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Luke Girgis

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Coptic Soldier
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Background information
Birth nameLuke George Girgis
Also known asShmirgis
Born (1987-08-20) 20 August 1987 (age 37)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia, June 2009
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, manager, producer, record executive
InstrumentVoice
Years active2005–present
LabelsNurcha
Websitecopticsoldier.com

Luke George Girgis (born 20 August 1987), better known by his stage name, Coptic Soldier, is an Australian hip-hop artist, music manager and record label executive. He often performed with stage partner, Phatchance (aka Chance Waters) and later became his manager. Girgis co-founded a record label, I Forgot Sorry! in 2010 and then a management company, Be Like Children, in 2013.

Early life and education

Luke George Girgis was born on 20 August 1987 in Melbourne, his parents were second generation Egyptian migrants who raised him in Sydney's Sutherland Shire as a member of the Australian Coptic Orthodox church.[1] He attended St Patrick's College; he obtained a degree in Rehabilitation Counselling at the University of Sydney before completing a degree in Theology at Charles Sturt University.

Career

Coptic Soldier was signed to Nurcha Records in 2005 before its closure in 2009. His performance name acknowledges his heritage in the Coptic Christian faith and his "fighting for what you believe in."[2] He released his debut mix tape, False Start, on that label in 2006.[3] InTheMix's Xpose described his work: "While this release isn't in the upper echelon of those currently coming out in this country, it definitely impressed me. Potential wise Coptic Soldier has a lot to offer, he is an emcee you want to hear more from as he speaks what is on many of our minds."[3]

Since 2007 he runs an artist management company, The Girgis Circus,[2] which caters for his fellow artists, including Phatchance aka Chance Waters.[4] In 2010 Coptic Soldier independently distributed a release, The Past Three Years, and in March he joined Phatchance for a national tour, Inkstains, which saw the pair co-headline nine dates across Australia.[5]

In 2010 Coptic Soldier teamed up with Sydney soul vocalist Miriam Waks and independently released an extended play, The Sound of Wings.[6] He also provided management for other hip hop artists Mind over Matter and Elgen & Johnny Utah; and for a pop music artist, HR King.[7][8] Also in that year he co-founded an independent record label, I Forget, Sorry!, for the artists he managed.[9]

During 2011 Coptic Soldier and Phatchance undertook a combined Hey Where's Your DJ tour, which Chris Singh of The AU Review caught, "When one thinks of live hip-hop, the usual picture in their head is that of at least one emcee rapping to the beats dropped by at least one DJ – a format often criticised by those outside of hip-hop. Every so often, a hip-hop act comes along and replaces the DJ with a backing band, not only giving their concert much more musical credibility, but allowing for more creative live interpretations of each of their songs... [the pair] decided to start experimenting with instrumental interpretations of their fine Aussie hip-hop tracks, national interest in these two emcees skyrocketed and their resulting acoustic EPs were met with more success than they hoped for."[10]

As Waters' manager, in 2012 he negotiated for that artist's album, Infinity, to appear on Shock Records.[11] In 2013, with placings in the 2012 Triple J Hottest 100, Girgis negotiated a deal for Waters with Island Records Australia, a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group, as well as a publishing contract with Universal Music Publishing.[12][13] In the same year he established an independent management company, Be Like Children, with the mission statement to be "always artist first".

In 2014 Girgis won a place in The Seed Arts Music Grant, joining alumni that include Boy & Bear and Tame Impala.[14] He formed a performance duo, Run to Damascus, with Jon Reichardt to release a single, "Hide & Seek", via I Forget, Sorry![15] The track was mixed and executive produced by Waters.[9] Also that year he became co-manager of Sydney based pop rock act, Little Sea, and signed them to a deal with Sony Music Australia. They debuted at number 1 on the Australian iTunes music chart, before touring Australia as main support for international stars 5 Seconds of Summer.[16]

File:Luke Girgis Press Photo.jpg
Luke Girgis, October 2016

In 2015 Girgis oversaw the release of Little Sea's EP, With You Without You, featuring the single, "Change for Love", which peaked in the ARIA Singles Chart top 40.[17][18]

Personal life

Girgis lives in Sydney with his wife Christine and their child.

Discography

Albums
  • Nobody Give Raph a Guest Spot with Phatchance (2008)
  • The Past Three Years (2008)
  • Coptic Soldier & Miriam Waks (2010) [19]
  • The Sound of Wings 2 (with Miriam Waks) (2011)[4][20]
Mixtapes
  • False Start Mixtape (2006)
  • Their Sound, Our Wings (18 December 2011)[21]
Run to Damascus
  • "Hide & Seek" (March 2014)[15]

References

  1. ^ David (31 August 2010). "Interview with Coptic Soldier". The Urban Hag Suite. Joy FM. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Coptic Soldier @ J Play". Coptic Soldier @ J Play. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b Xpose (19 March 2008). "Coptic Soldier False Start Mixtape". InTheMix.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b Birdie (14 December 2010). "Phatchance & Coptic Soldier". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  5. ^ Ruxton (3 February 2010). "Phatchance National Tour w/Coptic Soldier". Rhythm and Poetry. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Coptic Soldier: The Sound of Wings". Hip Hop TV Australia.
  7. ^ Rezo. "Clowing Around with Coptic Soldier". Beat. Furst Media. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Coptic Soldier". nesshiphop.com.
  9. ^ a b Kelly, Nic. "Run to Damascus 'Hide & Seek' Interview". Project U. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  10. ^ Singh, Chris (5 July 2011). "Phatchance and Coptic Soldier + Jon Reichardt + Cogel + Stories for Nothing Oxford Art Factory". the AU review. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Chance Waters Signs to Permanent Records". All Aussie HipHop. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Exclusive Chance Waters Signs to Island Universal". The Music. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Publisher News April 2013". Apra Amcos. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  14. ^ "2015 Successful Applicants and Pozible Campaign". The Seed Fund. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  15. ^ a b Singh, Chris (14 March 2014). "Single Stream: Run to Damascus 'Hide and Seek' (2014)". the AU review. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Interview Little Sea". Student Edge. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  17. ^ "australian-charts.com - Discography Little Sea". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Little Sea Ride Pop Wave with a Little Help from Their 5 Seconds of Summer Friends". News. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  19. ^ "The Sound of Wings iTunes Release". iTunes Digital Release Link.
  20. ^ "Coptic Soldier – The Sound of Wings 2: Acoustic (2011 EP)". The AU Review.
  21. ^ Singh, Chris (18 December 2011). "Album Review: Coptic Soldier – Their Sound, Our Wings (2011 Mixtape)". the AU review. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
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