Marlon Tate

In 2013, Nikos Georgopoulos—Marlon Tate’s Creative Director and design press favourite often called a “pop star art director”—dropped Mataroa, an electro-pop album-musical with a story as big as its sound. The project takes its name from the New Zealand ship that, in 1945, carried 200 young Greek intellectuals from Athens to Paris, escaping the looming Greek Civil War. Mataroa dives into the theme of salvation, connecting the moment of disembarkation to the redemptive state one can reach through an inner journey of self-discovery. Independently produced, the album went viral, grabbing attention for its emotional lyrics and infectious mix of pop, indie, and electronic sounds—a perfect example of bold creative direction for music. To amplify the release, Nikos co-directed a 2-minute short film with film director Manolis Mavris. Shot in London, the surreal piece fuses Greek and French voiceovers and references ferry safety videos, flipping everyday gestures into cinematic poetry. This short film became a key piece of the album release marketing, showing how music, visuals, and storytelling can collide in fresh, unexpected ways.