From the corner of my eye, I can see him sitting there in the coffee shop, deeply intertwined in his book, wearing sunglasses. For a moment, there is something very John Lennon about him, he is at peace, content and reading; not at all the man I’m expecting. This is K’noup, the mastermind behind, what was only a side project at first called VISA, now the object of his infatuation.

Born to a humble Greek family, the Tomopoulos’ jumped on a ship from Kastoria Greece, to New York in ’77, following a trend to the US. Through his birth, Pete, now known as K’noup, has had instilled in him a very deep connection to his homeland, its people and the solitude of its serene mountains. Now in his thirties, he reminisces about his upward battle for acceptance from his family and friends for being a musician. Around the age of fifteen, out of no where, he boldly announced to his mother that he was going to be a singer and was greeted by the voice of reason stating at he didn’t have his father’s voice, but his mother’s and could not sing. Rejection from family and impressionable figures have fueled K’noup’s desire to be a success. Realistically, what he does is not a profession by choice, but something that’s in his blood, which he is obliged to honor.

Being a member of two bands is no easy task, but K’noup has managed to mend two different styles of music into his palette. While living in New York, Neurobox (his metal band) became deeply scarred by the aftermath of 9/11 as the city grew to be ghost like with no one interested in the nightlife. The band reached a conclusion to shift to Los Angeles and since, they have had the privilege of a very receptive city welcoming them. In fact, K’noup speaks of how the audiences in the two places differ greatly, with LA being more gracious, while New York, a bit more reserved.

As we continue to talk about his life, it becomes evident that this man is an old soul. He’s authentic in who he is, not at all jaded by the musician’s lifestyle. His nickname comes from some friends who saw him perform in Neurobox and claimed that Pete was like a mosquito, and that they itched for more every time they saw him perform. K’noup, in Greek, is slang for mosquito, so now upon introduction; Pete refers to himself as K’noup.

In 2005, VISA was born. K’noup and its co-founder, Johnny Nice, naturally agreed to name the band VISA, purely due to how their world music serves to be a passport for people to go anywhere on the globe. He calls their melodies “a passage place for every culture without shame”. Their recent album titled Maktub is named after a modest concept from Paulo Coelho’s famed book, The Alchemist, which states that all is written. Reminiscent of the boy Santiago from the book, K’noup is aware of his calling, following his personal legend. It seems that yes in fact, the universe is truly conspiring in his favor, for it’s rare to realize your path, even more rare to take that leap, having nothing but love, understanding, and support that eventually follow.

VISA’s music is the soundtrack of the hilltops and churches of Andalusia, a back drop to Santiago’s journey, to K’noup’s journey. The songs of Maktub have been thoughtfully crafted into the album, each playing a crucial role to the whole. VISA’s music effortlessly captivates your soul with the haunting sound of the duduk played by the famed Jivan Gasparyan Jr. Orbel Babayan, Shant Bismejian, and Carlos Alvarado tease your senses with their tantalizing talent on the electric guitar. Equally complimenting are the rest of the members, Alex Katcherian, Suguru Onaka, Chris Daniel, and Hiram Rosario. When the band performs, there is an extraordinary feeling of calm and harmony, as if they’ve been doing this together all their lives. Even though each member comes from a very different cultural background as well as age group, their style and being merge together rather organically.

As we near the end of our interview, K’noup only has words of praise, love, and respect for his band mates, at their astounding talent, friendship and individuality. His majestic wishes for the band are for them to be a part of the grand scheme of things, a musical movement, which isn’t too far out of reach. Each song is a journey, giving us a glimpse into the mischievous and remarkable life of its mystical ambassador. Some are about the deeper things in life such as finding meaning and answers, while another about the infamous midnight drive that includes a lovely union between a man and a woman that he knows. Break out the Violins talks of the dramatic woman that drives him crazy while Lady Luck highlights the beauty of a relationship that has taken all his troubles away. For more information about VISA’s upcoming shows and merchandise, visit www.experiencevisa.com.

By: Tenny Hovsepians