Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kostas Siozos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kostas, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I remember being in high school and not knowing what I wanted to do professionally. I was a good student, but nothing really interested me. One of my teachers even told my parents that I could easily become a lawyer and earn a scholarship, but that just wasn’t my calling.

Then, in June 2002, two years before I graduated, I bought my first bass guitar. From that moment on, everything changed. I had finally found what I wanted to do with my life.

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.

For those who don’t know me, I’m a musician, music producer, and mixing engineer. I live and breathe music. My first degree was in sound engineering. I then studied bass guitar performance in Greece at Phillipos Nakas Conservatory, and later earned a scholarship to study at the California College of Music in Pasadena, CA. While at CCM, I also completed additional classes to become a recording studio engineer.

Right now, I’m finishing the first Black Kaiser album and working on a new hard rock/grunge project with some great friends here in Los Angeles. We’re about to record our debut album with a well-known producer, more details coming soon. In this project, I play bass, while in Black Kaiser I’m the frontman, bass player, producer, and main songwriter.

I’m also the owner of The Sound of Doom Recording Studio in Los Angeles, CA, where I specialize in recording, producing, and mixing rock, metal, and Americana bands.

Like I said, I live and breathe music, this is the reason I get out of bed every morning. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted the best for myself, constantly searching for ways to improve and do what I love at the highest level, researching, reading, and taking classes. That’s exactly what I aim to bring to my audience and my clients.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The books I highly recommend are “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” and “Discover Your Destiny with the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by Robin Sharma. They really helped me see the world in a different and more positive way.

When it comes to the music business, you really only need to read Ari Herstand’s “How to Make It in the New Music Business”. He breaks down exactly how the industry works and shows you how to apply the same strategies major labels use to develop their artists. If you find it helpful, his courses are also excellent, offering more detail and step by step guidance.

Finally, I love biographies. Some that I’ve really enjoyed are about Maynard James Keenan, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Cliff Burton, and Geezer Butler. Honestly, if there’s a book about your favorite artist, read it! You might be surprised by what they went through to get where they are today.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known more about the music business when I was starting out. Growing up in Greece, back in the days when the internet was basically nonexistent, it was really hard to learn how things actually worked. Most of what we heard was just word of mouth, people assuming this is how it goes: make a demo, find a label, and you’ll become a rock star.

In my case, it was all trial and error, and it took me a long time to really understand the industry. But I never gave up on my dreams and goals. I did whatever I could to promote my bands and my music.

Looking back, if I had a bit more guidance, or if Ari’s book had existed back then, it would have saved me so much time trying to figure out what worked and what didn’t.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blackkaiserband.com & www.soundofdoom.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackkaiserband & www.instagram.com/thesoundofdoom
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackKaiserBand & www.facebook.com/TheSoundOfDoom
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@BlackKaiserBand & www.youtube.com/@KostasSiozos
• Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/soundofdoomstudio

Image Credits

Kostas Siozos, Mathias Fau