Are you doing in life what you was sent to?
Are you living the life that you wanna live?
Are you living your life in a way to win?
--Ithaka from "The Life You Wanna Live?" (Saltwater Nomad)
Are you doing in life what you was meant to? Are you doing in life what you was sent to? Are you living the life that you wanna live? Are you living your life in a way to win? --Ithaka from "The Life You Wanna Live?" (Saltwater Nomad) The Chinese philosopher, Confucius once said that a wise man doesn't feel the need to differentiate between work or hobby. And more importantly he doesn't feel the need to reveal to others whether or not he is working or playing. Observing from distance at the effortless way the multi-artistic Ithaka (aka Darin Pappas) traverses at ease between all of his chosen mediums of expression; [music, sculpture, writing and photography] it appears his life's journey is a soulful balancing act somewhere between the worlds of euphoric creation and aquatic diversion. But on closer inspection, looking at the expertise and attention to detail of any Ithaka project, it becomes evident the man is getting down to first-degree serious business, even if he himself isn't aware of it. |
Listen to a track from Ithaka's Album, Saltwater Nomad. |
It's all about perception.
How you look at things.
How you absorb things.
Some of the wisest
and most interesting people
I've ever met have barely even
left their home state.
It¹s about breaking routine
And breaking routine is what Ithaka and his bag of tricks is all about. In contrast to his last audio work, Recorded in Rio (a melodic, mostly live-instrument hip hop album released in 2004), the new cd, SALTWATER NOMAD, his fifth full-length, goes to the polar opposite and is largely an electronic production. Recorded in Brazil with producer Tito Gomes, the two serve up twelve clean, bumping, minimalist hip hop story-songs.
Vocal-wise, Ithaka's fluid punctuality can be considered in outstanding company like Everlast, Michael Franti and the late Tupac. And although sonically, Saltwater Nomad will be considered a pop/rap record, lyrically don't expect generic Pimp & Ho/22"-rim/gansta-stylin' references. Ith successfully personalizes the genre, using it as a soundtrack for his straight-up, no bullshit, autobiographical story-telling, walking new ground across subjects like spirituality, global politics, nostalgia, lust, immigration, positive thinking, diabolic roommates (comedy), the intricate complexities of long lasting boy/girl unity and his passion of choice, wave-riding. All scribed with the Ithman's patented crafty, post-Beat Generation urban lyricism.
Breaking routine is what Ithaka and his bag of tricks is all about.
Sine the day mammy multiplied
I ride to keep my soul alive
I'll ride until the day, the day that I die
I ride 'cuz I like the view from the tube
I ride 'cuz I like the color blue
I ride to keep my mojo intact
So I got the goods to deliver
When my baby gets back
Ithaka's music has been featured in several surfing films (including the award winning, Timmy Turner's Second Thoughts), and the hit basketball video game NBA 2K7. His hip-hop classic, "Escape From The City Of Angels"? appeared in Columbia Picture's feature film, The Replacement Killers.
For more info see:
www.myspace.com/ithakamusic
Saltwater Nomad (and other Ithaka releases) may be purchased at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/ithakamusic2
A major retrospective from Ithaka's body of sculpture work entitled, The Reincarnation Of A Surfboard (1989 until present) is currently being shown at the prestigious WOA gallery in Lisbon, Portugal.
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