european counterparts:ĭB: You have the kind of songwriters that just seem to enjoy the fact that they can hold a guitar and mumble something in a microphone. In April 1999 the Alifantisi Foundation is established in order to promote 'artistic projects in which value, strength and authenticity are paramount.' In 2013 he celebrates his 40th anniversary with a new album 'Mozaik' made with a brand new band and 11 guest musicians. In 1995 he founded the group Alifantis & ZAN as studio band for his album 'Voiaj'. Towards the end of the 80s and early 90s Alifantis will go more mainstream, including a flirtation with synth-pop. An 'art-pop' affair, the album mixes folk, acoustic rock, pop, vocal jazz and bossa-nova in a highly accomplished end product.

After the release of 'După Melci' in 1979, the second studio album (untitled, 1984) comes as a turn for the mainstream but with keeping the artistry and sensibility. The band was made with Sfinx keyboardist Nicolae Enache, Phoenix drummer and percussionist Costin Petrescu and the bassist and guitarist Ioan Oagăn. But Alifantis stays formost active as an actor or composer for theatretrical or cinematic soundtracks. It opens the door for his 1979 debut album ' După melci' based in poems by Ion Barbu. His participations to the project eventually appear on compilations Folk 1 and 2 1977/78 which pushes Nicu's musical forward. After his military service he joins the poetry initiative Cenaclul Flacăra led by poet Adrian Paunescu. From one of the shows his song 'Cântec de noapte' gets popular and in 1976 Electrecord releases it as a single. He starts out as an actor in 1973 and finds employ at the Teatro Maria Filotti of Braila. Alifantis was born in Braila with Macedonian Greek parents.

După melci by Ion Barbu