Biography

Pieros Kezou was born in Paralimni

Paralimni

Paralimni is a town situated in the South East of Cyprus, a little way inland, within the Famagusta District. Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, it has increased in size and status, due to the migration of many refugees fleeing from the North...

, Cyprus on the 15th of November. Growing up in the first difficult years of the islands (Cyprus) recent turbulent history

Turkish invasion of Cyprus

The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...

, Pieros showed early signs of maturity and a high interest in music. Ηe would lock himself in his room with a voice recorder and a small synthesizer, composing and singing his first musical pieces. His teachers, recognizing his talent, would very often give him the chance to present his work at school shows and productions.

At the age of 18 he moved to Nicosia

Nicosia

Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...

 for his studies. He lives there since and works as a music teacher in primary education. During his studies he was again given the chance to compose and perform. It was very clear to him that he didn't want to follow the usual musical norms in both the music and the lyrics, thus he's trying to create a more pioneer and authentic sound for his work.

He took part in various competitions as a performer, including The Laiki Bank Song Contest For Young Cypriot Artists, The Lions of Cyprus Song Contest and as a backing vocalist for the local Eurovision Song Contest preselections

Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest

Cyprus made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981. Cyprus' best result, fifth place, has been achieved on three occasions: in 1982 with Anna Vissi, 1997 with Hara & Andreas Constantinou, and 2004 with Lisa Andreas....

.

Aiming to discover a new musical performing approach he decided to follow lessons in classical singing and musical with soprano Tiziana Sojat. He has since performed songs of classical/musical repertoire as a soloist in various occasions. He has collaborated with sopranos Marilena Solomou, Maria Poulli,Tiziana Sojat, singing demanding pieces like "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables

Les Misérables (musical)

Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....

, "Tonight

Tonight (1956 song)

"Tonight" is a popular song with music written by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and was published in 1956.It was introduced in the Broadway musical West Side Story. The song was revived in 1961 on single records in versions by Ferrante & Teicher and Eddie Fisher, whose...

" from the West Side Story

West Side Story

West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...

, etc.

He has recorded songs for the theatre for children and songs of other composers like Michalis Roussos, Yiorgos Fylaktou and Guy Creen. He took part in the CYBC

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation ) or CyBC is Cyprus's public broadcasting service, transmitting island-wide on four radio and two television channels. CyBC is a non-profit organization that utilises its entire income for the promotion of its main mission, which is the objective provision of...

 series "Artos kai Theamata", performing songs from the Cypriot Theatre and Operetta.

Inspiration

Although Pieros performed in a wide variety of genres, his real love is for the mainstream and contemporary music scene. Influenced by Brian Eno

Brian Eno

Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...

, Jean Michel Jarre

Jean Michel Jarre

Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...

 and Vangelis

Vangelis

Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...

, he has composed orchestral music combining electro music, ethnic music and avant garde music elements. Moreover, his recent work of the last couple of years, is concentrating in song writing. Influenced by Kate Bush

Kate Bush

Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...

, David Bowie

David Bowie

David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...

, Suede

Suede (band)

Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...

, Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...

, Antony and the Johnsons

Antony and the Johnsons

Antony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators.-Career:British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released...

, he's writing songs with very personal and revealing, mainly in English lyrics, finished with interesting orchestrations and sensitive vocal touches. He is inspired not only from personal circumstances but also from the lives of people who surround him. He is often in his work self sarcasting, other times observing, demonstrating and challenging taboo issues.

Work in Progress

Pieros is currently preparing his collection of songs entitled “Songs made of beautiful tears”.
Songs that are possible candidates for his new album are:
"Authorised Biography", "The Witch Song", "Digital Boyfriends", "Concern", and "Stilnox" as well as some instrumental songs he composed.

Eurovision 2009

Pieros Kezou was one of the contestants of the 2009 Cypriot Eurovision

Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Cyprus participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. CyBC announced that Cyprus's 2009 Eurovision entry would be selected through a national final where the general public will be the one to decide the winner via 100% televoting...

 National Selection Final hosted by local TV station CYBC

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation ) or CyBC is Cyprus's public broadcasting service, transmitting island-wide on four radio and two television channels. CyBC is a non-profit organization that utilises its entire income for the promotion of its main mission, which is the objective provision of...

. His song "Bleed 4 U" is a dark song with an edgy electronic pop sound. "Bleed 4 U" was written, composed, and will be performed by Pieros as he also did all the backing vocals himself. He describes his Eurovision entry as "Pet shop boys doing a Depeche mode cover with a touch of Goldfrapp somewhere".