Greek singer nominated for Grammy Awards with Cretan song

Erini Tornesaki was born and raised in Heraklion, Crete, with roots from Asia Minor, Kalesa, and Archanes. In her home, there was always music—not only because her mother was a music teacher, but also because Erini herself started playing the piano at six and the cello at thirteen. As she likes to say, she always knew she wanted to become a singer, and her love for music and her homeland has now led her to the Grammy Awards, with a song deeply connected to Crete—the traditional rizitiko “Se Psilo Vouno” (“On a High Mountain”).

Speaking to the Athens–Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Tornesaki said that her first participation in the Grammys was in 2023, when she contributed to Crisálida, an album by Danilo Pérez and the Global Messengers, which was nominated for a Grammy, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

“This year, I submitted a rizitiko song, ‘Se Psilo Vouno,’ because I want to highlight the intangible cultural heritage of Crete and Greece at the world’s most important music institution, and to send the message that women also have a place and a voice in rizitiko singing—something that is still not taken for granted,” she said.

Voting is carried out exclusively by members of the Grammy Academy. The first round has already been completed, and the nominations are expected to be announced on November 7.

“The winners will be revealed during the awards ceremony on February 1, 2026. Whether I make it or not, I’m very happy that some of the greatest names in the music industry listened to this rizitiko while reviewing the submissions. For me, that’s already a victory,” Tornesaki added, expressing her deep connection not only to her craft but also to her heritage.

Tornesaki studied in the United Kingdom at the British & Irish Institute of Modern Music. A few years later, she joined Cirque du Soleil as the only vocalist in the show Kurios for three years—an experience that taught her discipline and stage mastery. She later completed a master’s degree at Berklee College of Music with a full scholarship and now divides her time and life between the United States and Crete.

“I started with classical and Asia Minor music, but I’ve always been fascinated by other genres—pop, rock, jazz. Through my work, I now combine Greek traditional music, especially Cretan and Asia Minor sounds, with modern and jazz elements, creating a bridge between tradition and the contemporary world,” Tornesaki explained, adding that whenever she closes her eyes, she “hears the voice of tradition.”

“The music of my heart lies in my roots—in Asia Minor and Crete—but it also draws from the international environment where I live and create. When I close my eyes, I hear the voice of tradition, yet with sounds and aesthetics that belong to today. I believe Greek traditional music abroad is experiencing a revival—the ‘root’ becomes a starting point for dialogue with the world, and we younger artists are trying to redefine what Greek music means in a global context,” she said.

For Tornesaki, tradition is not something confined to a museum—it’s living and evolving. She approaches rizitiko songs with instruments like the cello and vocals, using improvisation while maintaining deep respect for their authentic form. “It’s a bit like creative traditional cuisine—you keep the root but transform it with love and imagination,” she said.

Awaiting the announcement of the nominations, Tornesaki stated that regardless of the outcome, she intends to continue her international concerts and intercultural dialogue projects worldwide—an authentic way to express, through her music and songs, what she loves and what defines her foundation.

“Crete is my starting point, the base of my soul. That’s where my first musical memories and my source of inspiration lie. My goal is to bring this music to the world and create inspired by it.”

Photo courtesy of Erini Tornesaki for AMNA – Credit: Panagiotis Kadigkos