A white guy singing 9ice’s Gongo Aso?  After a friend alerted me of the news, I had to see for myself and what I found was pleasantly surprising.  The “white guy” in question is Nicolas Georgakis, a 17 year old from Germany who has some serious musical talent.

The video of Nicolas performing the acoustic version of Gongo Aso has been viewed over 110,000 times so it was definitely necessary to get the scoop.  After corresponding via YouTube, Nicolas agreed to an exclusive interview for Africannect.com, via email.  Enjoy!

Africannect.com: Thanks for agreeing to the interview, Nicolas. Tell me a little bit about yourself. How old are you, where are you from?

Nicolas Georgakis: I’m 17 years old, 18 on the 21st of September.  I was born in Germany; my father is Greek and my mother is German.  I have an older brother, two years older than me, but he isn’t interested in making music, he only listens to it =)  Also, I am a Christian.

AC: Have you always had an interest in music?
NG: Yes I was always interested in music. My father plays greek instruments too and I have listened to him since the first day of my life.  Now we are able to play together =). I’ve been listening to music all my life but at the age of 9, I started to learn instruments. Guitar was always my favourite instrument and it was the only instrument I have learned professionally (with a teacher),  you know. The other instruments I learned by myself. The first instrument is the most difficult to learn, the other instruments, not so difficult.

AC: From your YouTube videos, we can see that you play the guitar and the piano. Do you play any other instruments?
NG: Yes, I play the E-Bass, the drums and other percussion instruments because I have the Rhythm in my Blood =)  I can play every rhythm you want, if you bring me a djembe I would play it like an African =)  I have much talent in music its not difficult for me to learn other instruments. For example, at church, I am so good I can replace every Guy who plays in the band -the Drums, Guitar, Bass, Vocal Performance, etc.I can only say it again I am very talented. (Praise the Lord)

AC: What inspired you to get into music?
NG: I can’t answer that because there is no one point in my life that I can point to and say, there was a situation and from then on, I started to make music. The inspiration was there from the first contact with music.

I have a good story for you =) about Gongo Aso.  One evening we went with a few friends to a discothek, at the Disco was a Nigerian DJ, he played the Song Premier Gaou.  I learned the lyrics of this song long time before but this was the first time I heard the song played in a Disco. I went to the DJ and asked him: Can I have the Mic please ? I know the lyrics of this song and if you let me, I can make a few backups and
make party with the people on the dance floor. He gave me the MIC and I started with
Premier Gaou, the Dj looked at me wheeeeee! How did you learn the lyrics of this song? I said to him I have listened to the song too many times, that’s all. He began to laugh. Then he said: Ok that was yours, now I can show you my favorite.  He played GONGO ASO. I had never heard the song before. He played the song and all the people danced to it but I was only listening because the song sounded very good. When the song finished, I asked him what was the name of the song.  He said 9ICE’s Gongo Aso. Then I said ok next weekeend i will be here to Perform this SONG!  He began to laugh and said: Oyingbo! You know what you can do? You can eat FUFU but you are not going to be able to sing in my language (Yoruba) and I told him I CAN! We will see this next weekend. The next morning I began to listen to the Song and now, I sing it every time!

AC: What’s been your favorite song to work on so far?
NG: Gongo ASO ! I LOVE THIS SONG and that’s why it was the first video of myself.  The Premier Gaou video was recorded later but I learned it a long time before. GONGO ASO was the reason why i start with my videos =)

AC: Are there any African artists you would like to collaborate with in the future?
NG: 9ICE himself !!!!!!  Olu Mantain and the Kentro Familie.  2Face Idibia and the MAGIC SYSTEM.

AC: Where do you see you and your music in the next five years?
NG: I want to be an Entertainer on big stages or small locations.  As somebody who will be invited all over the World to make a Performance there.  That’s all I don’t think about a professional career as a musician. I only want to be on STAGES not more.  You have to know I am a STAGE BOY =) I love it to be in the MIDDLEPOINT =) in front of much people, in front of cameras, so on.

AC: If you weren’t doing music, what would you be doing?
NG: I would be a normal worker! With a big talent but i have to USE it, not to throw it away!

AC: For inquiring minds, what is your status? single? looking? in a relationship?
NG: I am Single and I am looking =) haha  I like Africans girls very much; they are to my taste.

AC: Wrapping up, can we look forward to any more videos soon?
NG: Yes! I have much projects in the future. I think the next video will be Street Credibility.

AC: Where can people get in contact with you? Youtube, Myspace, Facebook?
NG: Youtube: http://de.youtube.com/user/NicolasGeorgakis , Facebook: Nicolas Georgakis

Nicolas’s Original Version of Gongo Aso:

*Update 1.29.09: New Version of Nicolas’s Gongo Aso video below: