I was lucky enough to be introduced to the music of Nick Anastasakis in late 2024 when releasing under the pseudonym Afro Nick. That unforgettable introduction arrived via the song Get There Before Noon.
It’s a song that still fixates. I return to it often and consider Get There Before Noon one of the most experimental, inventive tunes of that year. So, when I learned of an undiscovered musical project, it was bound to pique interest. Armed with curiosity and excitement, I was ready to enter another layer in the world of Afro Nick.
Cue Stray Blue, a three-piece indie band that has been performing for an admirable two decades. Musical discovery is better late than never, right?! Based on the idyllic Greek island of Crete, the band comprises Nick Anastasakis, George Athanas, and George Papazoglou.
The song Wake Up & Smile landed in July 2025, and while I knew Nick had the creativity to surprise, I didn’t expect versatility to this extent. It’s indie, it’s a tiny bit two-tone, and it’s every bit brilliant.
The groove hits and hooks you in first. Acoustic guitar, bass, and drums bounce in cohesion with an irresistible head-nodding Alabama 3 strut. Just as the neck ache starts from all the head bopping, the rhythm breaks into the chorus. An open, rapturous soundscape that’ll have your eyes gazing up at the blue skies of Chania, and that’s even if you’re listening in duller places.
“Wake up and smile, I feel fine,” sings Nick Anastasakis in a style that can only be his. It’s a joyful expression of life, taking you from your speakers to the sun-kissed beaches of Crete.
Wake Up And Smile is a feel-good hit for the summer created by a band of brothers enjoying life. The Crete Tourism Board should extend its thanks to Stray Blue, because if Crete makes you wake up and smile like the song says, then we’ll all be visiting on the next plane.
Discover Stray Blue here:
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