Armik?

[Sandra]

Any Armik fans here? After reading the Ottmar thread, I didn't want to post in it and have it buried.

As much as I like Ottmar (at least his earlier stuff before he got too commercial with pop vocals and such) I seem to like the stylings of Armik more.

If you're into the "nuevo flamenco" genre, definitely give him a shot. :)

[edwardcav]

Despite sounding very similar to each other, Armik's compositions are beautiful. They are beautiful in that, to me, it is the definition of easy-listening music, and it appeals to me (and others) where solo classical guitar can not.

I like Armik because it is nice to listen to, plus he is amazingly fast on the guitar 8)

But give me Tarrega and Torroba any day...

[NGiorgio]

I have heard Armik. Only samples at record stores. I found his music nice but much like so many others. Not to discredit his playing but when I hear most of the "New Age" or "Nuevo Flamenco" artists on recordings, they tend to sound all too much alike. I enjoy listening to all of them, as I love to hear the sound of the nylon string guitar. Preferably un-amplified and solo, or with a limited amount of rhythm (bass and percussion) and/or other instruments.

[Faya]

I like listening to Armik. It's like party music, in the way that it has a dance kind of beat ,or Rumba sound.I even own to of his CD's.Then again I love all kinds of music.If you want to listen to some beautifull music try some Kyoto melodies from Japan they really transpose nice to the guitar. KYOTO MUSIC, NOW THATS NEW AGE!

[edwardcav]

Ummm, listening to Lost in Paradise CD... I'm stumped. He has to be using a pick!!!! Does anyone know what Armik does in his right hand to achieve such speed? Toddk may suggest hybrid?

Has anyone seen Armik live?

[pmremes]

armik is pretty cool, all his songs sound great, but i was laughing the other day at the names of the songs. they all kind of crack me up, none of them come to me at the moment, but stuff like "romance of the heart" and things like that. he should just call them by numbers i swear, like "romantic guitar #1, op. 8 million".
like edward says though, he's fast as heck, but in all the pictures i've seen he just has his guitar in his hands like anyone. i just figured it came from playing since he was 2 or something...

[edwardcav]

To me, his tone could only be achieved through a super-efficient rest-stroke or the use of a pick/plectrum.

Trademark Armikery:

:arrow: heaps of ascending and descending slurs thrown in (almost seems at random intervals) to compliment melody
:arrow: clean percussion
:arrow: every now and then, he'll throw in a run up the neck which is so fast - each note different.

The result is a nice mixture of contemporary rumba and neuveau flamenco - however unclassical.

I don't know how he does it, I'd be interested though. Anyone else?

[Sia]

Armik is a great guitarist and one of the pioneers of the nouveau flamenco style. I would say he is as good as Tonino Baliardo (Gipsy Kings), Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farrah (another Iranian born guitarist like Armik). As far as playing skills, I would put these guys above Ottmar Liebert.

I am convinced that I hear a pick in some of Farrah's playing, but I cannot hear it in Armik's playing. Tonbino Baliardo is just as fast and he uses im rest strokes for all the fast passages.

In any case, to me using a pick doesn't diminish the sound these artists create. I think this is one of the best genres of music ever created.

[pmremes]

hey i found a video of armik playing, it was on www.launch.com, it's this radio thing from yahoo. he was using a pick though, to answer edward's question.
http://launch.yahoo.com/artist/default.asp?artistID=1001223

that's where the video was, i hope it works for you all. otherwise i'll just tell you...there's all these girls dancing around and armik playing really fast in the middle with a pick.

phil

[Sia]

Phil

Thanks for finding the video. That settles the issue.

Also, the video does contain some close-ups, for those who want to study his left-hand technique.