Γιάννης Βάρδας

Yannis Vardas was born in Heraklion, Crete, in 1976. He is a musician and electric guitar teacher. From an early age, he developed a passion for music, joined several bands, and became actively involved in radio broadcasting and the publication of music fanzines.

He writes music in the fields of rock, metal and soul, while also composing music for film soundtracks. He performs live regularly with various musical projects and teaches electric guitar and music theory.

Together with Alexandros Drakos Ktistakis, he is the co-founder of LAB Heraklion Music Education.

Studies

He studied music and electric guitar with Takis Barberis and Kostas Baltazanis at the Filippos Nakas Conservatory in Athens. He continued his musical journey by attending Rafael Reina's "Contemporary Music Through Non-Western Techniques" program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands, while also taking private lessons in composition and contemporary harmony with Rafael Reina and Louis Aguirre.

He has attended numerous masterclasses and seminars with renowned musicians, including Shawn Lane, Mike Stern, Paul Gilbert and Rick Beckham, believing that the pursuit of musical knowledge never ends.

He holds a degree from the Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Philosophy.

Collaborations

As an electric guitarist, Yannis Vardas has collaborated with numerous bands in the fields of blues, pop, rock, metal, funk, soul and fusion.

In 2002, he joined the avant-garde Impro Electronics project with Thanasis Zervas.

In 2003, he participated in a live sampling project under the direction of Jos Zwaanenburg in Amsterdam.

In 2009, he recorded the album Nutshell Republic with his band Master Reset at Studio Fredman in Sweden. The band subsequently signed with the British label Casket Records, which released the album worldwide in 2010.

In 2011, he performed live with Kory Clarke (Warrior Soul).

Discography

Albums

• Master Reset – Nutshell Republic (2011)

Soundtracks

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6292500/

• Don't Leave Me Behind (2025)
• Parent-Teacher Association (2025)
• Sacred Craft – Weavers of Crete (2022)
• Just World (2022)
• Rules of Hospitality (2022)
• Rumor Has It (2020)
• Small World (2018)
• Neighbors (2017)
• iWitness (2016)
• Asphyxiation – A Social Commercial About Violence Against Women (2015)
• Diminished (2014)

Experience in Music Education

In 2002, he worked as an electric guitar instructor at Ziridis School, in collaboration with the Filippos Nakas Conservatory.

He has also collaborated with numerous music schools in Heraklion, Crete.

Since 2010, he has been the Artistic Director of LAB Heraklion Music Education, where he teaches electric guitar and music theory while coordinating the Band Program.