORE CONSCIOUS NOTION

OF WHAT THIS ALBUM MEANT FOR ME, IT FELT LIKE THE PROPER TITLE. REMOVING THAT LAST BIT

OF ARMOR AND HAVING THE

COURAGE TO BE COMPLETELY OPEN AND VULNERABLE, GAVE ME A STRENGTH THAT I HADN’T

THOUGHT OF BEFORE. ”

You are no stranger to the spotlight and entertaining people. I think you’ve been professionally singing since you were in your early 20s. Is that right? Please share a bit about the joy and gratitude you feel for having this talent and gift of song, and is there a performance you gave that sticks strongest in your memory?

I started singing professionally back home in Greece right before I turned 18. I’m eternally grateful to music; it gave me freedom, the right to be who I was meant to be and a sense of responsibility and compass in life. I don’t know where I would be today if it weren’t for music. I have lived some extraordinary moments. My voice has traveled in parts of the world I didn’t even know existed. Of course, there have been a lot of difficulties and obstacles as well, but consistent hard work makes you look beyond all that. I think the performance that I will never forget was filming “A Sunset In Greece,” the concert we shot for PBS at the ancient temple of Aphaea in my home country. It was the first time that permission was granted in Greece to film a concert on the grounds of an ancient temple. I don’t even have the words to describe to you the awe I felt. It was breathtaking.

That’s truly an amazing accomplishment. Now, I think if a person thinks an artist or group is good and enjoys it, there is no expiration date. Who are your musical influences growing up and over the years?

My first influence was Greek icon Nana Mouskouri. I remember listening to her singing in five or six languages and being mesmerized by her voice, the affection and the expression she has in her throat. She is undoubtedly my inspiration in singing. Later on, I discovered Maria Callas, and for a while I seriously entertained the thought of becoming a classical singer, but I realized that I wouldn’t have the freedom I have in pop music. Charles Aznavour, Michel Legrand, George Michael and Celine Dion were also artists I tremendously admire and look up to.

Your version of “My Future” by Billie Eilish is romantic as hell with the slow tango beat of drums and strings. How did this song land on your repertoire and open this set of songs?

Believe it or not, I first heard it by chance from Miley Cyrus. She did a live version of it for the BBC, and I instantly fell in love with it. Then I heard it from Billie Eilish and went mad. I thought she was talking straight to my ear. I knew I wanted to sing that song from the minute I first heard it. Of course, at my age, I have a different perspective as to why I chose this song. It’s not about going towards the unknown for me; it’s about consciously prioritizing myself and my future.

Like we did for the rest of the album too, with my producer Alexander Livitsanos, we wanted to give it a distinct Mediterranean color musically. That’s why we chose those very Greek percussion rhythms and the Middle Eastern strings.

Now, about “Now I Can Dance,” if that’s not a righteous coming-out song, I just don’t know what is. At least that’s what I thought, and as you have composed songs previously, I thought you wrote this until I realized almost the entire album is cover songs. Watched the Tina Arena video and it’s pretty prideful, if I may say so. Your thoughts on this?

(Laughter) That’s funny, I never thought of that! Tina Arena is a huge inspiration to me, a very dear friend but also a singer I have admired since forever. “Now I Can Dance” has been playing in my head since probably 2000. It’s not a coming-out song for me. It’s a song that celebrates coming to terms with your own freedom in life; about not caring for those pre-conceived thoughts that people may have for you. Accepting yourself with its flaws and all. I love it how a song can have multiple layers and a completely different impact in each person. That’s the magic of music!

My husband Tom and I have been together 28 years and married for 14 this year. So “No Armor” is a new love song that speaks to us, after hearing it from you. Who initially sang this song and how did you hear it first? Also, another facet and an important one is diction, and I heard every word you sang on this so clearly. Thanks for that important skill in singing.

First of all, congratulations! Being together for 28 years is no small feat!

“No Armor” is actually one of my original songs, written by Evanthia Reboutsika and Lina Nikolakopoulou. I first recorded it in Greek, under “Ola ena,” and it quickly became one of the audience’s favorite songs. In Greek it says, “With you I can do everything from the beginning; I can even forgive myself.” That lyric always gets to me for its depth and meaning. I’m so happy Paula Winger translated it with such beauty in English, I can’t wait to sing it live! It meant the world to me when the Grammys posted a video of me singing it under the Acropolis, as a part of their “Global Spin” series.

Thank you again and it was a pleasure talking with you about your new music as I continue to enjoy it. Take care and continued happiness and success.

Thank you so much Bill, I really appreciate it! Have a great summer.