News, info and works of Greek-American interdisciplinary artist, Ithaka (Ithaka Darin Pappas); visual artist, music-maker, writer, photographer, citizen biologist & saltwater nomad (surfer). Lives between LA, CDMX and AkahtiLândia, Brasil. Ithaka official instagram: @_ithaka_ #sogetup #ithaka #ithakadarinpappas
Ithaka Darin Pappas surfing Jardim do Mar,- Madeira Portugal / photo: Joao Valente
In 1995, Ithaka Darin Pappas (often known simply as Ithaka) joined Zé Seabra and João Valente for a surf trip in Madeira Island. At that time, the Portuguese island was starting to be the next candy store for surf and on this surf trip the waves were pumping almost everyday.
Pappas was so impressed by Seabra´s performance on big waves, that he decided to write a song dedicated to him. The song was released in 1997, as the first single from his second studio album “Stellafly”.
In the end of this surf trip Zé Seabra offered a surfboard to Orlando Mendes Pereira and his friends and informally founded the “Surf Clube Jardim do Mar”.
"Muerto Escondido" is a 2004 bilingual, travel-oriented hip hop story-song by Ithaka (Ithaka Darin Pappas).
Lyrically the song was inspired by and written during a voyage to Mexicoand is a dark portrayal of a seaside surfing village that is overrun with narcotics, ghosts and monsters, "where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets".
Ithaka later pre-produced the instrumental base in Los Angeles. Final recordings were completed at Estúdio Monoauralin Rio de Janeiro including Ithaka's English language verses, the Spanish choruses hauntingly vocalized by Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian singer and actress Thalma de Freitas and the tribalesque percussion, Pepe Cisneros.
I know a place that's hot most the time, a spliff cost a quarter, a beer cost a dime. I've roamed the globe, Nairobi to Kyoto But my favorite ghetto is in the depths of Mexico. Paradise is where you make it, but this ain't for the weak, where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets The water's blue, sand black, skin brown, near a little ghost town that never shuts down. Beauty all around for miles, but there's darkness in their smiles....there's darkness in their smiles. Muerto Escondido, su alma está en peligro. La verdad será revelada en muerto escondido. Muerto's got swells that'll kick yo' ass, sprain yo' ankles or leave 'em casts. There's tropical rain to wash away the pain, but ain't nothing to keep you from going insane. Jacking straight up with a chip on her shoulder one-woman army, million-gallon liquid soldier. Muerto Escondido, not for the weak, where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets. Ants the size of roaches and roaches the size of mice. Scorpions in your shoes and beds full of lice. Inside, frogs and 'squitos in the shower. Outside, guns, knives and murder. When a house gets robbed, I mean the house itself. They kick your sorry butt out and move it someplace else. It's no man's land, It's no thugs land It's no one's land, e' loco-land. Muerto Escondido, su alma está en peligro. La verdad será revelada en Muerto Escondido. Suicide and homicide with dead dogs by the roadside .The river runs with blood the sixth of the month, coinciding with the local eclipse of the sun. Took 'shrooms at dawn and thought I saw god, (he) told me to drink more tequila, stop drinking so much rum. Went to a party at that house up on the hill, with lizards on the walls and ghosts in the halls. Sat down to a plate of fish head stew, sucking on an eyeball, I'd been trying to chew. Saw ants moving bread across the floor, through the dining room, the kitchen and out the door They didn't even wait 'til we got to desert, but neither did the skeezer with me trying to flirt. She said, "I'm from Italy, but I've lived here ten years. Now I have two husbands and I have six kids." Her mouth was melting as she tried to speak. Said, "Caro Ithaka, let me give you a treat." She started unzipping, but I was not with it, had a chancre the size of a quarter on the outside of her lippage. Left the room, left the house. But that ghost in the hall followed me out. He said, "You can run, but you cannot hide from that little dark lie you call your life. Won't you come back in and stay awhile, drink some blood with Tequila, Escondido style." Muerto Escondido, not for the weak, where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets. Muerto Escondido, su alma está en peligro. La verdad será revelada en Muerto Escondido. Muerto Escondido, not for the weak, where men walk on water and zombies walk the streets. Muerto Escondido, su alma está en peligro. La verdad será revelada en Muerto Escondido.
Ithaka Darin Pappas surfing on the day that inspired Seabra Is Mad – January 20th, 1995
at Jardim Do Mar, Madeira, Portugal. Photograph by João Valente
The Meaning Behind The Song: Seabra Is Mad by Ithaka
By Will Driscoll July 6, 2024
Seabra Is Mad is a slamming, story-lyric, drum & bass-rock song by Ithaka. It revolves around the Portuguese big wave surfer José Seabra and a real-life near-drowning experience that the artist himself survived with Seabra and another mutual friend, João Valente, on the island of Madeira in January of 1995.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the events that unfolded during the fateful trip. The song starts with the introduction of Seabra, a fearless rider known for his willingness to wait hours for a wave. The first verse describes a trip taken in the middle of winter, with Ithaka and Seabra riding a wave that left Ithaka’s stick broken.The imagery of underwater walls and a life flashing before one’s eyes creates a sense of danger and intensity.
The second verse delves into a specific surf spot, referred to as “M.” Here, Seabra breaks the berry, a five-meter ride that most would find intimidating. However, Seabra effortlessly glides through the wave, navigating a big fat cave and performing impressive maneuvers. The descriptive language used in the lyrics allows the listener to feel the thrill and excitement of the ride.
The final verse takes us to another surf spot named Bruxas. As the group plans to leave due to worsening conditions, the strong current prevents them from doing so. Seabra, ever the risk-taker, decides to drop into a pit without hesitation. The choice between potentially breaking bones and drowning is an intense one, and Seabra comes out on top, saving himself and his friends. The lyrics praise Seabra’s resilience and fearless nature.
Personally, this song holds a special meaning for me. As a fan of both music and surfing, it resonates with my own experiences and adventures. The intense energy of the music, combining slamming drums and bass with rock elements, mirrors the adrenaline rush experienced while riding a wave. The lyrics capture the spirit of those who are drawn to the ocean, pursuing their passion despite the risks
Seabra Is Mad became a popular radio pop-song in Portugal, reaching the Top 20 charts. It was also recognized with several awards, including nominations for “Best Song” and “Best Video” at the Blitz Awards (Portuguese Grammy’s). Additionally, it won the Público Newspaper Awards for the same categories in 1997. The song’s success and recognition further solidify its impact and appeal.
In 2007, Seabra Is Mad was featured in the popular video game NBA-2K7, introducing it to a new audience and continuing its legacy. The song’s ability to transcend time and mediums is a testament to its enduring quality and the universal themes it explores.
In conclusion, Seabra Is Mad by Ithaka tells the thrilling story of a near-drowning experience and celebrates the fearless and tenacious nature of big wave surfer José Seabra. The powerful lyrics, combined with the energetic music, transport listeners to the heart-pounding world of surfing. Whether you’re a fan of the sport or simply appreciate a gripping tale, this song is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Note: Lyrics & vocals by Ithaka Darin Pappas. Music created by Joe Fossard & Ewan Butler. Produced by Joe Fossard. Guitars and bass: Ewan Butler. Drums: Sergio Nascimento. Recorded in Paço de Arcos, Lisbon, Portugal.
ithaka, ithaka darin pappas, ith, seabra is mad, so get up, surf music, drumnbass
Rapper, contador de histórias, surfista, escultor e fotógrafo, Ithaka Darin Pappas era um praticante do multitasking artístico, antes da globalização do shuffle mas as ondas a que o dono da marca Ithaka se dedicava eram especificamente as do mar.
C va eram especificamente as do mar.
aliforniano de sangue, natural de Los Angeles, veio para Portugal nos primeiros anos 90 e a primeira canção a que deu voz foi só aquele que é o hino maior da música portuguesa de dança: o eterno So Get Up, ainda hoje um gatilho de pista, sobre o qual se envolveria numa polémica por, alegadamente, não ter recebido os direitos devidos.
Já sob o pseudónimo Ithaka, assinou Flowers and the Coloor of Paint, álbum de reaproveitamento de roupa velha produzido pelo coleccionador de discos Pedro Passos, em 1995. Uma pequena mas influente comunidade celebrou a importação da cultura do sample, não inteiramente virgem, mas acrescido com o talento de contador de histórias de Pappas, em regime spoken word, politizadamente pessoal e vagamente boémio.
Em 2007, seria editado o mais orgânico Stellafly, de onde foi retirada uma das canções que então marcaram a agenda: Seabra Is Mad. O então suplemento do Público, Sons (quando havia espaços exclusivamente dedicados à música nos jornais generalistas), haveria de o eleger álbum do ano. No ano seguinte, os Ithaka deram os primeiros concertos, tendo arrancado com um showcase na Antena 3 a convite de Henrique Amaro, e passado, por exemplo, pela Parque das Nações, onde o radialista era um dos programadores.
No final do século, Ithaka abandonou Lisboa onde voltaria regularmente para gravar e expor. A pasta da reciclagem guarda até hoje a memória de uma personagem ímpar que tornou certo o tempo em Portugal (e beneficiou de um contexto de abertura ao hip hop e à música negra em geral proporcionado por, entre outros, General D, Pedro Abrunhosa e Black Company) e marcou a segunda metade dos anos 90. Ironia das ironias, Pappas está em Portugal para inaugurar uma exposição no dia 23. Fiquem com a entrevista ao Curto Circuito de Darin Pappas, agora com 46 (!) anos.
@_ithaka_ [][][] On The Way To Ithaka (Em Direção à Ithaka) artist documentary about Ithaka Darin Pappas made in Rio de Janeiro in 2006
#RioDeJaneiro#ContemporaryArt#IthakaDarinPappas
´´Em direção à Ithaka´´ é um documentário sobre o multiartista californiano, Ithaka Darin Pappas (rapper, escultor, surfista e fotógrafo). O filme fala sobre o encontro do seu processo criativo com a cidade do Rio de Janeiro.
“On The Way To Ithaka” is a documentary about California multiartist Ithaka Darin Pappas (rapper, sculptor, surfer, and photographer). The film talks about the meeting of its creative process with the city of Rio de Janeiro.
«На пути к Итаке» - документальный фильм о калифорнийском мультиартисте Итаке Дарине Паппасе (рэппер, скульптор, серфер и фотограф). Фильм рассказывает о встрече своего творческого процесса с городом Рио-де-Жанейро.
by Californian artist, Ithaka (Ithaka Darin Pappas)
"TARO REEF" - a surrealist photography series by artist: Ithaka
(plant waves photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas in Brazil)
The featured images were all photographed at Taro Reef during a single winter season. Taro Reef is located at AkahtiLândia, Ithaka's mini-ranch and art studio situated in the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Rainforest) in the State of São Paulo (Brazil).
Although multiple attempts were made to continue the series, the taro patch at AkahtiLândia (Taro Reef) never again received ideal lighting conditions, nor did the curves of the leaves again emulate ocean waves as they had that one winter. The "Taro Reef" project is uniquely comprised only of the images on this presentation.
@_ithaka_
Ithaka Darin Pappas entrevistado por Bruno Bocayuva para o programa Papo Reto na Woohoo TV Brasil (2007).
Ithaka Darin Pappas entrevistou Bruno Bocayuva para o programa Papo Reto na Woohoo TV Brasil (2007), falando de surfe, arte, hip hop, viagens. Isto foi filmado durante o período em que Ithaka morou no Rio de Janeiro. Músicas em destaque; Featured songs; "Escape From The City Of Angels", "Seabra Is Mad", "Stay Strong Little Brother", "I Ride", "Like A Bottle Of Baccardi", "Who's The Enemy?"
Ithaka Darin Pappas interviewed by Bruno Bocayuva for the program Papo Reto on Woohoo TV Brazil (2007), speaking of surf, art, hip hop, voyages. This was filmed during the period that Ithaka lived in Rio de Janeiro. Featured songs; "Escape From The City Of Angels", "Seabra Is Mad", "Stay Strong Little Brother", "I Ride", "Like A Bottle Of Baccardi", "Who's The Enemy?"
O
documentário “Surf, Diversão & Arte” mostra a história e o processo
criativo de personagens que tem o oceano como fonte de inspiração para
diferentes formas de expressão artística. O objetivo é revelar, entre
pinceladas e sessões de surfe, como a paixão pelo mar direciona a rotina
daqueles que transformam a energia das ondas em obras de arte.
Honolulu, Havaí, mural 01 de 101 do projeto de Hilton Alves. Foto: Bruno Lemos
OS PERSONAGENS
Hilton Alves é um brasileiro que escolheu o Havaí para viver
e conquistou seu espaço na Meca do surfe, onde tem uma fundação para crianças,
a Surf Art Kids. Dono de painéis como os do mundial de SUP, ele deu inicio à um
projeto ambicioso em 2013: assinar 101 murais de surfe pelo mundo. O maior
deles é o 1º, feito recentemente em Honolulu: foram 8 dias e 150 galões de tintas para cobrir
uma área de quase cinco andares de altura por 200 metros de largura. O
segundo mural foi pintado no início de 2014 em um evento no parque paulista do
Ibirapuera, com grande repercussão na midia.
Escultura feita por Ithaka com restos de pranchas quebradas
Do outro lado está um californiano apaixonado pelo Brasil.
Durante boa parte do ano, Ithaka Darin Pappas se esconde entre a Mata Atlântica e
o mar no litoral paulista dando vida nova ao lixo no projeto “Pranchas
Reencarnadas”. Além de artista plástico reconhecido internacionalmente, Ithaka
é poeta, fotógrafo, surfista de alma e músico - e tem no seu refúgio brasileiro
um universo bem particular.
Eazy E, N.W.A and Ithaka Darin Pappas's Iconic Imagery
Damien Fahrenfort
We all have a friend like Ithaka Papas;
he’s the one everyone's jealous of. The guy who picks up sports quicker
than anyone. That friend who hears a tune once and can play it on any
instrument and he also happens to tell the best stories all-the-while
completely nonchalant about the said above. He's that guy that you want
to hate on but you just can't. When I first met Ithaka six years back,
he came over to my pad with a little point and shoot camera. He snapped a
few pics while we were hanging out. I didn’t think anything of it. We
later went surfing and I was blown away by his ability in the surf. I
got to know him, and he was an unraveling onion. Each layer was a wild
adventure; his life was coated with wonder. And, it wasn’t until the
feature film Straight Out Of Compton landed in theaters that I
learned Ithaka had spent two years with N.W.A. He had shot their album
covers, editorial and more. Fascinated by our cover photo of Eazy-E in
Venice I grabbed him for the real story and the back story on a few of
his other favorite pics. All photos courtesy of Ithaka Darin Papas/Tack Artist Group GA: Tell us about the cover photo and how you got to that point with N.W.A? Ithaka: At the time I was working for
Priority Records. I was their main freelance photographer during this
period and I had photographed N.W.A. probably more than any other
photographer. This particular day was a shoot for MTV and they were
doing a little culture clash unite between this pop group Kris Kross and
N.W.A. Kris Kross came down and we all met in Venice. Fab 5 Freddy did
the interview, an old-school artist and hip-hopper from New York. After
the Kris Kross bailed we all walked down to the skate area down there on
the beach at Venice. Eazy grabbed some kid's skateboard and took off.
I'd already been working with this crew for probably almost two years
and I'd never even heard the word skate board came out of anybody's
mouth, or surfing, or anything like that. It was a shock to me, and he'd
obviously spent some time on a skateboard because he knew what he was
doing. GA: He could skate? Ithaka: Yes. He was confident on it.
One thing we've learned from this photo is Eazy is a goofyfooter. (Ed’s
note: Goofyfoot is the type of stance a surfer or skater is defined by) GA: Back then Venice was still pretty hardcore, we’re people excited to see Eazy, or was he getting a few scary looks? Ithaka: No, they were super excited to
see him. But during that period there were a lot of gang conflicts here.
A lot of these shoots that I did with N.W.A., we'd go to a place and
there'd be a mixed reaction. I don't think anybody specifically from the
band has ever been an affiliated gangster, but friends of theirs are
and that ends up being a co-affiliation. Sometimes they'd go to these
shoots and there would be some vibe from whoever. But generally speaking
it was just excitement, it was a big deal, Eazy-E was down on the
beach, he was signing autographs non-stop, and girls were screaming,
they were big stars. GA: Anything else exciting happen that day? Ithaka: Not really, that was it. We
just went down there and everyone went their separate ways. I did
another little shoot with Dre and DSC after this. These were good shoots
because they were very informal so you could get good material and
everybody in their element, that was my specialty, going where they were
shooting a video, then doing a portrait session on the side, that kind
of thing. It's hard to get everybody together in the same space, like,
"Okay, we're going to have a photoshoot out of the studio." It's hard to
get them together and focused for more than a couple minutes at a time.
GA: You also shot Eazy E's famous pool party from the movie Straight Outta Compton?
Ithaka: I did
not shoot the pool party but I went to the pool party. Way better to
participate in that one than photograph it [laughs]. That was pretty
nuts, it was at some ranch up in Malibu. No holds barred, they put on a
serious party. You know, the great thing about "Straight Outta Compton",
you know I'm sure you know people that were even more involved than me
might see subtle details that weren't accurate from my perspective, it
was exactly the way I remember working with them, the portrays of them.
GA: Let's go through some other photos. Tell me about this one of Eazy on the train tracks. Ithaka: This was on the east side of
downtown LA. Once again, it was myself doing promotional portrait stills
on the side of a video shoot, and in this case, this was the video for
“100 miles and running”. This was when Ice Cube already left the band.
This was the second N.W.A. album. So, this was towards the end of the
project because Ice Cube had already left the band a few months before,
so it just totally changed the direction of the project.
GA: What a bummer. This one of him here is my favorite of the four. He looks so young.
Ithaka: So, this was, I think it was
November 1988. This was the first time I had ever met any of these guys.
This was the record cover shoot for “We want Eazy” the single, which
just had the song “Radio” on it. So, this shoot was mostly about Eazy.
Everybody was there though, so also there's some shots of N.W.A from the
day. This is at my apartment on Orange Street near Wilshire and San
Vicente. So, this one it was a little bit more produced. I think I got
500 dollars for this shoot and I’m sure I spent more than 600 dollars
shooting it. But I didn't care I was so excited to shoot them.
(Continued below) Ithaka: I was a fan of these guys as
well. I was a daily listener to K.D.A.Y. I knew the music very well
before I ever even worked with N.W.A. or Eazy. So, it was like I knew
what I was getting into and I wanted to do a good shoot, and one of the
shots from this shoot had all five members, they gathered without their
sunglasses, and the image is one of the images that has survived the
test of time. Because it’s really rare to see everybody without their
sunglasses in controlled lighting. GA: I remember you telling me a funny story about the catering for the shoot? Ithaka: Oh, yes. This was Clarity
Records and the only records they had really done before this was the
California Raisins. You know, the California Raisins? GA: Yeah I saw it in the movie. Ithaka: They went into hip-hop and they
were treading lightly. Unsure of how it was going to turn out they
didn’t want to spend too much money. So the catering for the shoot was
four bags of Doritos and a 24 pack of Old English 800. GA: It’s crazy how young they are here, man. They’re just kids. Eazy would have been what age? Ithaka: He might have been 20, so let
me think. Dre’s a year older than me, ’88, how old was I? So, I was 22,
Dre was 23, Cube is like 20-21. GA: Insane. Fuck, that's such a good photo. Ithaka: Fun shit though, huh?
GA: Yes, it’s such cool shit, man. Okay last one, what about this one below.
Ithaka: Yes, this was down at MacArthur
Park. This was another segment for MTV. This was the record cover shoot
for the single "12-inch", extended version of “Express yourself”. Which
also had "A bitch is a bitch" on it. This was the cover of that. At the
time MacArthur Park used to be a pretty rough neighborhood. I think
they'd just drained the lake right before this. They found 700 guns in
the lake, 3,000 knives, couple dead bodies. I don’t know what it’s like
now down there now but I imagine a lot nicer.
