We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kostamos Yiacoumis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kostamos below.

Kostamos, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Of course I am happy being an artist! That’s the whole point of giving up the “normal” life.
You know, for us, creativity is everything. But creativity can be found and be good almost in any job. The thing is, where you are happy and ok with yourself? Is you current job something that makes your life moving forward?
And I don’t mean it on a financial way…finances are important, but that’s usually the trap of a situation like “oh I hate my job, my life…but the money are good”. Like, what…? Because it pays good you will keep doing this until you sell your soul to the devil?
Until there is nothing left in you to be happy? Or until your other “way out” bursts and start drinking to death, or using drugs like a maniac…? I have seen a lot, i am telling you, that’s not right to me.
One of the best examples it was here in Austin for me, early on, right after I moved here from Greece.
My cousin had a food trailer and i was always there,on my first year.
My favorite (sad) was when people in their 20’s, 30’s, will come up to try food and chat…before they get their drinks next door. Their life looked miraculous, before drinking alcohol….Everything was great for them. The weather, the people around, their jobs, their lives….everything! Like, they were bugging about it, until…..2-3 hours later, after they had a few drinks. Or a few too many…! They will come to us to get more food (because it was delicious) and they were starting complaining about everything. Sometimes even crying, yelling or hating completely their lives.
I was so surprised, you know? I am like, how can it be? like 2 different personalities! And a lot of people, not just one or two.

So, my point is, why?? Why this? Like a fake happy life when you are at your normal life, but when reality kicks in you or when you are drunk, the truth comes out…and it hurts? It does. You can tell! I had a few moments of realization too, in the past. Not that bad though.
Also, I have worked so hard in my life, in many different jobs. Most of them I liked a lot, or it was “fine”. I liked the people around me too, yes. But….when it came down to play some music, I was feeling the truth!
I was just happier, every-single-time! Then of course I wanted to play more music, but guess what? I didn’t have the time for it.
Or even if I had finally found the time for it, I was so tired from working non stop on the other jobs.
And that’s a circle, it keeps going on…and on…and on. You think is “this” job, or the next, or the next one.

I have to say, I am kinda lucky I figured it out early on in my life! But that wasn’t easy though. Because you need a lot patience and sacrifices to finally start rolling with it. The good thing is, you can set limits to it. Like I was thinking, “ok, this job is very temporary”, just little help here and there. Or just do something like a part time job to support the one thing you like the most, whatever is that.

Now, do I miss normal jobs? No. Not at all. I am way happier being my own “boss” and setting my own schedule and life goals.
But, do I miss the stability of the standard paycheck , on time, whatever happens? Kinda yes. It’s very hard not knowing what could come up in the next few days or months.
You just have to be good on what you do, believe on it, network as much as you can, be true with yourself and the others and work will come up.

Also to that point I want to say that, especially here in USA, that “stability” is never really stable either. It’s better than being always in hustle to try to find work, or to get a few paid days off, but honestly it’s not. They can fire you on the spot, even if you are doing a good job. Unless you are the boss…which comes back again to being the one to risk all the time.

I remember last time I had a normal full time job, it was right before Covid. But I was also like an independent contractor so, sometimes it was way too much, sometimes not that much. But for sure I couldn’t be a full time drummer during that time. It’s simply impossible.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

It happened kinda early in my life. I was really young when even my mom noticed that I hear the music, the piano, the drums…and I enjoy it so much!
I started piano lessons when I was 7, but I really didn’t feel the need to continue. By 11 years old, I was giving up. Maybe it was not the right teachers, or maybe I wasn’t that much into it.
But a few years later, out of nowhere, a friend of mine said something like he played drums and I was so excited to hear, to try and play, everything! It was all about that! I wouldn’t stop…so I stared doing a few exercises, play along with the music on the radio, but not on a drum set, just on my bed. Pure happiness right there!! Trying to make a sound out of a pillow, a mattress , a beach inflatable ball, the floor, the desk….any! I am sure I drove some people nuts trying to find my way there! Haha! …Sorry…!

But yeah, it was like everything to me! I had so much fun and I was getting better quickly. Soon enough, not even 3-4 months after a touched the first drumsticks, I was already playing (simplified of course) along with some music I would listen.
But, still no drums! I remember I got my very first, used, cheap drum at Christmas/New Year’s Eve of 2000’s.
Parents, grandma and myself, all chipped in a bit, for me to go get it. We didn’t have any money really growing up, so that was almost a luxury for me. Thankfully it worked out well!
So it was an upgrade, from playing to anything I could use to make sound, to actually on something with this sound…but it was louder! :)

At this time I had already joined some friend’s bands, a little by little, until I was actually not even a year into it, started forming my own bands. It was so much fun…and so necessary for my mental health! So yeah, I haven’t stopped since then,
It’s just getting stronger every day! I just love it! I love expressing my feelings, my moods, my problems, my excitement…everything, through that!

Also, that’s exactly the reason I got to where I am now. Always trying to find more than one or two, different genres & bands, to express myself different. To learn from others, to learn more music, to play with a different approach. That was the most important thing I did, I believe. Sometimes people in the bands, back then, would be so weird about it. Like “you shouldn’t play with another band”, etc. Well, guess what? Obviously, you should!

So, this experience from all these years in different bands, playing non stop, is the driving force for me. And because of that (ok, some talent too), I can stand with many different people and genres on stage or in the studio, and always have a good outcome.
Professionally, I played for the first time when I was around 22-23 years old. And by “professionally” I don’t mean the first time I ever made some money from it, but by the time that this became a 2-3 days a week, paid gig, in front of people I don’t know, not just friends.
That was the time I dropped out of a Naval Architecture College I was going….yeah, I know, maybe a big mistake…or, maybe not. I just wasn’t made to have a life with a regular job-career. Everything inside me was screaming to keep working on music.
And either way, I was better at playing music. I really love working on projects, building things, getting done things or solving problems. Especially when mechanics are involved. That’s why I am doing (rarely) some work as a “handyman” too, just to help a bit my music life and feel better because I have worked on something else.

As I said, I love solving problems and that brings me to the other part of your question.
When a project comes to me that “they don’t know” what or how to approach it, it’s kinda my favorite! It is the time where the experience and creativity kick in! And the smiles in the “customers” faces when the result is good and matches their way of expression, is the outcome I am proud of. I love it! I just do! I want to play good music, have the right approach for the project, and make music that make people feeling it.
You can definitely find some of my work on my website, www.kostamos.com, or online, videos, you tube etc.
You can also find out more about me on the bio section and if you like to support me even more, you can get some merchandise along with my custom made drumsticks, on my online store, on my website or on kostamos.com/eshop.html.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As I said earlier, I think it is the feelings and good vibes I am getting from the people, when I perform my work. It can be a studio session, it can be a live show or it can even be a short jam. But when I have people coming to me happy, or excited to tell me “you look like you are having so much fun up there and we had fun too”, I know it’s right. Yes it can be some time just a stage presence which doesn’t always reflect the actual musicianship behind it, but if you ask me what I prefer is definitely both, with the musicianship part first of course.

Also, getting to do what I do and pour my heart into the music I play, helps me feel better! No matter if there is hundreds of people there to hear it or just one. And by the way, sometimes it is the one-two people who really enjoy what you do, that can make the difference on how we feel on stage about this particular performance.

Last but not least, going home to relax or sleep with that great feeling after a good performance, the good buzzing, no stress about the “next day at work” and knowing that you moved emotionally even just one person today, is priceless to me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Yeah, I think it has to do more with “boxes”. Most of the people are growing up listening or living in a situation with a few, very much boxed ideas. Everyone need to find a job with a lot of money or an amazing career, usually to satisfy other people or their beliefs, or just for power and easiness. Everything is easier when you have more money, right? Almost…! Money can be a great tool to navigate through life, but is it worth it chasing this so-called, “success”? What is it success in our days now?
It’s a perspective of fame I think. Like all the social media famous people…there way too many famous, right? But how many of them have impacted your life on a positive way? Probably very few…and most likely not the ones that everyone knows.

I think I have a feeling that social media will collapse one day, or at least will not be the way things are now. Anyone can be famous for doing really, nothing.
But I feel like we all have to think deeper. What if one day you wake up and there is not social media to be on with your fans and “friends”? Will you be able to be happy outside of this box? Will you have a real friend to talk to and spend time together?
What if we wake up and there is no money around? Will you be happy? Will you be able to survive? What would you change? Would you keep your job? Does it actually make you happy? Or, what does make you real happy?
For example, I love travelling, exploring the world, learning from their cultures, trying their food, listening to their music, even working on everyday projects with them.
I do not think it is just a perspective of a creative person, but really, what happens when there is no more work/money that you are used to? Can we adjust, can we learn something new?
Everyday of my life I am trying to learn something new, even in the smallest things. I just love it.
If I wake up and there is no more music, which it sounds kinda impossible in terms of reality, but still, what else I could do? Many things! Just try it, risk it, learn it. Get out of the comfortable zone and explore everything that brings a smile to your face! Or even everything you have dreamed of…!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kostamos.com
• Instagram: kostamos_y
• Facebook: Kostamos Yiacoumis
• Youtube: @kostamosyiac

Image Credits

Karin Jensen,
Seven Pillars (Michael Wright),
Kim Yarbrough,
Stan Martin,
Rick Moore.