Argo

The Argo (formerly known as Europond) is a Greek band. They represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden, with the song “Utopian Land.” They competed in the first semi-final on May 10th but failed to qualify for the final. This was the first time since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004 that Greece did not manage to qualify for the final.

The six members of the band are: Christina Lachana on vocals, Maria Venetikidou also on vocals, Vladimiros Sofianidis on vocals, Kostas Topouzis on the Pontian lyra, Elias Kesidis on percussion, and Alekos Papadopoulos on the davul.

Before the contest, the band was known as Europond, but the name was changed for the purposes of the competition.

Argo embodies a dynamic fusion, bringing together highly skilled music artists with notable educational backgrounds and impressive accomplishments, alongside passionate self-taught performers who channel their intense personal experiences to create impactful music. The band finds its main inspiration in hip-hop sounds, yet their compositions also incorporate resonances of folklore, particularly Pontian tunes, and traditional instruments like the lyre, which hold a significant place in the ancestral heritage of most band members.

After the Eurovision Song Contest, Argo released a new video in September 2016, “Pame”. The song was followed by “Opos estroses na koimitheis” in April 2017.