Armik
Armik
strums the heartstrings like some mythic master of romance. His guitar
serves as a soulful, emotive voice, demonstrating a technique that is both
wild and refined. His music is passionate, sensual, exotic and definitely
romantic. Flamenco virtuoso Armik is a passport to an intoxicating musical
world. His compositions are sultry Caribbean and Latin rhythms meshed with
provocative Old World melodies.
|
|
Fusing traditional Spanish
melodies with jazzy improvisation and progressive rhythms. Armik has
concocted a passionate new sound recognized by so many as his own unique
style described as "Latin-gypsy-jazz".
|
|
His five successful albums on
Baja/TSR Records, "Rain Dancer", "Gypsy Flame",
"Rubia", "Malaga", and "Isla
del Sol" have clearly set new standards for "New-
Flamenco" music. All five albums have been on the Billboard
charts in the New Age and World music categories as best selling albums.
|
|
Building on his legacy of
excellence & invention Armik has produced and arranged all of his
albums. "Every song is played in one take " the guitarist says
proudly". A lot of times musicians will punch-in and overdub the
parts, but I am totally against that. You lose the emotion and feeling
when you work that way , and emotion is very important to me and my
music".
|
|
Born in Iran of Armenian descent,
Armik is a true citizen of the world. At the age of seven he became so
enamored with classical guitar that he pawned his watch for one. He hid
the instrument in the basement of his house, when he practiced unbeknownst
to his family.
|
|
By the time his mother made the
discovery, Armik was exhibiting a prodigious talent for music and the
family began paying for his lessons. Determined to complete his formal
training in record time, the guitarist completed the "Rudolf Solphege"
instructional regimen in two years. At the age of 12 he was a professional
recording musician. He started as a Jazz professional and continued in
that format for approximately 10 years.
Armik traveled frequently
to Spain to play and study with various classical and flamenco
musicians. Armik became an ardent student of Spanish folk music.
"When I first touched a flamenco guitar and heard the sound, I
realized I could talk through my instrument."
|
|
Armik moved to Los Angeles
in 1981, where he currently resides. It was while performing with
other artists that fans began to ask him when he was finally going
to record his own album. He fulfilled those requests with the 1994
release of "Rain Dancer" which caught the
music world unawares with its ripened, romantic sound. The album
rocketed to the Top 10 Billboards New Age Albums chart, and
received airplay in such major markets as San Francisco, Chicago,
Los Angeles, Orlando and San Diego.
|
|
In 1995 Armik created Gypsy
Flame, a logical progression from his1994 debut
recording, Rain Dancer. Public response was effusive. Gypsy
Flame reached GOLD status in Australia within a few
months of its release. The 12 original compositions range from
fiery salsas to jazz-inflected rumbas and luxuriant Spanish ballads.
The guitarist takes his unique artistry to lofty new levels on Gypsy
Flame. The rhythms featured here come from the Caribbean,
the Mediterranean and South America, while the melodies echo the
romantic ballads of Spain. Armik provides the finishing touch
himself, performing his solos with jazzy improvisational fervor.
|
|
In 1996 his third album Rubia
was released. The guitarist punctuates his well-tempered
harmonic lines with fiery bursts of improvisation. This album finds Armik
creating beautiful musical storms, and negotiating each squall and
swell like a true virtuoso. With its sumptuous jazz, Latin and
European overtones Rubia possesses the
continental feel of a world classic. In fact, the album is titled
after an instrument created expressly for Armik by the revered
Spanish luthier Pedro Maldonado. Armik was so inspired by
Maldonados handiwork that he composed two tracks in honor of the
instrument and its maker, Rubia and Maldonado.
|
|
Malaga
is Armiks fourth album released in 1997. Like its creator, Malaga
is ambitious, romantic and fervently experimental. Armik has since
been credited with introducing Spanish folk music to a new
generation of fans. Malaga is sure to win over
converts. With its burnished melodies and flawless arrangements, the
album is a symbol of excellence in a world overrun by musical
mediocrity. His musicianship is evident from every track which pulls
the heartstrings with echoes of flamenco, Brazilian Samba &
Mediterranean influences. Every track highlights Armiks lightning
fast fingers on his custom made flamenco guitars. Malaga
is music with passion.
|
|
Isla del Sol
literally "Island of the sun" is Armiks fifth and
latest album released in May of 1999. This vibrant recording
combines fiery flamenco guitar & tropical Caribbean rhythms with
beautiful and passionate melodies. It is hot, exciting, romantic and
very exotic. Unlike anything else youve ever heard before.
Although the song writing and preparation for Isla del
Sol took months, Armik recorded each song
in just one take. Prior to any recording, Armik spends
numerous hours selecting the best sound format which is the result
of the brilliant and clear sound that is heard on all of his albums.
The artist says proudly "this is an album that is a combination
of my lifetime education and experiences in recording and song
writing".
|
|
Isla del Sol
will take you to far away places that can only be imagined in your
dreams. "This album is a reflection of my life. Music is my
life" the guitarist proudly says. As you love his other four
albums, you will fall in love with Isla del Sol
even more.
|
|
The guitarist takes his
rightful place as one of the worlds finest and best selling
master flamenco guitarists. His five successful albums show case the
worldly sound of Armik. He has a special and unique
style and touch that is distinguished from all others.
|
|
****To hear Armiks music
is to love it. It is an addiction, an inspiration, a necessity.****
|
|
|
|