Seacoast New Hampshire musician Carol Coronis has been firing up audiences with her energetic delivery of music in the Greek/Middle Eastern, Celtic, Rock, and Roots genres for over a decade now. The blend is natural; as host of two radio shows on WUNH radio 91.3 FM, Aegean Connection and The Ceili Show, Carol is deeply entwined with the music of both countries. A member of the NH State Council On the Arts Traditional Arts and Folklife Listing since 2004, Carol's instrument is the cittern, a 10-stringed "mandolin-on-steroids." A Nod To Her Roots Carol Coronis taps into rich musical heritage with debut album By Christopher Hislop seacoastonline and Spotlight Portsmouth, NH 03802 January 16, 2014 2:00 AM It's hard to believe that Carol Coronis is just getting around to releasing her debut record, but now is as good as any other time. "girl from thessaly" is Coronis' contribution to the colorful scene that exists here in Seacoast New Hampshire. You'll be hard pressed to hear anything else like it in these parts, and for that, we should be thankful. The variety that exists in the cultural fabric of our scene is bountiful and beautiful. Coronis tips her hat to the traditions and cultural roots music of Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, Arabia and Ireland. Her instrument of choice is the cittern. Her approach is aggressive. But she has help. Her brother Chuck (drums, dumbek), Bill Zecker (bass, fiddle), Chris Decato (bass), and Gary Sredzienski (accordion) help flesh out these world-inspired tunes. The product is evocative and infinitely interesting. The collection of 13 tunes present on "girl from thessaly" takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotion. The lyrics are presented with passion, and though many are performed in the native tongue from which they originate, you can still feel the forcefulness and find a cohesive bond with them. From original compositions to traditional tunes, "girl from thessaly" never stagnates. For the entirety of the listen you're on the edge of your seat, mesmerized by the sheer force and undeniably dynamic musicianship. Coronis credits the album through a dedication to her father, Charles, who allowed Coronis and her brother Chuck to sit in with his band at festivals, clubs, and other social gatherings when they were in their youth. Those experiences led Coronis to chase the music further, and relearn a lot of the tunes she was exposed to in her youth. "It was somewhere in the middle of my life that the music of my Macedonian and Greek heritage started pulling me back to my cultural roots," she says in the album's liner notes. "With the perspective of time and experience, I remembered the feelings I had for the familiar people and times I once loved and love still. These memories evoked through music are gifts to be cherished." In the midst of her walk down memory lane, Coronis generously felt compelled enough to share those memories with us, the listeners. For that we should be grateful. If you're in need of something out of the ordinary to break up and expand your music vocabulary and knowledge base, give "girl from thessaly" a spin.