Visit Paul’s Page: PaulStamatiou.com

For some the idea of the quarterlife is not so much a “crisis,” as much so a time to realize yet another life transition. Though most have their lives organized to continue with the inflexible “life as usual plan,” set up by generations before us, there are some in Generation Y, like 23-year-old Paul Stamatiou, whom have had an “independent flair” about them for as long as they can remember.

Stamatiou is one of those individuals whom are currently using their quarterlife to reaffirm the self-confidence and sense-of-self many use their 20s to seek out.

I asked Stamatiou a series of questions regarding his quarterlife and how he came to be; firstly if he was having a quarterlife crisis and he replied definitively, “Nope! Definitely going through some changes – finishing college and moving into the “real world” – but, it’s not all that different.”

“Different,” this is the word most use to describe why the quarterlife is full of “crises” – the life they are leading is different from the one they had planned on.

Leaving friends from college/hometowns to make new connections, finding a new job or career, while at the same time trying to find their new identity as a functioning adult in the “real world.” Many find these transitions to be overwhelming all at once, especially when you may no longer have the physical, monetary or emotional support of your friends and family you did before.

Stamatiou said his “independent flair” came from his strong belief in the mantra of “if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself,” and from this stemmed his preparation for his quarterlife prior to even leaving college.

Stamatiou said, “I had already made the ‘switch’ from having roommates to living by myself during the last year of college, and I found it has boosted my productivity quite a bit.”

Working essentially for himself from his Atlanta home, “going to work” for this Generation-Y entrepreneur is no different than how he has been “tinkering” with his passions for the past few years while in school.

Stamatiou says, “I just have a lot more pressure to make sure it all works out this time.”

Many of us had some idea of where we wanted to be when we were 25/30 – some did not pull this together before their 20s. I asked Stamatiou when he was 21, just a few years ago, did he know where he would be today? He said,

“At that time I was still wondering what the ‘bigger picture’ was going to be. I knew I was headed down the path of working with software and Internet services – but not exactly where and how. I figured I would pick up some type of product manager job at a funded start-up in Silicon Valley – know enough about coding to talk with developers and plan out the rest of a company’s offerings, but not be tied down to coding all day.”

Being so young, and yet having a very realistic concept of where he wants to be, and how to get there – some would figure Stamatiou is “living the dream” and he is very successful. Though he did not speak of having the $100,000 cars, villas in Italy and going on holiday in Thailand, he views his own ” success” as being very proud of his own accomplishments from before the age of 20. However, he did speak of one particular moment that rang “success” very loudly to him.

In the Summer of 2008, Stamatiou received a a phone call from TTI/Vanguard inviting him to speak at a private technology conference in Rome. It was not until after his breath-taking taxi ride to the top of a mountainous area, to the “ridiculous,” aka very lavish hotel they put the speakers in, which over looked the city did Stamatiou say, “Damn! I could get used to this…”

So, how does one go from college student to international speaker?

I am sure there is a lot of hard work and professional determination behind it, but how much of a factor does personal life play into one’s professional career?

Stamatiou says for him, he has extrapolated his personal curiosity and inquisitiveness to almost naturally progress him in his professional career. He said he grew up taking things apart and tinkering with electronics, and these traits followed into work in a few ways:

“First – I enjoy a good challenge and getting my hands dirty! I remember when I started blogging, I would start an article with a vague ideas of how to get something technical done. I would then research and research and play around with all these things until I had a strong working knowledge of the subject matter, and could teach others the same.”

Stamatiou continued,

“Second, my lust for knowing how things worked and learning about them brought me to be an early adopter – never afraid to use and test out the bleeding edge technology; which is why I have been on the whole ‘cloud’ bandwagon for years now. Lastly, I have learned how to deal with failures and disappointment; wanting to test out all this new stuff leads to lots and lots of trial and error.”

Stamatiou’s combination of personal thirst for knowledge, young Generation-Y sense of independence and adventure topped off with Stamatiou’s “daily inspiration” (and favorite online source)  Hacker News, has for now staved off the “quarterlife crisis” many in Generation Y are facing.

Paul Stamatiou’s lack of a quarterlife crisis is not an anomaly; however it is not possible to replicate for everyone. Some of us just unfortunately (or fortunately – if you’re a optimist) have to take the rougher road through this transitional period in our lives.

Whether a quarterlife crisis is avoidable can be debated; however in the end, either way, your quarterlife is unique to you and how you handle it – crisis or not – ultimately speaks to you about who you are.

However, many of Atlanta’s newer residents and even some of the great city’s longer residents are not aware of the contrast between the nuanced re-gentrification of Atlanta, to the overbearing homelessness statistics of this city.

Provided by the Metro-Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless (MATFH) website, MATFH states Atlanta has the fastest growing group of homeless individuals under 9 years of age in America. This is an alarming statistic for the youngest of Generation Y and the following generations in this metropolitan city.

Homeless youth may engage in harmful behaviors while in between or away from a permanent housing, leading to the almost inevitable “chronic homelessness” of these youth; where they are susceptible to reenter a state of homelessness, as they enter their quarterlife.

What is more alarming was the discovery of the trending increase of youths and young adult homelessness began while the first of Generation Y was growing-up in the 1980s and ’90s.
A study by Helvie & Kunstamnn, comparing homelessness rates in America from the 1970s to the 1990s showed a 14 percent increase in the number of homeless individuals under the age of 30, from 15 to 29 percent of the total homeless population in America.

Up until the 1970s, most youth homelessness cases were handled locally, leaving responsibility to city governments, like Atlanta, to best identify and fix their youth homelessness problems. Now however, the federal government is responsible for taking care of the unspecified problems entailed with Generation-Y youth homelessness – leaving a potential disjoint in identifying the specific needs for each city’s young homeless population.

As far as Atlanta, the city is ultimately a potential breeding ground for future quarterlife homelessness; MATFH states Atlanta is “the poorest city in the U.S. for children – more children in Atlanta live in poverty than in any other city.” With 71 percent of America’s homeless population located in cities, Atlanta is at quite a statistical disadvantage for the potential for homeless individuals aged 18-30 in the next few decades.

Ultimately it will take a deeper insight, and local centralization of homeless programs to understand how to end homelessness and its many causes before we can avoid the potential for any city, not just Atlanta, to be susceptible to having large, young homeless population.

Being a young music artist is never an easy undertaking, especially in a large city like Atlanta. Most young artists in major cities longingly dream about the prospects of hearing their music on major radio stations and gaining some recognition, even if locally. This dream is now reality for

However, as a Generation-Y urban artist, there are consistently hundreds of bands, comprised of thousands of “artists,” though in their respective genres, all craving the same end goal – recognition.

Recognition not to obtain fame or wealth alone; however to gain the respect of your musical authenticity, separating your art from the superficial humdrum we are force to listen to daily.

Now, what I have always questioned as I watch young and talented artists perform their way to fame, are the insights and the driving factors which compel these young artists to continue. Where is their passion coming from? What makes them choose a band name, a sound…do they pick who they want to hear their music, or do they let the music pick for them?

The reason you are reading about The Constellations as an inspiration is because of how lead singer, Elijah Jones, characterizes the core make-up of the band. His ideals describes and defines, to the letter, what most in Generation-Y individuals are realizing about their life experiences right now.

Jones stated that the band was, “never meant to be one band….more a combination of the Atlanta music community.”

This is precisely what most urban Generation-Y individuals, not just music artists, are discovering; Generation Y has to combine an assortment of talents, knowledge and backgrounds to work together to formulate a cohesive progression to get through our quarterlife period.

In Jones’ answers to Quarterlife Magazine’s questions about his band and the quarterlife, overall Jones said that the inspiration of urban-Atlanta has definitely shaped his music; as well as the conglomerate of individuality that comprises the Constellations.

Paul Eulette & Elijah Jones of the Constellations

Eulette: Where did you get a great name like the Constellations; a “divine intervention” of some form, or just a drunken decision?

Jones: It was a lyric in a song that I wrote, that we never used. It made sense for this specific project because there were all these different Atlanta musicians, ‘…stars combining to form Constellations…’ and yes, I was drunk.

Eulette: So who are the Constellations? Where did you meet? How long have you all known each other?

Jones: The Constellations were never meant to be one band….more a combination of the Atlanta music community. There have been a lot of different players whom have come and gone, and hopefully more will in the future.

Eulette: That is a very interesting view point, and it shows in your music. You all have a unique sound I have not heard in awhile! In those transitions what kind of “generational influences” of past artists has shaped your music? What genre do you classify yourself as?

Jones: Genre: Psychedelic/Hip-Hop/Pop-Rock? There is not really one category we feel like we fit in. As, far as influences there range from Tom Waits to Goodie Mob, and to everything in between. (Those are definitely two of the main ones though.)

Eulette: I attended your ‘stellar’ (bad pun) 99x listening party…was that your first big promotion? Since then, how does it feel to have ‘fans?’

Jones: 99x has been great, having them play us was definitely a big push for us. We are grateful they are back and supporting local music.

Eulette: How about the fans?

Jones:  The fans are great! It’s a little unreal sometimes, when people “recognize” you, or they want you to sign something for them.

Eulette: That must be cool/weird! Any specific run-ins with some of your fans?

Jones: I was on a cigarette break the other day at work, and someone yelled my name from a car. I just waved, at first thinking it was a friend…but they stopped and got out, because they were fans and wanted me to sign something! It was really unreal, especially since I was at work! But, we are really grateful for our fans.

Eulette: Since you clearly have fans – which of your songs are most requested by your fans and do you ever play any covers for them?

Jones: “Felicia” is obviously requested a lot, because that’s the song on the radio. However, people in Atlanta really like to hear “Step right Up.” We try to work a cover into some of our shows…however, covers are hard for us.

Eulette: Why is that?

Jones: Because we want to do something that represents our band, and we have so many different styles and different things going on that its hard to pick a song.

Eulette: I can dig – so who writes your songs?

Jones: I wrote most of the lyrics. Ben wrote a couple of the hooks. We both wrote the music together.

Eulette: What are the topics covered in your songs, do they reflect the Gen-Y urban quarterlife of Atlanta?

Jones: This was kind of a concept record about the dirty after hours of the shady side of Atlanta; from drug dealers and hookers, to asking God for forgiveness for all the debauchery. I do compose all forms of music, so hopefully the topics will change, because really, I don’t ever want to do the same thing twice.

Eulette: Never the same things twice…so, how has your musical taste evolved, since you first began playing in the Constellations?

Jones: Well we have a big band and everyone has different tastes, with different things on their iPods, so I have definitely been introduced to new music in that way.

Eulette: What has been your biggest challenge as a band member in your quarterlife/part of Generation Y?

Jones: Ha, the biggest challenge for us is finding time to practice! Being such a big band, we have a lot of conflicting schedules. We also try to practice at our homesto save some money…but we end up getting the cops called on us and stuff.

Eulette: So with all the practicing that you all do, how do you rate your live performance ability?

Jones: We work really hard on stage. By the time we get off we’re drenched in sweat & 3 seconds from passing out! We put everything into it & i think thats such an important part to having a good show.

Eulette: If you have one, what is your least favorite part about being in a beginning band?

Jones: I love every aspect of being in a band, literally every part of it. This is what I want to do. I have no complaints.

Eulette: That’s so awesome – now most of our readers are in their quarterlife (Generation Y) How do you describe your music to people outside of Gen Y?

Jones: When I look into our crowd  of fans at shows, and I see everyone from 16-year-old to 50-year-old fans listening, I donʼt really try to explain it to anyone. I think the music speaks for itself.

Eulette: How do you feel about downloading music online, either legally or illegally?

Jones: Look, I’m old school – I like to buy the record and hold it in my hand; see the artwork, read the liner notes. I think there’s something to be said for anticipating a new record coming out & going to the store and buying it, cracking the seal, and then putting the CD in the player, smoking a joint and listening to the entire thing start to finish.

Eulette: And as far as illegal downloading?

Jones: As far as illegal downloading music – all we are doing as consumers is allowing corporate America to make huge stars out of people like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas brothers –because that demographic actually still buys music. Legitimate artists are stuck hoping to make some money touring constantly.

Eulette: How can fans-to-be gain legal access to your legitimate music?

Jones: We are working on a website which should be up shortly…of course we have a MySpace – Facebook and Twitter. We have actually just signed with Virgin Records, so the plan is to release the CD early next year. So, until then – I would just tell them to come out and see a show!

Eulette: Will you be touring anytime soon?

Jones: Well be touring again starting in October.

Eulette: So, what advice do you have for people in our generation who want to form a band?

Jones: Simple – write good songs. If the songs are there – everything else will fall into place….and most important of all:
“Love IS a murder. You have to commit to survive.”

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It was great to hear Jones speak so highly of his passion for music and entertaining. It seems as though they let their passions override their fear of competition and negativity of defeat and took the highs and the lows through their quarterlife to reach their success.

Jones and The Constellations are on tour this month (schedule below), and Jones said he wanted to say a special thank you to his girlfriend who has stuck by him from the beginning. Jones said, “She is my inspiration and my best friend…and a pretty good drinking partner, too!”

More Information on The Constellations:

Going to Be at Bonoroo 2010? Be sure to see the Constellations!

“The Constellations could have called their debut album After Hours. Sure, Martin Scorsese already used that name for his 1985 black comedy, but the two works share much in common. Both are wide screen spectacles rife with seedy scenes and eccentric personalities, propelled by a manic energy that hustles the audience deeper into the unexpected. But Southern Gothic was a better choice. Because The Constellations stomping ground is Atlanta, GA, and in the wee small hours of the morning, A-Town can get awfully bizarre….”

“The Constellations”: Atlanta’s Gen-Y Music Inspiration]]> http://www.quarterlifemag.com/2009/10/theconstellations1/feed/ 0