Meet Akylas (Akylas Mytilinaios), the 26-year-old artist representing Greece at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. A breakout star of the Greek indie-pop scene, he secured his ticket after a landslide victory in the national final, Sing for Greece, earning the top score from both juries and the public.
Background: Born in Serres in 1999, Akylas is a self-made musician who honed his skills at the Serres Music School and through theater workshops. He spent two years performing on cruise ships, which he credits as his "great school" for mastering everything from disco to rock.
The Song: His entry, "Ferto" (Bring It), is an upbeat electro-pop anthem with a hidden depth. Co-written with Orfeas Nonis and produced by Papatanice and TEO.x3 (a 2014 Eurovision veteran), the track critiques consumerism and greed. It is deeply personal, inspired by his childhood economic struggles and dedicated to his mother.
Artistic Identity: Identifying as a queer artist, Akylas champions authenticity and self-acceptance. He first gained viral fame on TikTok with ukulele covers before a memorable stint on The Voice of Greece.
Eurovision Prep: For the big stage in May, he will be collaborating with legendary director Fokas Evangelinos to revamp his performance, which will likely feature his signature beanie and a new headset-mic setup to allow for more choreography.
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[item value="10"]Akylas - Ferto [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Akylas’ “Ferto (Bring It),” a euphoric electro-pop anthem stands out both for its production quality and emotional depth. The track immediately captures attention with its driving rhythm, groove, and relentless 150 BPM pace, which expertly fuels energy flow and momentum across its entire duration. The fast psy-trance basslines, combined with heavy raw kicks and metallic percussion, create a pulse that keeps the listener actively engaged while maintaining BPM consistency and seamless synchronization, making it an ideal choice for DJs and festival sets. The transitions, drops, and build-ups are masterfully executed, ensuring that the energy remains dynamic without ever feeling monotonous, and each sequence feels like a natural evolution of the previous one. This makes the track not only club-ready but also perfectly suited for high-intensity fitness sessions and dance-based wellness classes, where music with strong rhythmic drive has been shown to enhance physical performance and endurance (Karageorghis & Priest, 2012). From a melodic and harmonic standpoint, “Ferto” shines with memorable hooks and intricate layers that intertwine electronic textures with the nostalgic touch of old-school Atari tones and the cultural richness of the Greek lyra. The piano break and vinyl scratches in the breakdown add a surprising emotional depth, creating a sense of storytelling that enhances the overall cohesion of the track. These elements contribute to its emotional resonance, allowing listeners to connect on both a physical and psychological level. Music with strong melodic and harmonic content has been shown to stimulate the brain’s reward systems and evoke positive emotional responses, which can improve mood and reduce stress (Blood & Zatorre, 2001). The production quality of “Ferto” is exemplary. The sound design and spatial effects are immaculately crafted, giving the track a vibrant, immersive atmosphere that feels alive in both headphones and large club systems. The dynamic range and loudness balance are carefully managed, allowing the track to hit with festival-level intensity without overwhelming the ears, while its use of effects and layering demonstrates a refined artistic identity. This thoughtful balance also enhances its suitability for fitness and wellness classes, as consistent energy combined with clean production can improve focus and motivation during physical activity (Terry et al., 2020). Akylas' vocal performance is fresh, youthful, and perfectly aligned with the character he embodies in the song. His delivery amplifies the song’s message of awareness toward consumerism and greed, inviting listeners to engage with its deeper meaning while still enjoying its surface-level energy and catchiness. The emotional lift provided by the lyrics and vocal clarity further supports the track’s potential to positively impact mental well-being by fostering a sense of connection and catharsis through music (Juslin & Västfjäll, 2008). The replay value is exceptionally high, as the combination of intricate structure, crowd reaction potential, and seamless intro/outro design makes it a festival and club favorite, while also lending itself to repeated listening in personal workouts or wellness routines. Overall, “Ferto” is not just a technically flawless production but also a track that leverages the science of music’s influence on the body and mind. Its energetic flow supports physical activity, its melodic storytelling nurtures emotional engagement, and its cultural elements create a unique, immersive experience. This alignment of artistic creativity with human-centered benefits solidifies its place as a track with both entertainment and wellness value. #PureGold Loveit [/content]
[item value="10"]Rhythm, Groove & Drive[/item][item value="10"]Melodic Hooks & Harmonic Layers[/item]
[item value="10"]Transitions, Drops & Build-Ups [/item]
[item value="10"]Energy Flow & Momentum [/item]
[item value="10"]Sound Design & Production Quality[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality of Arrangement & Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]Use of Effects & Spatial Design[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Range & Loudness Balance[/item]
[item value="10"]Atmosphere & Immersion[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional Resonance[/item]
[item value="10"]Creativity & Artistic Identity[/item]
[item value="10"]Cohesion & Storytelling[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocal Performance & Lyrical Impact[/item]
[item value="10"]Catchiness & Replay Value[/item]
[item value="10"]Club / Festival Suitability[/item]
[item value="10"]Track Intro/Outro Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]BPM Consistency & Sync Ease[/item]
[item value="10"]Cue Points & Loop Potential[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Energy for Set Flow[/item]
[item value="10"]Crowd Reaction Potential[/item]
[/review]
Suggested Bibliography:
Blood, A. J., & Zatorre, R. J. (2001). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(20), 11818–11823.
Juslin, P. N., & Västfjäll, D. (2008). Emotional responses to music: The need to consider underlying mechanisms. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 31(5), 559–575.
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I and II). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44–84.
Terry, P. C., Karageorghis, C. I., Curran, M. L., Martin, O. V., & Parsons-Smith, R. L. (2020). Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 146(2), 91–117.
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