Sarikis graduated from Middlesex University with a degree in music (jazz), and studied jazz drumming with Nikos Sidirokastritis and world percussion with Vangelis Karipis, Ian Pattinson, and Glen Velez. He is currently pursung a Masters in Ethnomusicology at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) at the University of London. He teaches percussion and has led workshops in Middlesex University, The Royal College of Music, and Kings Place, as well as different schools and academies in the UK, India, and Sweden and the Labyrinth Musical Workshops in Crete.

Working as a professional musician since 1998, he has performed live and recorded with major singers and instrumentalists such as: Babis Tsertos, Sotiria Leonardou, Kostas Mantzios, Makrina Ksaderfia, Manolis Lidakis, Aggelos Sfakianakis, Fatih Erkoc, Gilad Atzmon, Stuart Hall, Kit Downes, Sarah Gillespie, Sabina Rackcheyeva, Kinan Azmeh, Nizar Rohanna, Kalia, Kosmos, Khyam Allami, Chris Batchelor, Natacha Atlas, Syriana, and Mark Lockheart.