Stereo Mike | |
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Stereo Mike
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Background information | |
Native name | Μιχάλης Έξαρχος |
Birth name | Mihalis Exarchos |
Also known as | Stereo Mike |
Born | 1978 (age 38–39) Piraeus, Greece |
Genres | Hip hop, R&B |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, producer, lecturer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | Mo' Money Recordings, Minos EMI |
Mihalis Exarchos (Greek: Μιχάλης Έξαρχος) (born 1978 in Piraeus, Greece), known professionally by his stage name Stereo Mike, is a Greek hip hop artist. He is the first MTV EMA Award winner in the "Best Greek Act" category. Stereo Mike represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 alongside singer Loucas Yiorkas with the song "Watch My Dance", placing seventh with 120 points.
Exarchos was born in 1978 in Piraeus, Greece to a Greek father and Croatian mother from Rijeka. At the age of 18, his musical interest brought him to the UK for education in the field at the universities Leeds Metropolitan and University of Westminster. In the next four years, he obtained two degrees, Bachelor of Music Technology and Master on Sound Production. During his studies, Exarchos worked as a sound producer at Vault Recording Studios in Hackney, London, where he worked with several British hip hop artists, including Klashnekoff, Bury Crew, Skinnyman, Taskforce, Iceberg Slimm, Mike GLC and JMC.
Exarchos also worked as a producer at AMG Records, which led him to his first recording contract as 'Stereo Mike' with AMG's hip-hop sub-label, Mo' Money Recording$. Within two years, he composed and produced his debut album, while accepting a post-graduate lecturing position at London's University of Westminster in music production. He released his debut album in Greece titled Satirical Nomads by Mo' Money Recording$ under license to Universal Music Greece. The album's singles included the anti-racism anthem "O Allos Babis" and the remix "I Polis".