why i changed my name

Why I changed my name…

My full name is Samantha 

Alexa  Zoe 

  Son - Dokidis 

As a small child I always knew my name was special,

the one of its kind in the world. 

If my last name is a family name then I make for a family of one. 

On school worksheets, the name section was never long enough for mine. 

Anytime any registration was required, so was spelling out my name. 

If my mother had her mother’s name, perhaps I would feel more connected to it.

My grandma’s name was Keveli Kazakou, and my mothers biological father 

was not in the picture. 

In Korea last names are connected to first names. 

My father Jae, is called Jaeson (pronounced Jaesung)

by his mother Chunson and wife Barbrason to this day. 

A practice I adopted in the re-naming myself. 

As a daughter of separated parents, 

Alexa seemed simpler to spell, remember, and has a good ring. 

Perhaps it sounds overly fabricated- but it's not a pseudonym. 

It's my real given middle name, chosen by my parents during the time

they were together.  

Samantha Alexa is my actress persona, 

she is still performing and great at dramatics-

something she credits to her Greek ancestry.

SAZ -also know as- Samantha Alexa Zoe,

is a new name for the next stage of my artistic journey. 

A name separating my person from my work. 

SAZ is a more evolved, integrated artist, shaped by

the earth,

the city,

and a constant drive to observe, challenge, and create.