Stray Blue offer a gentle reawakening on 'Wake Up & Smile'

After years spent crafting songs that quietly cut through the noise, Greek trio Stray Blue return with 'Wake Up & Smile (Acoustic)', a release that earns attention through grace alone. In just two tracks, the band distills decades of lived experience into a folk-tinged reverie that feels both intimate and quietly defiant.

The title-track is all early-morning warmth and emotional clarity. Nick Anastasakis’ voice arrives onto the mix, steady and unadorned. Fingerpicked guitar lines chime with delicate precision, while George Athanas and George Papazoglou provide the kind of subtle instrumentation that speaks volumes through restraint.

While its flipside ‘Moody Sky’ leans into the shadow. The addition of Yoed Nir’s cello is nothing short of masterful. Where 'Wake Up & Smile' offers a soft exhale, 'Moody Sky' sits with the ache.

There’s something deeply refreshing about how unforced this EP feels. Recorded in Thessaloniki with a distinctive 12-string tuning, it carries the unhurried confidence of a band that no longer needs to prove themselves. The production is sparse but intentional, leaving room for us to breathe between each note.

In a time when emotional vulnerability is often stylised or commodified, Stray Blue give us honesty without the spectacle. These are songs made by hands that have weathered time, and hearts that still have room for hope.