Avra

Avra
Background information
Birth name	Avra Velis
Origin	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Pop dance-pop club electronica pop rock synthpop disco Greek alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter writer musician record producer fashion stylist actress
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar
Years active	1982–present
Associated acts	Virginia Wolf
Website	avra.co

Avra Velis is a Greek-Australian singer-songwriter, actress, record producer and fashion stylist who performs mononymously as Avra. She is known (citation pending) for her ambitious music videos and stage performances as well as her poetic, thought provoking lyrics.^[1]

Since her debut in 1982, Avra has released numerous singles,^[2][3] and albums.^[1] She has also written and appeared in several theatre productions and stage performances, including the Melbourne Fringe Festival^[4]

Biography

Early life

Avra Velis was born in Brisbane as an only child to Greek parents who had immigrated from the islands of Kythera and Ithaca. Her mother enrolled her in after school piano lessons, speech and drama classes, whilst also studying Greek language and culture. Avra attended weekly theatrical productions covering a diversity of genres by various artists, Maria Callas, Liberace, Dame Joan Sutherland, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Kate Bush, Marcel Marceau, Mikis Theodorakis, and Lindsay Kemp.

Avra attended Ascot State Primary School and Brisbane State High School where she excelled in drama, debating and English. After secondary education, she moved to Adelaide to complete a Bachelor of Education. Writing and creating music remained an important aspect of her life. She taught secondary English and drama at several South Australian schools, writing numerous school productions. Avra left the school system after four years to pursue interests in the commercial music industry.

Musical career

In the late 1980s Avra formed her first band, Virginia Wolf, with her partner Steve Sutton, a guitarist, songwriter and author.^[1] The collaboration produced work which led them to win the West End Battle of the Bands, a contest held in South Australia.

In late 2002 Avra released a solo album, Innate, to build awareness of chiropractic work and innate healing.^[5] The album was commissioned by an international chiropractic organisation.^[5][6] It was distributed throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

After that album, Avra returned to her Greek heritage, and over the next three years, she collaborated with various Adelaide-based Greek artists and organisations, including a series of concerts sponsored by the Greeks of Egypt and Middle East Society. She performed at the Adelaide Festival Centre, the Royalty Theatre and the Adelaide Convention Centre. One of the shows, "Greeks of the Sea", was invited to be part of the Sydney Greek Festival (Paniyiri) Program. Avra performed regularly on a local level at the Cypriot Club and other Adelaide Greek music venues, as well as some guest appearances at several Greek clubs in Melbourne.

Another project was the "Avralicious Show", where she performed a parody of the rock diva persona. This inspired her to create a six track E.P. entitled Super-Alterego"^[1] and work with musician and producer Damien Steel Scott,^[7] A national tour followed which included a same titled show^[8] at the Melbourne Fringe Festival from September to October 2003.^[9]

The EP shifted over 5000 units (pending verification). Avra's backing band were Velis on lead vocals and piano with John Doe on keyboards, Ben Palmer on guitar, Jarrod Payne on drums and Corey Stewart on backing vocals and bass guitar.^[6]

Continuing Work

In 2004, Avra co-produced the "Avra – The Musical" which opened at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts] in July.

The script, along with the lyrics for all 16 of the songs, were entirely composed by Avra, whilst the musical composition and production marked her first collaboration with dance music veteran Kevin Freeman.

Set to video screen backdrops created by Tim Rith and extravagant lighting designed by Hamish Cliff, the production was a combination of dance and theatre. (citation pending)

A 20 track CD was produced and sold at the show, simply titled "Avra – The musical – Songs from the musical".

Avra continued her work with Kevin Freeman under his project "Thousand Ears" in 2006, recording several songs together including a dance track titled "Fashion Police". The song, written by Avra and produced by Kevin, is a tongue in cheek commentary on the nature of fashion and the Fashion industry (citation pending).

Avra and two cast members take a moment out from filming the "Fashion Police" video. (December 2006)

In December 2006, Director Steve Malone from Brisbane's Water Street Productions directed the music video.(citation pending)

The video was shot entirely against a green screen and a A$250,000 GT Pantera sports car was one of the props. Extensive motion tracked 3D animation was used in combination with 3D titles and effects, marking a dramatic departure from the very basic and strictly utilitarian style music videos that made up the bulk of Brisbane produced music clips in recent times.

The song was featured in the 2008 Australian Big Brother series

In 2011 the album Avra and Yiorgo was released.^[10] This was a joint venture between the Australian bouzouki player George Bousias and was conceived and produced again by Kevin Freeman. The album is a collection of Greek and English songs predominantly written by Avra, and featuring a track ‘ELEVTHERIA’ jointly written by Velis, Bousias & Freeman, as well as a ballad entitled “Sam’s song’ written by George about his daughter.

The album was released at the Paniyiri Greek Festival in Brisbane.

Current Activity

In 2014, Avra returned to her original singer-songwriter roots and released a live acoustic EP entitled “Tricky little life songs”,^[11] a collection of songs on the Tall Poppy Productions label that were written during the final months of her Father’s life. The song Days will be released as a single in 2015 along with her current project “BIG LITTLE WORD.“

Avra created AVRA Co and is continuing with her work as a freelance fashion stylist.

Discography

A list of albums spanning Avra's musical career is being produced below.

References

External links