Band names change and members come and go. If there was one consistent thing from 2002-2012, that whole first decade of my life in music and all of its rites of passage, it was Kyle and me. That dynamic grew from being childhood bandmates into a friendship... from a friendship to a brotherhood and then on to touring, roommates, adults, families, etc. etc. 

And no matter to what end, as they say, “the rest is history.” 

"The One Inside," was a song we got together and wrote at the end of Six Hour Ride (our first real band). It is about all of our past band members and kind of our bittersweet take on it at the time. 

Every person we had ever let onto a song or been in a band with; the toll it can take on you while dealing with ego's and growing up. It was sort of this spy, mole-mentality that we invited voluntarily into our lives, our inner-sanctum… that sacred, creative space and basically, the feelings that come with that. 

It's a rock n' roll song and a lot of fun to play live. It's a staple on the record, "Interpretation of Ego," and celebrates 15 years this year! I am glad it made it onto the list of 52 songs in 52 weeks! It was reminiscent of the older stuff we had worked on and considered to be, “heavier," versus our Alternative approach on the rest of the record. 

Have a listen.

Interpretation Of Ego

The One Inside

"A Piece of Everyone," written by: Andreas Stavropoulos and Kyle Nail for the debut album, 'Interpretation of Ego.' 

Our band was just starting, we both took a small break from each other and I was in Europe. All I could think about was journaling ideas and lyrics for our new band while Kyle was galavanting in CA. 

The line, "we all have a piece of everyone inside, if our hearts are pure, we have nothing to hide." I was just in a different country and states and talking to people, on airplanes, living the life and in its simplest meaning... that's exactly what it is about. A little peace, love and understanding. 

I didn't have a guitar with me on my travels so the lyrics came first. I was listening to a lot of Linkin Park's, 'Minutes to Midnight,' but we are a heavily Alternative band and this is what came out when I finished. 

Kyle and I were in a studio like two months later. 

Thank you for listening.

A Piece Of Everyone

I believe that militaries and wars in general are many, many things. 

Most of all, I believe that they are a big business. The biggest business in the world, actually. Industrial, money-making machines that exemplify control. Power. Greed. 

Though I memorialize the entire world's fallen soldiers, have many friends and family who have served and cannot begin to describe every detail of intension... what I did not salute in the past and still do not, is the recruitment style of behavior that these militaries bestow on the youth. 

That goes for the entire world. 

I wrote this poem in high school after being disturbed by military solicitors that were allowed to set up booths on campus with the intent of recruiting students starting as early as 14 years old. Children with no formed thought of their own. In Greece, for example, it is mandatory and still mandatory that I go. This is a global issue for me. 

Memorial Day is not controversial to me, I stand by the many men and women that have served all the countries all around the world. 

Remember that, this is not limited to the U.S.A. today or any day! 
This stretches beyond the borders and to everyone's children. 

What I do not stand by is oppression of any kind and the causes of these wars. No matter how convoluted and distorted these issues and their details may be. No matter how necessary offenses and defenses may be.

On this, I end my entry and hope that most of us agree. 

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Unplugged @ The Bomb Shelter

The Boulevard (Unplugged Live)

"Sugar From the Sun," is a home demo, recorded in the living room of the last drummer I worked with, Shawn Schiebrel. We made some really cool demos happen in that room and luckily, this is one of them. 

People were always asking us why we don't right 'happy' songs and this was our first response. It's a killer song to play live and so much fun. We must have been listening to a lot of summer-style Rock bands at the time because I hear it all over the tune. 

Sitting around in the living room of our home I was kicking around lyric ideas to the guys and we got on the topic of how important sunshine and sunlight is... especially going into our fourth year of being in Columbus, OH. Vitamin D and sunshine and California was part of the topic and then it just turned into shouting out things we love... with the conclusion that those beautiful, sweet things; whether a woman is in a summer dress, or jumping in the water, feeling something for the first time again... all those things were like, "sugar from the sun." 

And there you have it! I would love to be able to take a song like this someday to a professional studio and do it the right way. For now, we have the memories of how we played it live and this demo. Written by Andreas, structured with Kyle, recorded with Shawn and so the revolving door of art goes and goes and goes.

Auto-Tune This!

Sugar From The Sun

"General Admission"
 
Written By: Andreas Stavropoulos 

They look and they try 
They see and they cry 

And I’ve been trying to take the pieces of me that are perfect 
And I’ve been trying to tie them together so you can see 

They stole my shoes but they were too big to fill 
They’re running out of time but I have time to kill 
You claim you know what to do, I can’t see the skill 
You treat me like the coldest winter chill and you do still 

They look and they try 
They see and they cry  

And I’ve been dancing to the rhythm of the time bomb for years 
The one that’s ticking in my heart, it’ll never stand still, it’s something to fear 

They stole my shoes but they were too big to fill 
They’re running out of time but I have time to kill 
You claim you know what to do, I can’t see the skill 
You treat me like the coldest winter chill and you do still 

I’m sorry, this is no private party 
It’s general admission only 
And nothing here is for free 

They look and they try 
They see and they cry  

They stole my shoes but they were too big to fill 
They’re running out of time but I have time to kill 
You claim you know what to do, I can’t see the skill 
You treat me like the coldest winter chill and you do still 

You’re the cream in my coffee, now I drink it black 
You’re the little fish swimming in front of a shark attack.

General Admission (Home Demo)

Somewhere in the heart of Julian, California there is a quaint cabin community nestled away in the mountains. It is ridden with horse farms and apple orchards, breweries and wineries... waterfalls and hiking trails, it is called Harrison Park. 

I spent a good portion of my late twenties going up there, several times a year, with a woman I thought I was going to marry. There was a cabin up there, built by an older couple and that is where we would go every time. It was our little getaway from all the madness of Los Angeles. 

On the wall of that cabin, in the kitchen, there was a clock whose dials moved with the time. The bigger hand was called, "the sting," and the other, "the honey." At any given time it represented one or the other of the old couple. A testament to a long-standing relationship with a strong foundation. Or at least that is what it meant to me. I found it to be so romantic and enchanting that I started writing this little, folky, love song. 

The lyrics came to be of some thoughts I had penned down for what may or may not have become wedding vows. I timed the song BPM'S to match something I would want to slow dance to with my new bride.

Unfortunately, my love story with that gal ended. She went off to have her country wedding with a new suitor and I finished the song regardless and actually ended up passing it on to another couple who used to come to my shows. 

They used it in their wedding and for this gift of music, I am truly blessed. It's soft, it's subtle and it is one of the tracks to be released on my, "Harrison Park EP." Release date TBD. 

Thank you for lending your ears, 

Andreas

Sting And the Honey (Mastered -1dB)

"Excommunicate," may be one of my favorite songs from our band, 
Six Hour Ride and the album, "Paint." It is one of the few releases that I can proudly say... I almost had nothing to do with!

In that particular band, we all worked very hard to shed the ego's of adolescents and whatever songwriting roles we had and really make it an open forum for everyone to express creativity. 

We had different styles and tastes in music, however, one of the bands we loved and adored was Incubus. I believe that influence is very audible on this tune. It has a Red Hot Chili Peppers, California vibe, washing all over it. 

Rob Farley (Guitars) wrote most of the music and all of the lyrics for this song. Chris McCarthy (Bass, Cello) had a fair say in most things and definitely carried us musically, as well. Kyle Nail (Drums) was a pivotal role in arrangements and was like that until the day he left me, a true knack and talent for that. My biggest contribution was to really, sort of, produce and carry it along. To basically motivate. Yes, I did get to choose and sing the melody line all for myself and maybe help Rob with a few words here and there and the confidence to title it. 

It was such a burden off of my shoulders, to finally have a group in which everyone felt comfortable writing. I didn't even play guitar live, I got to hold the microphone and belt what I wanted and run around the stages, as opposed to being glued to the microphone stand. It allowed for some excitement on stage and a change of routine. Quickly, "Excommunicate," became a crowd favorite. 

Freedom through excommunication. Which I suppose, is exactly what the song is about. This was self-imposed excommunication we were talking about. Anti-establishment in rock n' roll music and what was becoming of it. We knew we were choosing to enter and love a dying industry and we did it anyway, not caring at all what people thought along the way. What rock band doesn't say this, right? 

There are big guitars and fantastic bass. Kyle rips it on the drums and I was just coming into my own with singing. Trumpets rejoice in the exile, some sort of Ska Music influence out of nowhere... an anthem to say the least. When you have a vision and it feels like no one else sees it, it is okay to choose to excommunicate. 

Thank you for lending your ears to the jams! 

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Excommunicate

One of the last demos I did with Kyle. It was going to be a track on, "Interpretation of Id." That second album would have been fire. Enjoy the demo. We've all been there.

A Nervous Romance [Demo Mastered]

Too emotional to get in this week for me. 
Love yourself and your loved ones.

Welcome To The Motion

“SAD CLOWN” 

Dear Listener, 

Often, depression is the constant feeling of sadness, anger and loss of interest which stops you from doing your normal daily activities or even enjoying and appreciating life. 

Now, what causes that sadness, anger or loss of interest is a much deeper discussion and often is quite different for everyone. It is absolutely okay that we start making this acceptable to talk about in society without ridicule or judgment. 

Whether you find a group or a friend to confide in, it must be addressed! It helps tremendously to address it. The song itself tackles the idea of the “sad clown.” Many people do not have the option to stop life in its tracks and address these issues or even slow down enough to talk to someone. The show must go on and on and on. We have created a society in which we must constantly work to make due, bring bread and simply survive. Our hierarchy of needs has been stripped to its foundation, universally. 

A lot of that has to do with day to day interaction with people, co-workers, friends, etc. The facade, or the greatest show on earth, is feeling these emotions but having to wake up every day and stuff them down inside without being able to address them and fix them head on; We are constantly pressing forward to make life work. Life is hard. 

That is what I believe we were tackling with this song. The, “sad clown,” is a paradox that is the contradictory association between comedy (in a sense, acting like a clown for the world) and presenting society with that optimistic, dancing smile, while having to deal with great sadness, anger and depression inside (no matter what the cause). 

The mental disorders, anxiety and feelings on the inside absolutely must be addressed or it simply becomes a madhouse. I see the world becoming a madhouse, a circus, a rotating, revolving, traveling freak show and not only are we all actors in it, for some reason we all love to be spectators as well. 

Since the song has been written (many years ago), I have seen the world fall more and more into the carnival. I’m not even sure I have to write in more detail for all of you readers to know exactly what I mean. 

You can obviously hear the themes throughout the song making the connections between what I am describing above and the maddening roadshow that life has become. What has not killed us has only made us more weird and crazy. 

If you feel like you have an issue or need to get something out… Please reach out. There are plenty of people out here to listen, including me. Please listen to the song, “Sad Clown,” and appreciate the approach in which it is coming from. It means the world to me and it may be one of the most important songs I have ever had the privelage to write with my boys. Thank you for listening and all of us, let’s talk in peace. 

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Sad Clown

"Glass Hearts," is straight from my personal vault of demos, delivered to you with happiness and steeped in pride. Such a fun song to write! 

Its origin came from one of our "winter breaks" as we were preparing for what may have been the second Cydona Rise album. 

Kyle and I lived together, along with (obviously) the touring and playing  shows; being in a band overall. It is a true marriage and brotherhood, however, when you get a chance in a band to take a break, you need to take it. 

So, when we would go home for Christmas and New Year's, etc., even though we both went back to California to visit our families, we never really spoke to each other or saw each other during those times. Regardless of being 15-20 minutes apart. 

I think a lot of separate writing happened during those moments, as it does for most bands. You kind of experience life and write on your own during those times and then bring back ideas to each other with a bit of excitement. 

"Glass Hearts," was just that. We were all on break and I was writing on my own and trying to bring back a few demos to the band that maybe they would like or want to work on for what could be album #2 or an EP, whatever... 

Kyle would write ideas and lyrics, as would I, and then we would reconvene after the new year kicked off and see what worked. 

"Glass Hearts," is my testament to how much I wear my heart on my sleeve and how much of an open book I am. I still am. No remorse. I will tell it like it is, I want to hear it like it is and enter deep discussions about life, love and the universe and never stop. That is who I am. 

These are very obscure lyrics... however, here is the picture I am trying to paint in the listeners mind. The character is a, "wear your heart on your sleeve," type of person, where no matter how badly you may get hurt, you also enjoy life to fullest and absorb it fully enhanced. This is a very fragile way of living but you do truly get to experience the magic more. I rarely have walls up... I don't like to live that way. This comes with joy and pain, yin and yang; consequences. 

Our character has a fragile heart because of this built-in ethos, a glass heart, which he openly exhibits to the world at the risk of having it constantly broken, stolen or damaged. In the obscure description here, the heart is on display at a "museum." Let's call it the spectacle of life; life's museum. Existential. Imaginative. 

People come and go out of this place and they view this heart at their leisure, as a piece of art. Some appreciate it, some understand it and some do not. The rules are simple... take your time with it, no pictures and no throwing stones at the glass heart. 

The rest is open to interpretation. 

I simulated a drum beat to show Kyle the tempo. The rest is me, tinkering with aggressive, British-Alt-Rock, sounding guitars. The vocal is a little rough but I just simply love this demo. I think I got to show it to them (Kyle and Tony, the bassist), maybe one time. We had so many ideas at the time that I just tabled this demo completely. Now, 10 years later, I went listening and thought to myself... "I better share this one, it's just too fun." Too bad we never even got to play it or try to. 

I liked it a lot when we went more Alternative and abstract with our concepts. It was more interesting to me. Similar to, "A Matter of Time." 

So, here is our character... a deep thinking, empath, who exhibits his fragile heart for the world to see... the risk is having it consistently damaged and broken, the reward is that living this way means living a life more full, more enhanced and more dialed in and in tune with the details of energy and the universe. Life's feelings, experiences and the blueprints and offerings this existence all has. 

The scene, an exhibition in a museum. This is not a fake or a replica, it's the real deal and it's here to stay. Please handle with care. 

Thank you for reading, supporting and listening. 

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Glass Hearts [Demo 02 +5dB]

Growing up, we lived an integral part of my childhood in Washington state. Pasco, WA, to be particular, in the Tri-Cities. Growing up in this type of town during the 90's gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to actually be a kid. I got to experience what seems to be the last generation of living a life outside.

We did not have mobile phones, we weren't exactly "gamers..."
we came home after dark. Our parents counted on us riding our bikes, exploring life, scraping knees, cutting teeth and getting lost all along the way. "Be home for dinner..." kind of adventures.

"Heavy On My Shoulders," was inspired by the passing away of one of those dear childhood friend's mothers, whom I loved so much. Denise was an explorer herself and had such a thirst for life and what it's actually all about, I enjoyed talking to her about such things growing up and miss her dearly. 

Iconically, I was also reading Ray Bradbury's, "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and it sort of tackles the subject of the loss of innocence and how it tends to come with the gain of adulthood knowledge. Not always the most graceful changing of the guard, however, inevitable. 
He is one of my favorite writers. 

This song is just what came out of me that day. 

Looking back now, even though I have a great, detailed memory and loved every experience of my youth, I simply know that I grew up too fast. That was always in the blueprint for me though. My brain was always working too quickly and was thinking deeper thoughts, so I always just hung out and conversed with the adults. 

Then it became, "Oh my goodness, you're so mature for your age..."

After a certain point, art took over my heart, my soul and my brain. Being so young and having that feature of my character activated only enhanced and sped up the process to losing that youth and innocence that one should hold onto for as long as humanly possible. Hanging out with those adults and starting to pay more attention, starting to play shows at clubs (once we moved to L.A.), getting more bullied at school (once we moved to L.A.), learning to love, etc. I got to see the adults at play in a sense. I got to see the beauty and wonders the world had to offer but I also got to see the, "lipstick on a pig," dark underbelly part of the world. The certain responsibilities society creates and that we take upon ourselves as we grow older... what a nuisance. 

Losing innocence is a coming of age, nonetheless, and how you perceive it and deal with it even more-so. It is an experience in your lifetime where you first come to know pain and death. There is an enhanced awareness of the evil and suffering of the world. I believe for an empath that is overcome by creativity that did and still does carry a certain weight for me and often times I do find it to be heavy on my shoulders. 

In the mix, I often bring in two piano tracks that the renowned Matt Peterson recorded... they cross fade in and out and sometimes run together. I asked him to record what he felt, two completely separate melodies, same theme and emotion. This symbolizes the mixed emotions I had about growing up, knowing I won't ever have those experiences in that way again (running through corn-fields, trying out for soccer teams, not having a cell phone, building forts, laughing endlessly, every day). It tackles the mixed, back and forth, emotions I had over Denise's passing. 

...Let your kids run wild and free for a moment, if you have the opportunity. It's a violent world out there, I know, and things have continuously changed for the worst. However, there is still room and pockets for the magic. 

I urge you also, as an adult now, put down your phone, take a closer look. Feel again. Slow down, make life a game again, because it is... Go outside into nature, carry that glass heart with you everywhere, expose it and exhibit it. There are still plenty of reasons to wonder and maintain wanderlust.

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Heavy On My Shoulders [Mastered Home Demo]

"Taco Tuesday," started out as a demo idea to counter the pushback I would receive claiming that I don't ever write anything happy or funny. So, here goes my affinity for So Cal and tacos, especially on a Tuesday. 

The story is told in three parts. It begins with a disgruntled girlfriend who just had a horrible start to her week and a horrible day at work. She calls up her boo in hopes that they can go out and salvage this day by having some tequila and tacos and just letting loose. This is a popular mode of operation for most southern-Californians on a Tuesday. We have immortalized this day. 

Our couple gets a little naughty and out of control and the woman invites a friend to join the fun. It is light hearted and pretty much tells itself... so, no more spoiler alerts. 

This may or may not be based on a true story and it may or may not have happened to me or a friend. We all plead the fifth... just don't ever tell me I don't know how to pen a happy or funny song, I just often choose not to. The way I bleed on a page is to vent heartache through sadness and anger and let it go. Often times, when I am happy, I am out and about being happy. However, messages received loud and clear, I will work on more brighter tunes. 

Los Angeles is a taco town. Late night al pastor to family run taquerias. Food trucks are coveted, So Cal runs the show and serves as an example for the entire world. There is no shortage of places to go and not a woman that would say, "no," to a proper taco Tuesday or a shot of tequila with a lime. Beach towns are blazing and the mood is spicy, maybe a little too spicy for some. 

Enjoy this demo a la carte, from my vault, directly to you. Go have a taco Tuesday soon and get a little crazy.

Taco Tuesday [M2 -1dB]

Being born in Greece and moving to the States had its moments. 

Going back in the summers and maintaining my mother-country culture while learning a new identity as an American came with its difficulties. I wanted to soak up both cultures... all the cultures of everyone I met, in fact. 

In Greece, I was the little American that defected... while in the U.S., I was the weird, eccentric, little Greek child. People need to bully and label what they do not know or understand. It helps them in their own little fucked up way through the process. 

When the band moved to Ohio, the same thing happened to us in adulthood. We prided ourselves on being the 'Californians' that took over the scene. We were here to bring the sunshine and shove every ray up your ass. There was an ego that came with that... 

Yet, slowly over the years, we easily identified with Ohio. Every time we would go back to California, there would always be someone or multiple folks who made us feel like we turned our backs on our own state. We couldn't hang with pretentious Hollywood! 

Being a traveling circus for a while, or just simply wanderers and explorers of the earth and human nature... we found out rather quickly that we didn't belong to any tribe. A lone wolf that finds packs and runs with them for a while, is some sort of an influence, just before leaving again, hopelessly wandering the world alone until the next pack finds you. Shit, we were the same way during recess and lunch breaks in school. Nomads fleeting from group to group. 

Just as soon as you belong, then it's time to disappear. 

There is a sense of running away that constantly is attached to wanderlust and that is what, "Homecoming," is all about. 

It seems peculiar every time you go back to the places you once knew so well and had such a steeped history in. Everything is always a bit off, a bit strange. The way that people treat you can be even more strange and how you handle it is really all the fun.

Homecoming

In a world in which we are so connected to each other through our devices but disconnected in all natural ways comes the track, "Across the Wire." 

We attempted to get incredibly electronic with the approach of this song but starting off organically. What I mean by that is there is an element to how we recorded it with real drums and acoustic guitars, vocals, etc... even Djembe for percussion... very real, organic things but then let our Producer Josh run wild and free with his love of industrial style editing. A lot of Radiohead type of influences. 

The message is not in favor of this technological advancement. People with less attention spans, less of a connection to each other... waiting for their turn to speak instead of listening... losing complete touch and essentially letting A.I. create a facade of what their lives really are... 

Here is, "Across the Wire," for your listening. Thank you!

Across The Wire [Single]

"Nothing On Me" 

Written by: Stavropoulos, McCarthy, Farley and Nail. An oldie, but most certainly a goodie. It started out after a major break-up I had (at least it meant that to me at the time). Rough for being just a kid in his early twenties.

I had just started to fiddle around with playing the piano and during the heartache, I decided to go visit my life-long family friends up in Washington state. I brought Rob along with me for the ride and the emotional support. We went to Seattle and then b-lined for the Tri-Cities. I was definitely feeling it. 

The Vincent's (our hosts) have always had this old piano in one of the dens and I started playing these chords over and over and just repeating the line, "they've got nothing on me." 

I still remember all that pride I had deep inside and I also remember the fall. I knew I was a better man than anyone she'd go end up dating or maybe just a better man in general and I carried that ego with me the whole trip and through that break-up. 

Maybe that's why the song hit me so hard this time around... the music and orchestration we came up with is incredibly melancholy and yet the lyrics are so damn boastful. Mind you, it was only a matter of months before she came back to me and we were together for another year! I felt justified. 

I actually find it healthy that I had that mentality and to be honest, I still do. "They've got nothing on me." There is a self-awareness I was blessed with to always try and be better, regardless of my faults. 

Rob's solo is so epically Pink Floyd to me. He basically improved a few takes and we chopped it up. Thank you to the school that lent us percussive instruments because Kyle had a field day with them and everything you hear is REAL! Including the timpani drums. Chris McCarthy not only shines with the cello and tore a hole in the atmosphere with his classical influence but he did some back-up vocals as well, believe it or not. 

During that era, it didn't matter what any other man brought to the table, they had nothing on us and that was the attitude. They could bring things to the table but they won't even have names. That should always be the attitude as long as you are willing to grow and back it up...

DEMOS

Nothing On Me

Curious creatures of the night wait longingly to come out and play. October waltzes into November every year. We leave and wait to renew. 

"Neither Lost Nor Saved," honestly started out as a filler-track to an EP we released a while back titled, 'Alternate Roots.' A project that mostly showed our acoustic side. 

We needed to start playing longer sets in our live shows and I was listening to a lot of Eddie Vedder and Johnny Cash material and this sort of just came out. It ended up sticking around. 

It's funny how songs evolve; I never had a solo for it. It was lyrically about a family member of ours that has been known to be a bad seed from time to time and has gotten into a bit of trouble but is genuinely such a kind and beautiful soul. And so it goes... 

The more I kept singing it live and thinking about it, I thought to myself, "maybe this is not about that person at all, or maybe it is, however, I was also greatly projecting..." The song now seems to be more about me. I am part Saint and part Sinner and the soul is still finding itself neither lost nor saved. 

It's about as muddy and grunge as our "acoustic" tracks get. There is a certain sludge to it. Even when I play it alone, live, if it's done right, there is a deep element of emotion that comes out, steeped in pain. That's the release... 

Thank you for lending your ears! 

-Andreas

Neither Lost Nor Saved [Ohio Demo]

I fucking love the next three demo songs. 
I will grace you with some real action from the 'vault.' 

Mind you, these are "home demos" done between Kyle and me, with about 5 shitty microphones, in our living room, at our house in Columbus, OH. Maybe even a little tipsy but so much fun. 

The masterpiece is a trilogy titled, "Superhero Versus Villain!" 

We were prepping ideas for what was arguably the next set of Cydona Rise releases and had a lot of concepts going at the same time. We were piecing together a story and, "Superhero Versus Villain," is kind of an EP idea that came together. 

It starts with the hero of the story, coming into his own, accepting his powers and proclaiming to be a protector for the people, but most importantly his loved ones. "Versus" is the discovery of his enemies, including the infamous 'belly of the whale' moment all of our heroes have and understanding his own weaknesses. In this case, vices. 

"Villain," is the confrontation and finale but with a mutual respect and understanding that, "just like a good friend," or even best friends and family... you actually need a villain in your own story the most. 

A personal person to struggle against, the counter-opposite and equal to your chaos that you must constantly confront. Think of the Joker and Batman. Maybe Spiderman and Venom. In life, we are always battling good v.s. evil and there is always a good guy and a bad guy. 

"You can die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain..." Sort of the toll that life takes on you. Make of it what you will and enjoy Pt. 1. 

I would hope that soon, I can take this 3-part EP and professionally record it and release it as it was intended. Kudos to Kyle as well for working with me in stride during a very, very creative time in our lives. 

P.S. I am starting to see, thematically, that we were obsessed with Joseph Campbell to a certain degree. 

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Superhero! [Home Demo]

Pt. 2 of the, "Superhero Versus Villain," saga. 

"Versus," is part two of the EP. Again, it may be a home demo... but Kyle and I had a very clear vision of where we were going with this concept. At this point in the story, our character has discovered his powers and embraced his role as the hero. 

In chapter two, he begins to identify the villains in the tale, also, through these adventures or misadventures he is discovering his own kryptonite. Often, he understands that he, himself may be the villain. What works for him and what doesn't. Vices, the pressures of what it is that he is trying to accomplish. Many times, as cliche as it sounds, you truly are your own worst enemy and the 'Jekyl and Hyde' effect kicks in. 

Remember, with, "Superhero Versus Villain," this is not a direct, literal comic book protagonist, but a real life, day-to-day Joe, discovering for the first time that he is the main character in his own life. Meaning and purpose coincide. We've all been there, no matter how old you are when this epiphany strikes. It is only then, that you understand as your own superhero that you must take the bull by the horns and make something of your life and for yourself. 

"Versus," may very well tackle the struggles and battles you face daily with the villains of your story, but it strongly tackles the battles you face within yourself. Good v.s. Evil, the nature of the beast. 

Thank you for listening. 

-Andreas

Versus [Home Demo]

The last demo of the, "Superhero Versus Villain" trilogy! 

"Villain," is now representing the idea that throughout the heroes journey, our own personal journey, there are many archetypes... The most important character in ones own story, aside from themselves, is perhaps the villain. 

More-so, far more important than a lover or a best friend, a guide or a parent, the villain serves as the antagonist to the hero. The counterpart to what is good and evil. Without the villain, the hero has no tasks to overcome; no room to shine. 

The villain is the force that keeps the action moving and to the villain, the hero is the villain. They live for each other. To pursue each other. There is often a great love and hate relationship there and often, one that is co-dependent. They live for each other. 

This relationship forces you to grow, change, stretch and overcome. Have you identified the villains in your own story? Are you the villain in someone else's? That's how life goes. 

It's the roughest recording of the three demos. However, the rawness of the tune is essential to the meaning. There is a certain friction to it. If you listen carefully, our microphones were picking up a religious radio station coming out of the outskirts of Columbus, OH. I find that to be so appropriate. 

The riff is so fucking heavy. Especially, when I jump octaves at the end. We use some chords in a past song of ours called, "Serial Lover..." everything in this trilogy has meaning. Tony also copies my riff for the verse and on a distortion pedal for the bass guitar parts. Very Deftones of us. 

Enjoy! 

-Andreas

Villain [Home Demo]

A TIME IN DECEMBER. 

Written By: Stavropoulos, Farley, McCarthy and Nail. 

If there was a single on the debut album, 'Paint,' by my band Six Hour Ride... I would say that this would be it, or at least, the first. 

It's beautiful and abstract and the lyrics speak for the brilliant mind of an artist, any artist, dealing with existential crisis. The back and forth struggle with how they see the colorful world that we live in. Like the result of paint trucks crashing together. 

I like leaving description out of this song and letting the listener enjoy it and come up with their own colors and feelings. We did have a song called, "Paint," that did not make the album, so instead of having a title track, this one lyrically covered the overall theme of what the band was trying to accomplish... which was to not have anybody label us as to what kind of rock band we wanted to be. No particular genre within our own world that we were creating. 

-Andreas

A Time In December

"A Moment Ago."

A rock ballad about long distance relationships. Rob absolutely nailed this solo, by the way; it is incendiary and reminiscent to me of a Slash solo and encompasses some true-Hollywood licks. 

The transition from Afterlife to Six Hour Ride as a band also came with some pinnacle moments of adolescents, including first girlfriends. Both Rob and I had relationships that started local and in California and ended up long distance. One being in Arizona (mine) and the other in NYC (Rob). 

Listening to this song, today, I see how important it actually is in our canon, which is why I am releasing it again. It is one of the main reasons we named our band what we did. 

Roughly, It would take me six hours to get to Arizona and six hours for Rob to fly to NYC. So, there you have it... a six hour ride for the sake of first loves. Add to it the lyrical, ballad-driven, landscape of being apart from our significant others, getting accustomed to travel and airports... saying, "I don't ever want to leave you..." yet, having to constantly go, etc. It became a theme for that time in our lives and also and great spot in the album and set-list to slow things down a bit. 

From my vault straight to yours, enjoy! 

P.S. Chris' bass parts are underrated on this song and listen to Kyle's 'cross-sticking' in the second verse. We were on fire! 

-Andreas

A Moment Ago

Across County Lines. 

RE-ISSUE.

Newly mastered home demo. Every verse of the song is a part of its own story and they are all true. These events happened to me while touring. The lyrics are so "boiler-plate" that I have gone on to write short stories about every section of the song and plan on sharing some bits and pieces along with photos from our memorable travels all across this country of the United States of America.

To be in a rock n' roll band you must truly be a road dog, a warrior. An outlaw on the road... and you play every night that you can, trying to draw a crowd, before moving on, town to town, club to club. You leave behind stories and a legend, until you can return again.

You meet people of all trades, shapes and sizes. Some with the biggest hearts and brightest of souls, some lying deep in the underbelly of this dark world yearning to wreak havoc.

Something resilient about me and a fond memory...

Every time we were asked to play for something crazy, like 3-hours (the Springsteen set, we used to joke), the band would construct set-lists that were about an hour and fifteen minutes each so the boys could take breaks. I never did.

When my band would jump off stage to gather a breath, or to take a piss... or, more often than not, reload on their drinks, I would stay alone on stage and bust out the acoustic guitar and keep on playing.

I'd strip it down to unplugged versions of songs or things I was working on and just motor through until they came back onstage to join me. People would always comment on that, "why the hell don't you take a break? Aren't you tired?!" I had many layers of reasons as to why I was doing this.

I would get tired but I just wanted to leave all the blood and sweat out on the stage, every night. I wanted you to go home thinking, "what the fuck?" and that maybe rock n' roll wasn't dead yet. I was a hopeless romantic. 

"Across County Lines," may just be your basic travel, touring-song... however, to me, it is a song steeped in those warrior travel diaries and one of those songs that ended up being played live, in between band "breaks." It tells little stories within a bigger story and is, for sure, one of my favorite songs.

You can also hear the Springsteen in there somewhere, channeling, "Nebraska." Certainly, most musicians were born to run and I certainly, am not the exception.

-Andreas Stavropoulos

P.S. 8 of 52. 

"Across County Lines," is now 10 years old!

Across County Lines (Mastered Demo)

This is a character song. 

Embrace the tale in the lyrics. This is Pt. 2, and it came first, with the other tune being, "On the Run," which can be found on this page as well and they are now promoted together. 

A true love song. Lost on a road he knew by heart, our hero comes upon a dark cabin in a twisted, terrifying forest. There, he meets a strange and beautiful woman. He is drawn to her magic, as she invites him inside to give him shelter from an oncoming storm. 

Taking care of him, she shows him things he has never seen before. About life, love and lust. When the storm is over, he must be on his way... however, he is forever changed and he will never forget her or the experience they endured together. 

These moments come once in a lifetime.

Paint

The Boss

"Some of us are Frogs"

Written by: Andreas Stavropoulos

This is a favorite, little jam of mine that I wrote over the summer of 2016, while living in Sunset Beach, CA. Lyrically, it was about this woman I had dated for a brief time, a while back. It was a very short-lived relationship that taught me a lot about vanity. 

She was beautiful and certainly condemned to feeling entitled. After going through a plethora of men, none of them to her standards, she fell upon me. As if she were the Princess coming across the frog by the lake of the famous Grimm's Fairytale.

Long story short, I too fell by the wayside after a very short fling.

Years later, she would write to me and tell me I was probably in the top percent of what she would now know to be, "decent men." There is a lot more to this but it resonated with me deeply and I made the direct connection to the fairytale at that time and wrote this little tune.

You should never judge someone at first glance, instead, try to understand the situation they come from and act accordingly. This does not reflect only in appearance or elegance... just as a general statement. I was one of the victims that she judged, at the time, by the cover of the story, alone... 

In, "The Frog King," the frog represents an archetype and story-line of the awakening of sexuality in the human being. Often, this creature is used through story-telling of this kind, in this way. 

I obviously went on to better things and to this day, I do not know what happened to that little, spoiled, Princess. However, I do hope she is too, better off.

Make of it what you will... this is, "Some of us are Frogs."

Some Of Us Are Frogs [Mastered Demo]

"Inside Voice," is an emotional, break-up song. 

We were on a downward spiral after a while but there was still so much love there. These things take time to fade away. 

However, fight after fight, voices get tired, throats get dry and whatever was hanging on by a thread eventually reaches its last frail and rips away. That's what happened. 

I tried to argue logically and to save the relationship and there was just no way to get there. The constant road to nowhere. So, minimally, the lyrics tell that story. In my own home, I was told to stay in a hotel for three days while she rented a moving truck, gathered her family members and moved out all her things. I received the phone call that I was good to go home... turning the key into the lock, I stepped into an empty home. It still smelled like her and dust and the house was empty. 

That was the first time I genuinely thought to myself, "a house is not a home." I was left with nothing, except her keys on the kitchen counter. There was pain, missing, love, resentment, every emotion you could think of. 

Here is, "Inside Voice," from my vault to yours. 

I won't get into it too much musically, except that I know exactly what to do with it in a professional studio and Chris McCarthy lended his cello skills to me after so many years from the band. This stands a chance of really making an impact and it's incredibly emotional to me. 

Thank you for lending your ears to this tune.

Inside Voice (Mastered Demo)

In honor of the 52 songs in 52 weeks project; As we approach the end, I have chosen to dig deep into the vault to bring you this adolescent, yet mesmerizing, gem! 

This is Hard Rock at it's finest and it has "Los Angeles, garage band" written all over it. We were still a trio at the time, Kyle, Rob and I were looking for a bassist but still writing our crazy, screaming Rock songs. I think this may have been the eighth or ninth song we had ever written, ever!

"Never Gonna Stop," is wickedly shallow in context but so much fun. It is roughly about practicing in garages all over So Cal and trying to be in a band, learning our craft, getting better... As you can imagine, at 17 years old, often, we were not good. An awful sound, but angst and distortion nonetheless.

Between my aunt's house in Cerritos, and Kyle's as well... and lastly, in the home I currently reside in, in Downey, CA, there was NOT a single week that we didn't get the cops called on us by neighbors for the noise. A priceless experience for any teenagers in a band and let's be honest, a right of passage. 

One neighbor stood out the most in Downey. An old witch, directly across the street from us. You couldn't even plug in an amplifier and hear Kyle mash one snare hit before the 5-0 was up our ass. The cheeky part of it all was that 99% of the time, the police officers would ask us what we were into, tell us to play them a song, "turn down the volume" a little and keep at it. "Hey guys, it sounds good..." as the radios chimed in with more important calls and the sunlight gleamed from their badges. They would leave, we would crank. 

Pointless to call in a band practicing. It only flared up our egos and once the authorities left, we just turned it up even more out of spite. 

There is the birth of, "Never Gonna Stop." The lyrics are about anyone who tried to stand in our way as we practiced and wrote in our little garages... trying to grow into something special. It was our, "fuck off anthem." Now, that I hear it again, it still is. I stand proud. 

That is why this tune is so important to me. Listen and listen loud! 

Don't forget we were 17 years old and that was 20 years ago and we were kicking your ass from that young of an age, that early on. If you don't hear the influence from Slash, you must be deaf, we are So Cal, after all. 

Fuck-n'-A. 

-Andreas Stavropoulos

Never Gonna Stop (Home Demo)

SETS IN THE EAST 
(Lyrics by Rob Farley)

She was born and raised on the roof of the world
Where the ground is dead and cold
Her golden had done astray from the marriage where she was sold
She gave him five but three had died, the brother now who has survived, mother then too young to cry but now so old 

She will be sleeping tonight 
When the sun sets in the east 
She will be blinded the light 
Of the sunset in the east 

She's bed ridden now, like a flower
If the wind's too strong, she'll blow away
She takes the vow before the hour 
And prays her next life won't be same 
Her heavy eyes stripped of all pride 
Hands on the beads her mother tied 
She feels the water flow inside and cries her name 

She will be sleeping tonight 
When the sun sets in the east 
She will be blinded the light 
Of the sunset in the east

She will be sleeping tonight 
When the sun sets in the east 
She will be blinded the light 
Of the sunset in the east

Sets In The East

"PAPER BOATS," is a song by Andreas Stavropoulos and Kyle Nail written for their band's debut album, "Interpretation of Ego," released by Cydona Rise and available on iTunes. The epic track closes out the record with an incredible tribute to the group's love for the ocean / sea. Written and recorded in So Cal there is nothing you won't find on this track. Chris McCarthy's cello and the eerie background vocals by singer's Michelle Caravia and Megan O'Toole take the tune to a whole new level. Considered a fan favorite and amazing song to see being performed live... 

HERE IS THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION!

Paper Boats [Instrumental]

"A Matter of Time," is a piano-driven Alternative track that tackles themes about time. Based on a dream Andreas had with Pink Floyd-esque type of lyrics, the song tells of a man searching for rooms with clocks that control time. His quest is to destroy them, in order to have more time to be with the people that he loves. A lifelong pursuit to make the most of things. Life is just a matter of time.

A Matter Of Time

Musician - Writer

Andreas is a Greek-born musician raised in the musical trenches of Americana Rock N' Roll. For this fellow, music is truly a life changing, universal language and Andreas works hard every year to become fluent in it and share the gift.

Andreas travelled around the United States solo and with his rock bands writing and playing his songs while creating a coast-to-coast reputation and fanbase with his authentic, genuine voice. 

Over the last twenty years he has claimed a spot in the open-minded, wonderful music scene with his groups SIX HOUR RIDE and CYDONA RISE. Now, forging a new road with his solo act, Andreas and the Revolving Riot.

Accomplishing many national and local feats, including self-releasing acclaimed albums, "Paint" with SIX HOUR RIDE and, “Interpretation of Ego” with CYDONA RISE (both available on iTunes). Radio play (Including CD101 & KROQ, various college station rotations, streaming platforms) and touring, consistently all across the country. 

His latest and permanent endeavor, Andreas & The Revolving Riot, is solo work focused on entertaining people, playing some of his popular, original songs, fan favorite cover renditions and introducing NEW MUSIC always! 

The Revolving Riot are the hooligans who play with Andreas at any given time. There are many solo shows, however, band performances as well, pianos, strings, guitars, drums, bass, essentially, whatever the evening and the message calls for. The Revolving Riot is the revolving door of talented musicians who join Andreas on stage and celebrate the songs of this young, experienced, authentic Singer-Songwriter. 

Andreas has amazing storytelling abilities and they come out demanding to be heard! With his acoustic, Americana approach, he still finds a way to fuse his Alternative Rock n' Roll days into the latest tunes... making for one hell of an experience. With age comes wisdom and the creativity endlessly flows on. 

This is raw and uncut, from the heart art and you should check it out...

Thank you for listening.

Popular tracks by Andreas and the Revolving Riot