Stray Blue - 'Wake Up & Smile (Acoustic)'

There’s a rare kind of strength in music that doesn’t need to shout. With 'Wake Up & Smile (Acoustic)', Greek trio Stray Blue return not with fanfare, but with a quiet, clear-eyed affirmation of hope.

After years away from the spotlight, the band have stripped their sound back to the bare essentials, and in doing so, uncovered something luminous. Led by Nick Anastasakis, with George Athanas and George Papazoglou at his side, Stray Blue have always worn their emotion plainly. But here, in this intimate two-track release, that emotional core feels more grounded than ever.

The title-track is all softness and breath, a sunrise in song form. Built on feather-light guitar picking and understated vocal harmonies, it speaks of small, hard-won acts of perseverance. The lyrics feel like someone sitting beside you on a bad day, saying “I get it. You’re still here. That matters.”

‘Moody Sky’, featuring a beautifully restrained performance from cellist Yoed Nir, brings a sense of dusk to the EP’s early morning light. Where the first track opens its arms, this one turns inward with gentle recognition of life’s weight. The cello moves like memory, threading through the arrangement with a quiet grace.

This release knows what it is; folk as balm, witness, and a reminder that just because something is soft doesn’t mean it’s weak. 'Wake Up & Smile (Acoustic)' is music made to hold you steady. And in a time that constantly demands more, that’s radical in itself.