Omaha-based alt-rock singer-songwriter Stavro is gearing up to release his latest album, You Turning World, on October 25. Produced by Ben Brodin at ARC Studios and Hand Branch Studio, the album is a fusion of warm pop melodies and experimental rock influences.
The lead single, "Everything," just premiered on Rock and Roll Globe and is available across digital platforms. Stavro says the song blends simple pop elements with a chaotic, intense backdrop, creating a unique sonic contrast. “I like when songs merge opposites,” Stavro explains. “The chorus is simple and catchy, but the rest of the song becomes more intense as it progresses.”
The album, You Turning World, explores both familiar and unusual sounds. Stavro combines scuzzy guitars with the Cretan lute, or laouto, an instrument he became interested in during the pandemic. After buying a lute at an Athenian flea market, he reached out to George “Psarogiorgis” Xylouris, a master of Cretan folk music. Xylouris agreed to mentor Stavro remotely, teaching him the traditional and avant-garde styles of the instrument. These influences can be heard throughout the album, especially in the track “See the Sun,” where the lute takes center stage in a bold rock arrangement.
The album’s lyrics also stand out, drawing inspiration from writers like T.S. Eliot and T.H. White. Stavro blends everyday scenes with deeper, timeless themes. The opener, "Garden State," sets this tone with its verses reflecting on lost moments, only to shift to a grand, mythical scene in the chorus. Lines like “In the rearview, even the bad times look good” capture a nostalgic mood, while the song's larger-than-life imagery whisks listeners to far-off places.
With You Turning World, Stavro has created an album that stretches the boundaries of alt-rock, blending personal stories with experimental sounds and rich, poetic lyrics. Stavro’s music is a bold, inventive blend of alt-rock and experimental sounds, with deep, poetic lyrics that push the boundaries of the genre while remaining emotionally resonant.