Echonomist

Greek maestro Echonomist represents the true definition of 'artist'. His prolific output combined with his ability to experiment with a variety of styles, and liberated approach, are essential components of his artistic nature. Echonomist (real name Petros Manganaris) has established his production prowess with a constant flow of high-profile releases, which have captivated dance floors worldwide. Labels such as Innervisions, Afterlife, Kompakt and TAU, among others, have signed and supported his music in recent years. Working with such influential labels has not only boosted his profile but, more importantly, demonstrated that his musical ability has reached an impeccable standard, acknowledged by label heads like Dixon, Âme, or Tale Of Us. Both on a solo tip and in collaborative projects, Echonomist's talent shines through and his packed tour schedule is a sure sign of just how revered he has become…

Echonomist was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, a hub for electronic music in the Mediterranean nation. When he was a kid, his family gifted him a basic synthesizer (GEM) and hired a music teacher to teach him traditional Greek music with the intention of him entertaining them on Sundays. However, things didn't quite go according to plan and Echonomist went off-piste, creating weird sounds and recording his very first tracks. This not only planted the seed that has blossomed into the artist we see today, but it also left him with a lifelong fascination with synthesisers, which forms the bedrock of his creative endeavours.

It wasn't long before he'd formed his first music project, "IνΦο". Performing live with his band, he explored a wide spectrum of electronic downtempo music, releasing three studio albums up until 2009, gaining considerable fame in the Greek electronic music scene. Always on the lookout for new sounds and music, he began to DJ, complementing the live side of his performances and discovering the full range of electronic dance music. Falling deep down the rabbit hole he took inspiration from artists like Maurizio, Carl Craig, Black Dog, Underground Resistance, and Echocord to name just a few. At the heart of his love for electronic music is drum'n'bass, the innovative British sound that went global, especially the genius LTJ Bukem and his groundbreaking label Good Looking. He finds joy in pads and chords, transcendent atmospheres, waves of cosmic, interstellar synth work and music that transports you into different realms.

Parallel to his DJ exploits and live band performances, he started the solo project Echonomist, releasing early tracks on labels such as Resopal, Upon You Records, Time Has Changed, and Dessous Recordings. Today, driven by his innate passion for synthesisers, he spends most days in the studio; programming, experimenting, jamming and creating. It's a lifestyle that informs his identity, feeding back into his creative energy in a symbiotic process. Echonomist has built up libraries of bespoke sounds which he created during these experimental sessions. From ambient soundscapes to breaks, minimal compositions to more complicated productions, he allows himself to be free in his expression every time, liberated from the constraints of genre categorisation.

This can be heard in his output, which is varied yet holds true to his unique sonic fingerprint. As a result, he's caught the attention of some of the scene's most influential figures with Tale Of Us signing his Panic Attack EP (with friend Jenia Tarsol) to their Afterlife label. 'Panic Attack' went on to become one of the label's biggest ever hits. He has also found a home with Innervisions - releasing tracks on two of Dixon's Transmoderna compilations on Innervisions, plus the Virtuality EP in 2020 followed by Night Versions EP in 2021. Echonomist also worked with WhoMadeWho for their Synchronicity project on Kompakt, plus he released EPs on microCastle, keinemusik's sub-label VOD and TAU, as well as a very successful collaboration with Adana Twins, which hit the No.1 spot in Beatport's Indie Dance chart. Echononmist's prolific output also includes a slew of remixes, including reworks for lauded musicians like Stephan Bodzin and Ry X, plus exclusive tracks signed to top-tier compilations including Afterlife's Realm Of Consciousness, Denis Horvat's new Vokabularium imprint, TAU's Spektrum series, and Mind Against's fabric mix. Fast-forward to 2023, Echonomist is back on Innervisions, where he released his new album 'Secret Places' in September. Album remixes and a lot more surprises following in 2024.

On the road, things have really ramped up for the Greek maestro, touring the globe to spin at clubs and festivals across Europe and the rest of the world. Appearances include: Zamna (Tulum), Hï (Ibiza), Caprices Festival (France), Fabric (London), Tek Support (New York City), Space (Miami), Stereo (Montreal), Mayan Warrior (Burning Man), AHM (Beirut), Alemagou (Mykonos) and Audioriver Festival (Poland), amongst many many more. With each show Echonomist plays a wide selection of cuts from his own discography, and other artists, keeping the energy high and flexing his creativity every time.

With such a successful run of releases, you could forgive him for slowing down, but instead he continues on a relentless mission to keep refining his skills and cultivating that coveted 'sound' that all artists yearn for. No matter the genre, you can always identify an Echonomist production; deeply emotive, full of energy, exquisite sound design and the spirit of electronic synthesiser love embedded in every pad and chord, every note and arrangement.

Today, more than ever, Echonomist is driven by his passion for musical creativity. He has evolved into a professional DJ, producer, and live performer. Though he makes a lot of music, he never compromises on quality. A fact that has led to an increasingly widespread reputation for the finest club music on the finest labels.

From working with a friend to customise synthesisers and learning all he can about the machines that bring him so much joy, or simply listening to, and playing music, Echonomist does it all with unwavering passion and integrity. Combined with his natural determination and ingenuity, he is a consummate artist who is destined to keep evolving and producing electronic music of the highest calibre.