"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.

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Sugar From The Sun

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.

Sugar From The Sun

Andreas and the Revolving Riot

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