Apolas Lermi

Apolas Lermi was born in Trabzon, located in the Black Sea region of Anatolia. Although he moved to Istanbul at the age of ten, his connection to his homeland never diminished. Istanbul, a city where diverse cultures coexist, played an important role in shaping his musical identity in the years that followed. Lermi has released numerous singles as well as albums such as Kalandar, Santa, Romeika, Momoyer and Hobur. By performing some of his works in Pontic Greek (Romeika), he has contributed to the preservation and recognition of this ancient language. The simultaneous release of his album Romeika in both Turkey and Greece fostered cultural rapprochement between Pontic communities in the two countries. In 2017, he composed the 50th-anniversary anthem for Trabzonspor, the football team representing his hometown. Throughout his musical career, he has collaborated with many artists, including Matthaios Tsahouridis, Mikail Aslan, Hüsnü Arkan, Kardeş Türküler, Babis Kemanetzidis, Christoforos Kosmidis, Giannis Gkosios, Ali Doğan Gönültaş and Sait Uçar. Apolas Lermi continues to be productive through his singles, film scores, duets, and stage performances. His artistic contributions not only support the preservation of the Pontic Greek language but also raise awareness about environmental issues. Through concerts in various countries and international collaborations, Lermi continues to enrich cultural heritage and reaches a wide audience with his multicultural musical approach.