Composed for week 3 of Z-I-v Summer Contest 2023: Staircase Chase

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4pnaTCxyAgB48jQMDDA8eg?si=1fff655fc70a4d63
Listen on Youtube Music: https://youtu.be/O4gYq-iLH_A?si=xSy1uiBN-Jhj83b-
Listen on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/step-up/1694295117?i=1694295118

Step Up

This is a song about forgiveness. 

Years ago a friend's father had died. He was deeply upset because he couldn't bring himself to respect his father saying that he'd failed as a father. It was clear that he did not believe that his father had done his best. I said 'maybe not, but he probably did the best he knew how". That phrase made a difference to my friend and, perhaps, allowed him to look at his father in a different way. It stuck with me ever since.

This is also my story and possibly every parent's story. We all fail to some extent. We all could have done better and wish we had. But we all did what we knew to do. We can only hope that it was enough.

Verse 1:
We started talking about nothing at all
we shared a bit of something and I started to fall
A little bit in love I guess I answered a call
Made her more than a friend

So we got married in a rush of youth
Feeling so free, playing fast and loose
I always meant well you know that's the truth
But I stuffed it up in the end

Chorus:
Wish I could say that I did my best
But it's simply not true
I could have done a whole lot better
If I'd known what to do
I did as much as who I was at the time would allow
I'd like to think that whatever I did I did the best that I knew how

Verse 2:
We brought you home your mum and me
You entered our house turned two into three
So I went to work thought my job was to be
Bringing home big buckets of security

Who knew back then what a father should be
Who knew what a little boy or girl might need
I learned too late what I needed to see
More than anything you needed more of me.

Chorus:
Wish I could say that I did my best
But it's simply not true
I could have done a whole lot better
If I'd known what to do
I did as much as who I was at the time would allow
I'd like to think that whatever I did I did the best that I knew how

Bridge (omitted from this version):
That's not to say that I didn't try
That's all I ever did and that's no lie
If I didn't live up to the standards I had
I never thought that I was doing all that bad
The only life I've known has been in my own skin
I've never been the man I wish I'd been

Chorus:
Wish I could say that I did my best
But it's simply not true
I could have done a whole lot better
If I'd known what to do
I did as much as who I was at the time would allow
I'd like to think that whatever I did I did the best that I knew how
credits

The Best

Lyrics 

We had so much to say 
Now I can barely recognise your face (x2)

Remember when I was sixteen?
Your face gave me nose bleeds

Remember when we were sixteen? Your face gave me nose bleeds

I was so excited I met someone who actually knows me 

Your in my favourite city but I see you no where 
I think every girl is you. Because they all have your hair.  Oh I think your near me but I see you no where 

Oh! Yeah! I forgot we don’t talk no more!
Oh! Yeah! I forgot we’re not something at all!
Oh! Yeah! I forgot your not the same one.. anymore

Anymore

The power of twenty five

Listen on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms:
https://notsupposedtohappen.yanniskazakos.com

A piece of music about the unexpected (whatever that means) dramatic life events. 
The why me or the why not me questions. 

I hope you enjoy it and that this piece resonates with you.

Composed, Performed & Produced by Yannis Kazakos

You can support me and buy this track on Bandcamp: 
https://yanniskazakos.bandcamp.com/track/not-supposed-to-happen

Spotify: https://spotify.yanniskazakos.com
Apple Music: https://apple.yanniskazakos.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@yanniskazakos
Bandcamp: https://yanniskazakos.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/yanniskazakos
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@yanniskazakos

Contact: info@yanniskazakos.com

Not Supposed to Happen

Careless

Gray

Bludgeoned With a Spiked Bat

On the day I turned 30, I decided I didn’t just want to celebrate a birthday — I wanted to make a statement. That’s why I dropped the biggest song of my career, Dope Fiend.

This track is everything I’ve been building toward: a chaotic mix of alternative rock and rap, driven by shredding guitars and raw energy, but also wrapped in a surreal, modern edge that feels like the future of alt music. Think heavy riffs colliding with hypnotic grooves — something that feels nostalgic and brand new at the same time.

But what really makes this song stand apart is that it marks my first industry feature — Darkrose, a major artist who I’ve respected for years and now had the honor of collaborating with. Chalk that up also with a verse from Crimson REd and we in there!! — on my 30th birthday, no less — making this release more than just another track. It’s a milestone.

Dope Fiend is reckless, addictive, and unapologetically loud. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t fit neatly into playlists, because it wasn’t made to. It was made to cut through the noise. This is the record that defines where I’ve been, and where I’m going next.

So here’s to 30 years alive, and a brand-new chapter starting with the loudest, most unapologetic song I’ve ever made. Welcome to Dope Fiend.

DOPE FIEND (feat. Darkrose)

A. I.

I began writing the harmony and the main guitar riffs of this song right on Blackout Tuesday. Watching antiracism protests around the world, really got me inspired. Hence the title of the song.

No Racists Allowed To Enjoy

Musico compositor, produccion musical Guitarrista
https://youtube.com/@gabrielariasoficialmusic?si=rFVujPkE9Vi7ckiy
https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/2FUoLNXKE6uWVE6jLPdYxW?si=4outJ0wkRNys0phmic4BIg

The power of twenty five

Gabriel Arias