The Greek band iota delivers “Aspect” as part of their album See Your Universe. Expect a moody, beautifully minimal melodic riff, microtuning-heavy improvs, and a smooth bass driven groove. It’s jazzy, engaging, and always developing new ideas. Read our discussion below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Atmosphere. Rhythm. Exploration.
Tell us a few things about See Your Universe. What is the main idea behind it?
See Your Universe is a journey into perception and self-awareness. It looks at the way each of us shapes our own inner world, how clarity and chaos coexist, and how emotion transforms into sound. Each track represents a different state of mind, and together they create a universe made from all those shifting thoughts and feelings.
The band’s name, iota, symbolizes the “smallest part of a whole.” How does this concept of building an entire musical world from a small, subtle texture inform your overall songwriting and production process?
For us everything begins from something very small: a texture, a breath, a pulse, a short phrase on the ney. These tiny sparks often carry a lot of identity, so we let them guide the whole track. When the initial detail feels honest and alive, the rest of the arrangement forms naturally around it. It’s a slow unfolding rather than a forced construction.
Your influences span from experimental electronica like Amon Tobin and Aphex Twin to hip-hop pioneers like J Dilla and DJ Shadow, and the spiritual jazz of Cinematic Orchestra. How do you navigate blending these seemingly disparate genres into one cohesive sound?
We never approach our music with the idea of mixing genres. We follow feel and instinct. What unites our influences is texture, groove and an emotional narrative. When those elements work together, the genres blend by themselves. Electronic sound design, hip hop rhythms and the openness of jazz can meet in the same space without clashing, and that balance defines our identity.
You highlight that your music is a “need for expression and sharing with the community.” In what ways do you see your music and live shows fostering this sense of community where diverse cultures are united?
On stage we try to create a space where everyone feels included. Each member of the band brings different cultural and musical backgrounds, and those influences interact naturally when we perform. The audience adds its own energy and completes the picture. When people from different worlds connect through the same rhythm, even briefly, that creates a real sense of community.
Your performance at the Athens Epidaurus Festival, dedicated to Afrofuturism, was an iconic career highlight. What did that theme allow you to explore musically and conceptually, and how did you successfully highlight the dialogue between Black urban culture and Greek musical textures?
Afrofuturism gave us the freedom to experiment with imagination and identity. It opened a path to combine Afro-diasporic rhythms, hip hop and electronic futurism with Greek tonalities such as the ney and Mediterranean harmonic colors. We wanted both worlds to speak equally, without one overshadowing the other. That dialogue made the performance feel like a bridge between cultures and a celebration of how traditions can evolve.
How do you relate to the music scene of Greece in general?
We feel connected to a generation of artists that constantly pushes forward. The scene is full of experimentation and curiosity, and that energy motivates us. There is a strong sense of community among musicians who want to explore new ideas, and we’re glad to be part of that environment.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
For sure. Mob Trio is one of the first names that comes to mind. Every time I listen to them I feel like I am hearing the next step of where the scene can go. I would also say Now Vs Now, the project led by Panagiotis Andreou, because the sound hits you in a way that is both unpredictable and deeply musical. The projects he leads have this beautiful balance between Greek character and a global energy that you do not come across often. Both are artists I genuinely think more people should know about.
What isn’t a crime but should be?
Racist and homophobic comments and any form of bullying. They really hurt people and leave scars. Usually everyone “gets away with it” with just a slap on the wrist, but there should be real consequences that set an example. Society cannot stay indifferent to behavior like this.
Thank you!
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