Family members: Constadino Folias

by The Lioncub
Jun 14, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Jul 5, 2024

Constadino Folias' mix was featured in the 175th episode of Balearic Breakfast. The Balearic Breakfast enjoyed his work so much! I met him for a heartwarming interview...

1) Dear Constadino, thank you so much for joining us on the Balearic Breakfast blog! Can you tell us more about your musical journey? How did you start your DJing career, what led you to this musical path and who were your guiding mentors, if you had some?

Thank you for inviting me to the blog, Artur! It all started in 1981, at a very young age, when my first connection with music was through my father, who used to play music cassettes all the time in the car while he was driving with me on board. I still remember tracks like Earth Wind & Fire's “Let's Groove," Rick James's “Super Freak,” and Quincy Jones's “Ai No Corrida” being on heavy rotation, among others.

In the early 90's, as a teenager, I took part in several parties when electronic dance music started to rise in the city of Athens. My music knowledge has its roots in those parties and the music magazines I was reading at that time, such as Muzik, Mixmag, DJ, Wax, Straight No Chaser, The Source, Jockey Slut, Blues & Soul, JazzTimes, and Wax Poetics, to name but a few.

From 1995 until 2002, I had a job in the best record store in Athens (Metropolis), which helped me expand my musical horizons. I love music, any kind of music, just as long as it's grooving (track from The O'jays), whether it's Soul-Jazz-Funk-Disco-Reggae-House-Balearic etc. I can't say that I have a professional career as a DJ, nor do I have a mentor, but for sure, there are many music artists and DJs who have given me music inspiration through the years, and they still do. I can describe myself as a music lover, music selector and vinyl collector. Sometimes I do play music as DJ here in Athens, but I wouldn't say that this happens often as I don't make a living from it.

2) As you know, I love it when a DJ takes me on a mental journey where I can see pictures in my head while my soul sets itself free. I felt that quite strongly when your mix was aired during Balearic Breakfast's 175th episode. Your transitions were so smooth, perfectly respecting the mix's somewhat 'nightish' soul, and the whole thing kept on evolving as time went by. How did you work on that mix?

I was very excited about doing a mix for Colleen's “Balearic Breakfast," which I must say is my favourite show at the moment. I always prepare my mixes for the radio. Everything depends on the show and the music style it represents. So, for this mix, I picked up some modern, mostly, “Balearic” gems that I believed would match and mixed them together as smoothly as I could to achieve the best possible result for the listeners.

I recorded the mix about three times. Each time, I added or put out some tracks, trying to find the perfect flow and harmony in music. According to the comments from you and the Balearic Breakfast family members during the broadcast, I think the mission was successful, and I'm really happy about it! 🙂

3) There is a sense of unity, at least to me, in the "Balearic" musical domain. For instance, you can have tracks that are both worried and cheerful, while others may blend elements of salsa with progressive rock. When you think about it, Disco itself had some absolute "Balearic" bangers! Does it make sense to you?

Anyone who really knows the meaning of the term described as “Balearic” will totally agree with you, and so do I!

4) How do you listen to music? Do you believe that listening at night brings something more to the experience?

For me, the ultimate listening experience is when I play my vinyl on the stereo. Nothing can compare to the "warm" analogue sound that comes out from the speakers. As an alternative, I listen to music via digital music platforms such as Bandcamp, Mixcloud, Spotify, and YouTube.

Definitely, music sounds better at nighttime. One primary reason is that there is generally less ambient noise, and you can focus entirely on the music. Our bodies are naturally programmed to rest and relax at night, making it easier to feel and process emotions. Listening to music at night can create a sense of intimacy and privacy that enhances the listening experience!

5) On the human side, what is the most important thing to you in life?

In the fast-paced world we live in, it is easy to lose sight of the important things in life that truly matter. A famous quote from Mrs George Sand says, "There is only one happiness in life: to love and to be loved", and I agree 100% with that!