Having trained as classical soprano, Aliki Chrysochou’s career took a surprising turn when she entered Britain’s Got Talent, reaching the semi-finals with her impressive rendition of the song “Bring Me to Life”. Watching her poised and perfect performance, it is difficult to believe that this confident singer, who radiates her own special energy, has experienced a potentially devastating illness. Her road to success has been a difficult path; but Aliki Chrysochou is someone who never gave up on her dreams…
As a child, you were described as a musical prodigy, working with renowned Cypriot composers, poets and musicians; did you always believe that you would become a classical soloist and soprano?
Growing up I was a big part of the Diastasis group. We travelled and we sang with Nana Mouskouri, Dalaras, Mario Frangoulis and Deborah Myers. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a child prodigy; it was mostly a title that was given to me whist I was growing up by my teachers and people around me in the music field. Perhaps it was because people saw how entranced and enthused I was, whenever I was involved with music. I grew up in a family in which the arts had a significant role and so it was not unusual for me to want to dedicate my life to music, especially singing.
When you were diagnosed with focal encephalitis, a disease which can cause permanent brain damage, you must have felt that your dreams of a singing career were over?
During my worst moments, all I could think about was how to keep myself alive and remain alive, in order to continue living and to be able to complete all of the dreams that I had. The worst thing was that I was completely aware in my own head of what was happening. I was trapped inside my own body and not being able to do anything. My mum used to feed me and bathe me, and I was in a wheelchair. In a matter of two weeks, I was in the neurological hospital in London. I recovered in about a year and a half, when I returned to university under medical supervision.
Even in the darkest of times, you credit music as being a lifeline and the inspiration for your recovery?
During my recovery singing was the only thing I was able to do. My mum would write down lyrics for me, to be able to study them, because I wasn’t able to write them down. After completing my piano recital during my freshman year at University, I was devastated that now I could not even play one note. It took me about a year to go back and touch the piano, and when I did it was as if not a day had gone by. All the notes were there! It was exactly as if somebody had switched you off and then switched you on again! Music is what brought me back to life.
As well as many stunning, classical performances, you recently became a semi-finalist in Britain’s Got Talent; with acts as diverse as ventriloquists and dancing dogs, did you find the talent competition, a strange experience after your formal musical training?
Britain’s Got Talent was an amazing experience, the talent and the challenges were at a very high standard, and I have met some fantastic people in front and behind the scenes, although it felt quite strange being up against some different acts which did not really have anything to do with music or singing, but none the less, I treated the competition seriously and I did my best.
On the show, you received a standing ovation for your performance of “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence. This song is obviously important to you?
It is very poignant for me, and every word describes perfectly how I was, back then when I was diagnosed with encephalitis. Singing at the London Palladium was such a dream come true; being on that stage, where so many amazing artists and performers have been. As soon as I stood in the middle of the stage, I just soaked in so much energy, which was given to me from the whole room, that I think I was the happiest person on earth, when I was there.
You looked very poised and confident on stage?
When I am on stage I feel most at home. I am nervous before I walk on, but once I am on, stood in the middle, I think I find my Zen and I feel a lot of positive energy coming from the audience. When the music starts I am at peace and ready to sing.
Simon Cowell compared you to the very talented Katherine Jenkins; does she inspire you in any way?
She is an absolutely amazing artist and mezzo soprano, and growing up I admired her music, and I was influenced by this kind of music. Maria Callas, Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Nana Mouskouri, Julie Andrews, are the people I grew up listening to, and we are all influenced by so many things around us, to create our own being, our own music.
Has your life changed in any way since appearing on Britain’s Got Talent?
It was great stepping stone for me, which gave me a huge platform for more exposure, which has really helped to broaden my music worldwide. After Britain’s Got Talent, I was given the honour to have been made an ambassador of the world Encephalitis Society, which gives me a perfect opportunity to raise awareness and give help to the families and individuals who are going through this terrible brain disease.
What about your recent and future projects?
I have recently sung for the British troops with the EPI Military Wives Choir. I was invited to sing at the opening ceremony of the world youth sailing championship competition, and I have been invited to sing in Melbourne, in November for a gala. I am currently working on many different projects. There are a lot of offers and big opportunities! Classical singing is what I love the most; it is such a big and powerful expertise. It is the foundation to everything, but I am open to experiment with different kinds of genres of music as well, sometime in the future.
As someone who has persevered through very difficult times to achieve success; what does Status mean to you?
Status for me is something that relates directly to a sense of self happiness. It is the road that takes me on a life-long journey and every little thing I have come across, my accumulated experiences, in this beautiful journey called life. This year is the first time I have actually spoken about encephalitis; but before, when everything happened, my family and I, we were just focused on getting over it and moving on. It’s in the past now, but what I went through has made me be the person I am today.
