Marina Spanou she talked about her career in music and told the story of the first time she performed on the street.
The singer and daughter of Christos Spanos and Melina Paionidou was a guest at “Studio 4” on Thursday evening, October 31.
Marina Spanou in particular said that she understood from the beginning that it was suitable for her to sing outside in the street: “When I was playing music in the street, I realized that I was born to do this. I felt so free and so protected in a way, because I had the music in the foreground and not my behavior, the way I dress or talk, whatever I felt I belonged to. That’s where I felt it for the first time.”
Dionysiou Areopagitou was the road she chose to go and she said: “There are squares in Dionysiou Areopagitou, they think they belong. There are people who have been singing there for 7-10 years. Abroad if they are not mistaken, there are competitions for the subways, which choose which artist will perform at that time.”
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She then said that she decided to take to the streets to sing when she was walking in Areopagitou during Panhellenic and heard a musician who inspired her.
In detail, he said:The first day I urgently decided to go out to Areopagitou, it was a period when I was very excited out with the Panhellenic women, the week I was giving, and I hear a musician who brought a whole piano to Areopagitou and sings “Let’s walk on the moon”, which is a very personal piece I have with my mother. So I listened to him and I was so interested that I said “that’s something I want to do”. I had written some songs of my own that I didn’t want to make public yet, I was embarrassed. So the decision to go out to Areopagitou, I take a piece of equipment, which I lived for 2 years. I told my parents that I was going out, and they said, ”Just finish the Panhellenic and we will fix it.”
Marina Spanou recounted the whole process until she sang for the first time, as she told her parents and the speaker she bought with her father:
“I give the last lesson to Panhellenics and I will come back freaking out and say ‘now we have to find the speaker because I want to go out.’ We did some research, arrive on Friday and 10 minutes before closing the last shop that had the last speaker we wanted says “come in”. We are running to Piraeus, because I wanted to go out and sing on Sunday […] So, on Sunday before dusk, I took 4-5 friends and suddenly while I was singing “Perfume”, I see my father with black glasses looking at me. My best friend comes over and she gave me a beer through my best friend. From there he always follows me.”
The singer then spoke about how it felt to perform for the world and the interactions she had with people passing by: “The feeling of singing in the street is magical. The people who stopped and looked in my eyes for a few seconds, the look is shocking. Now, let’s say I avoid it at concerts, because there are a lot of people there, I rarely focus on the eyes. Then, because there weren’t many people passing by, I looked them all in the eye.”
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He added: “The people’s bravery had affection, they had a journey. Singing on the street is very hard work, at any time anyone can come up to you in a way that could disturb you. It feels like it affects you, which makes it powerful and good and somehow harder.”
«I felt that it opened a field in front of me that I want to explore, I want to go out again, that’s what I said the day I came home after“, he noted.
Marina Spanou said: “The world has too much power over you, as long as I let it. I left it because I had very positive feedback. The look, the energy I’m open to, people understand it, we succeeded. It was hard to leave money for someone, because I didn’t go out for it. I was saying thank you and somehow I wasn’t looking at them. They left me flowers and notes along the way. They gave me tight hugs, they greeted me, they left me poems and it was scary. I think the best thing you can do for a street musician is to smile at him as you pass and stand a little longer.”
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Marina Spanou
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Marina! It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. Your story of street performance is truly inspiring. Can you tell us a little more about that pivotal moment when you first sang on Dionysiou Areopagitou?
Marina Spanou: Thank you for having me! That day was remarkable. I was walking along Areopagitou during the Panhellenic examinations, feeling anxious yet hopeful. I heard a street musician playing a personal piece on a piano—”Let’s Walk on the Moon,” which resonates deeply with my memories of my mother. It sparked something in me. It made me realize that I wanted to share my music too.
Time.news Editor: It’s amazing how inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places. You mentioned feeling this immediate connection to performing in the streets. What exactly was it that made you feel so free?
Marina Spanou: When I was performing, I felt protected by the music. It put me in a space where I wasn’t worried about how I looked or what others thought. It was just me and the music, and I could express myself authentically. That kind of freedom was liberating!
Time.news Editor: I can imagine! You also talked about the interactions you had with passersby. How did those moments shape your experience as a street performer?
Marina Spanou: Those moments were magic! When people stopped to look into my eyes, I felt an immediate connection, almost like I was sharing a part of my soul with them. In smaller crowds, I could engage deeply with individuals. At larger concerts, it’s harder to focus on anyone in particular, but on the street, each gaze was personal and touching.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned that street performers in Greece share pathways with dedicated musicians who often play the same spots for years. How do you think that builds community among performers?
Marina Spanou: Absolutely, it creates a unique bond. In places like Dionysiou Areopagitou, you have artists who carve out their territory over time. There’s a sense of belonging. Abroad, you see organized competitions for street performers, helping to build a sense of community. In Greece, we don’t have that, but we learn from each other and support one another through shared experiences.
Time.news Editor: You’ve come a long way since that initial performance. What advice would you give to aspiring artists who might feel hesitant to take their music to the streets?
Marina Spanou: I would tell them to embrace their passion. Start small, and do it for the love of making music. The street is an honest stage that allows you to understand your craft and connect with people. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; seize the opportunity, and you’ll find a sense of belonging just like I did.
Time.news Editor: Wise words! It seems like your journey has just begun, yet you have gained so much insight already. What’s next for Marina Spanou?
Marina Spanou: I’m looking forward to continuing my musical journey, exploring new opportunities—perhaps more street performances, but also larger shows. I want to keep expanding my own music and share more personal stories through it. Above all, I want to inspire others, just as that street musician inspired me.
Time.news Editor: You certainly are an inspiration, Marina! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today. We wish you all the best in your musical endeavors!
Marina Spanou: Thank you for creating this space for artists. It was a pleasure to share my journey!
