Stray Blue – “Wake Up & Smile” Acoustic Version

Stray Blue’s “Wake Up & Smile” (Acoustic Version) is the kind of track you throw on when you need to hit replay. There’s something grounding about how this trio from Chania, Greece brings everything back to basics, a 12-string guitar in a unique tuning and the kind of songwriting that just connects.

The stunning vocals feel honest without leaning too hard on emotion, like he’s talking to you more than performing for you. That kind of delivery makes the message land even harder. Even if you weren’t around for their early days in the Greek indie scene, this release makes you feel like you’ve been following them for years. It doesn’t lean on nostalgia though. It feels lived-in, but not worn out.

And that cover? It’s impossible to ignore, that wild striped car against a searing sunset looks like it rolled out of a dream and straight onto the edge of memory. Follow Stray Blue on socials if you’re into artists who keep evolving without losing the heart of what made them good in the first place. They’ve got more on the horizon in 2025, and you’ll want to be there when it hits.