In a music world often overwhelmed by overproduction and fast trends, Stray Blue offers something refreshingly honest and soul-nourishing. Their newest EP, Wake Up & Smile – Acoustic Version, set for release on July 18, 2025, is a heartfelt two-song project that reflects on life’s deeper themes—resilience, hope, emotional honesty—through stripped-back, acoustic storytelling.
Celebrating 20 years as a trio, Stray Blue continues to evolve without losing their essence. This acoustic offering is not only a tribute to their journey, but a timeless reminder of why they’ve remained a quiet but powerful force in Greece’s indie scene—and beyond.
Originally recorded in 2005, “Wake Up & Smile” has become something of a personal and spiritual anthem for the band. This new acoustic version strips the song down to its bare emotional core, featuring Nick Anastasakis’s warm vocals and fingerpicked guitar in a unique 12-string tuning, giving the track an earthy yet elevated feel.
The song’s message—“Life is not always the way you want it to be… just wake up and smile”—lands even harder in this minimal setting. It’s not naïve optimism; it’s quiet resilience. In today’s world, that sentiment feels both comforting and brave. There’s no filler here—just truth wrapped in melody.
If you’ve ever needed a song to pull you gently out of a dark moment, this is it.
The second track, “Moody Sky,” expands the emotional palette of the EP. With renowned cellist Yoed Nir contributing haunting, cinematic textures, this song feels like a deep breath before an emotional release. The cello doesn’t just fill space—it speaks, weaving through the verses with its own quiet voice.
“Moody Sky” explores longing and reflection, capturing that suspended feeling between sorrow and acceptance. The instrumentation is delicate, yet it carries weight. For fans of indie folk, acoustic ballads, or simply heartfelt music that lingers in your chest, this track is a standout.
What makes Wake Up & Smile (Acoustic Version) truly special is its timing and intention. It’s not just a casual re-release—it marks two decades of a band that’s stayed true to their values: connection, sincerity, and soul.
Founded in Chania, Greece, Stray Blue is made up of:
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Nick Anastasakis – vocals, guitar, and the band’s spiritual core
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George Athanas – bass and vocals, bringing rock and funk roots from Thessaloniki
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George Papazoglou – drums, with a rich history in the Greek blues scene
Together, they’ve played everywhere from village bars in Crete to iconic venues in New York City, and their music reflects that broad life experience. It’s lived-in, weathered, but never jaded.
As Nick once said:
“Music can unite people and nations… it’s an international language that unifies us.”
That philosophy is embedded in every note of this EP.
Recorded in Thessaloniki, Greece, with the warm tones of a 12-string guitar in a unique tuning, the EP feels handcrafted. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is fake. Even the artwork—a limited edition 7-inch vinyl—hints at the love and legacy behind the project.
Though the band’s last official performance was back in 2011, whispers of a return are in the air, possibly with a show in Chania, Crete. For longtime fans, this EP may be the gentle nudge that signals something more.
Wake Up & Smile – Acoustic Version is more than a nostalgic revisit. It’s a love letter to persistence, a soundtrack for those quiet mornings when getting up is its own kind of victory.
In an age where indie often feels like a polished aesthetic rather than an ethos, Stray Blue reminds us that indie still means independent—of ego, of expectation, of superficiality.
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