“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

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]

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)

"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]

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.

Sad Clown

Andreas and the Revolving Riot

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