Pop Singer Dioni Achingly Recalls Friend Who Fell Victim to Melanoma

Once upon a time, a twin named Dioni Vertzayas was born in Sydney with starry eyes. Her mother was a concert pianist and her grandmother a coloratura soprano. After obtaining her Mass Communications degree from Macquarie University and being admitted as an Associate of the Trinity College of London, (in Speech and Drama, A.T.C.L) she studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before setting off for Athens. After further study at the Conservatorium of Pireaus she embarked on an eclectic journey throughout the world and the world of music.

In 2001, she co-founded her group Astyplaz of which she is lyricist and vocalist and caught the attention of veteran promoter (formerly of BMG Canada) Gilles Petelle. With them she has played around the world, (including Quebec City and Montreal – where her label CHIC VINYL RECORDS is based) and toured throughout North America. She has released two albums (“Name Your Slippers”

 and “Bi”) with ASTYPLAZ (Universal and EMI respectively) and a third collaboration EP; and have also had tracks featured in numerous compilations including the internationally recognized “Buddha Bar XI” series.

In Greece she has worked with many renowned and diverse artists such as composer/saxophonist George Katsaros among others, as well as various cover bands (from rock, soul to acid jazz and fusion), in addition to projects with electronica producers and classical composers. She has travelled extensively throughout Greece and performed in Ancient theatres and stadiums supporting bands like British outfits “Faithless”, “Soft Cell” and “The Chemical Brothers” to crowds of thousands. She has also collaborated with many other respected European electronic artists featuring as vocalist.

She has performed as a solo artist in Australia, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece and Qatar; and for royalty and politicians alike. Dioni is an extraordinarily versatile artist who has a multilingual repertoire (seven languages and counting) and sings in almost any genre imaginable.

Dioni has worked voluminously as a voice over artist providing her mellifluous voice for animated film, television jingles and ads, documentaries, video and board games, in addition to educational and promotional videos; as well as a brief stint as co-host for a radio show.

She has toured with a children’s theatre group, and has had protagonistic roles in Pantomime and theatre. She has also featured in a short film. Integrating strong theatrical elements in all her shows, Dioni has been particularly influenced by Bertolt Brecht, Theatre of the Absurd and German Expressionism.

Charity is close to her heart and has participated in different events for various organizations including the International Red Cross and a UNESCO concert for the International Day of Peace. Dioni was present for the Special Olympics of 2011 and enjoyed entertaining the Australian athletes in the presence of Tim Shriver.

She is currently working on a solo album that is due to be released in Montreal in the coming months and excited to soon be announcing tour dates for her one woman show (an eclectic multimedia musical) entitled ‘Ode to a Crisis’ which was staged to a sell out crowd at The Factory Theatre in Sydney in June 2014

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The Musebox today announced that Australia’s sweet and soulful export, Dioni, has released the bittersweet lyric video for her new single, “That Summer.” According to a recent review by O Kosmos, Dioni is “blessed with a heavenly voice and shows her masterful use of a massive range while incorporating warm, beautiful lows and powerful, honey-dipped highs." Dioni explains that "That Summer” is a warning of the contradiction of summer’s beautiful beach life and its sometimes dangerous effects: “With clear blue skies, crystal clear seas, laughter, and a carefree lifestyle, there also lurks an insidious, sinister menace, a constant threat to which we easily and unwittingly fall prey.” Dioni’s good friend succumbed to melanoma, an often deadly form of skin cancer. Now, “the memory of her once beautiful face is all I have left of that summer.” “That Summer” was released today May 19th on iTunes, while Dioni’s new self-titled EP will be released on June 2. More information on Dioni is available on her official site.

In “That Summer,” Dioni hopes to spread awareness of the stealthy nature of melanoma: “Prevention is imperative. My friend was always careful to protect herself from the sun, but who would have thought about covering up your big toe?” Dioni strongly suggests “regular check-ups - especially regarding anything that appears suspicious.”

Compared to ’60s icons Dusty Springfield and Sandie Shaw, the renaissance woman from Sydney has traveled extensively throughout Greece, performing in ancient theatres and stadiums in support of bands such as Faithless, Soft Cell, and The Chemical Brothers. Dioni has performed as a solo artist in Australia, France, Germany, Greece, and Qatar. She has a multilingual repertoire (including seven languages) and the ability to sing in multiple genres.

In 2001, Dioni co-founded her group Astyplaz, of which she is still the lyricist and vocalist. She soon caught the attention of veteran promoter Gilles Petelle, formerly of BMG Canada. Dioni played around the world, including Quebec City and Montreal, where her label Chic Vinyl Records is based. She has since released two albums, Name Your Slippers and Bi, with Astyplaz (Universal and EMI, respectively), and a third collaborative EP. Dioni has also had tracks featured in numerous compilations, including the internationally recognized Buddha Bar XI series.

Dioni has worked voluminously as a voice-over artist, contributing her mellifluous voice to animated film, television jingles, documentaries, video games, and educational videos. Integrating strong theatrical elements in all her shows, Dioni has been particularly influenced by Bertolt Brecht, Theatre of the Absurd, and German Expressionism.

Charity is close to Dioni’s heart. She has participated in various events, including the International Red Cross and a UNESCO concert for the International Day of Peace. Dioni was present for the Special Olympics of 2011, and enjoyed entertaining the Australian athletes in the presence of Tim Shriver.

- Read the full story at UnRatedMagazine.com