“Post-traditional Duo”: Jan Van Angelopoulos & Fotis Siotas

Exploring the archetypal form of the “zygia,” the duo of Jan Van Angelopoulos and Fotis Siotas uses rhythmic and melodic elements derived from the broader Greek musical tradition.

Improvisation, a key element of all folk music, plays a central role in their collaboration. Sonically, the coexistence of acoustic instruments with soundscapes belonging to pop/dance culture—such as effects, bass, and modular synthesizers—enriches and adds a new dimension to music with clear origins, creating a hybrid acoustic/electronic sound.

Jan Van Angelopoulos — drums, modular synthesizer

Fotis Siotas — violin, vocals

🔷 Fotis Siotas was born in Thessaloniki. He studied violin and singing at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. He was a member of many bands and choirs in the city. Since 1993, he has been active in concerts and recordings as a musician, arranger, composer, and singer. He has collaborated with Th. Papakonstantinou, S. Malamas, G. Angelakas, D. Savvopoulos, P. Pavlidis, F. Delivorias, A. Ioannidis, B. Papadopoulos, Jan Van, D. Trypanis, and many others. He has written music for theater and dance performances, is a member of Sancho 003 and Sotires, and has released two albums with lyricist Th. Gonis, “Ta Deftera” and “Dyo Lathi.”

🔷 Giannis Angelopoulos is a drummer and composer. He presents his compositions under the pseudonym Jan Van Angelopoulos, an unorthodox Dutch translation of his name. Since his debut album “Misspent” (2010), he has released a series of albums and singles, including “Ladokolla” (2013), “YAN VAN” (2015, with lyrics by Efthymis Filippou), “Kako Poiima” (2019, featuring Pavlos Pavlidis), and “Streams” (2021, Teranga Beat). He is a regular collaborator with the Vasistas theatre company, for which he has composed music for major theatrical productions, as well as with the Stereo Nero dance company, with works that have been presented at the Onassis Foundation and the Athens & Epidaurus Festival.