Photo by Olof Grind.
If you lean into the winds of change, you’ll take flight in the direction of your destiny. Plàsi (aka Mikael Bitzarakis) embraces a natural inclination towards evolution. Rather than tread the same territory or comfortably drift into the rhythm of the past, the Greco-Swedish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist steadily shifts course on his 2024 EP, Salamina [Nettwerk Music Group].
Joined by producer Björn Yttling [Lykke Li, Peter Björn & John, First Aid Kit], he organically expands his sonic palette, stretching beyond singer-songwriter tradition and reaching cinematic heights buoyed by a bolder sound and ambition.
It all started with a sojourn to the Greek island of Salamina…“While I was in Salamina, something in me just wanted to take that step from being ‘the guy with the guitar’ to having a full band sound,” he goes on. “I wanted everything to feel bigger.”
A distinct personal perspective has always underscored his music. Born in Crete, he actually resided in North Sweden for the better part of his childhood. However, he built the foundation for his artistry in Stockholm. “It’s where my musical base lies,” he notes. “I learned so much there.”
Inspired by artists as diverse as Blanco White, Henry Jamison, Efterklang, and Phoebe Bridgers, he carefully crafted an eloquent signature style, tying together threads of ethereal acoustic guitar, lithe production, and warm vocals. It evolved across the Now & Then EP [2016], People LP [2018], and Mystery EP [2019]. Reacting with listeners, “Sorrow” gathered 14.7M+ Spotify streams and counting, paving the way for collaborations with Axel Flóvent, Aisha Badru, and more. During 2022, his Foreign Sea LP garnered critical acclaim. Atwood Magazine hailed it as “an enchantingly tender record of self-discovery and renewal.” Along the way, he also toured internationally with the likes of Flóvent, Hollow Coves, Henry Jamison, Efterklang, and José González.
Following a gig in Athens, he stole away to Salamina in 2022. Accompanied by frequent collaborator Linus Hasselberg, he expanded his creative palette. “There are places in the world that show us the way without trying,” he reflects. “Life in Salamina changes in a second. You can go from the cosmopolitan capital to the rural island—almost right next door. It’s rough, but honest. In a way, the landscape tells us a lot about life and its natural beauty. This particular environment really made me think outside of the box.”
So, he enlisted the talents of producer Björn Yttling to bring the songs to life at INGRID Studios in Stockholm. Pinning plaintive vocals to lush sonic architecture, the music resembles the moment you fall into a dream.
Plàsi introduced this body of work with the single “All of Me.” Acoustic guitar gently echoes
through timpani as his introspective lyrics captivate with an acceptance of optimism for the unknown. Embracing boundlessness, he chants, “All of me, let it all be free.” “Continuing to challenge your thinking can be hard when you’ve found an expression, you’re comfortable with,” he admits. “The curiosity of trying something new will still be there unless you actually try it. I’m daring to take a step in a new direction.”
Singing in Swedish for the first time, “Ordna Sig” layers strings above steady organic percussion. Simultaneously, his vocals take flight in cinematic fashion. “It wasn’t planned, but for some reason the lyrics came out of my mouth in Swedish when I was writing ‘Ordna Sig’,” he recalls. “The melodies, chords, and progressions reminded me of the Swedish scene I grew up in, so it felt 100% natural to write it that way.”
Then, there’s the opener and title track “Salamina.” Synths complement the otherworldly arpeggiation as he harnesses the energy from the island through evocative intonation.
“When we started writing it, something special happened,” he says. “It was different from anything I’d done before. It became the basic idea of what I wanted to write around. The journey began with this song on Salamina.”
He showcases another side of his musicality on “Avignon,” lacing the laidback beat with electric guitar. “It’s the most experimental song on the EP,” he says. “It has a sound that I didn’t expect we would reach before entering the studio, but it really made me take a step into exciting territory together with Yttling.”
“Innocent” finds him in a space of reflection as he simultaneously shares wisdom in a clarion call chorus. “It’s about dreaming back to the youth times when one’s problems seemed less complicated than when you grow up,” he explains. “It’s a call to the generation below me to take their chances to run, explore, and try their wings before they get stuck in the labyrinth of life.”
Ultimately, Plàsi has spread his wings too. “I am myself more than ever,” he leaves off. “I’m following my instincts. The energy I have at the moment and the type of songs coming out now are not a coincidence. I wanted a bit more pace and power in my musical project because that’s where I am right now in my life. I’m thrilled with the result.”
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