Annis Rallis new EP ‘Eyes Wide Open’ EP combines Greek folk music with a rock, country twist
Taking inspiration from her Greek-Cypriot heritage and North East roots, the debut single ‘Stay’ from singer-songwriter Annis Rallis new EP ‘Eyes Wide Open’ was released after much anticipation.
Newton Aycliffe born Annis, 29, is no stranger to the stage, having travelled across the world performing in dance and musical theatre productions including the likes of Dirty Dancing and West Side Story, before becoming a yoga instructor in Bali.
Since launching her music career after starting to write in 2023, Annis has played gigs across the North East in venues like Stack and has been heard on BBC introducing. Speaking to ChronicleLive about her debut single ‘Stay’ released on July 10, Annis described the song as very romantic.
“I wrote this song on tour. It’s about connection. I’d got myself into a lot of relationships that I knew weren’t right for me, but you ended up staying anyway because you’d just kind of forgive and forget and the feeling of connection with that person.
“I think a lot of people might have that, where they know deep down or ignore intuition. Now I feel I’ve grown and I can see that. It’s about longing for connection and enjoying that moment and feeling of the high. It’s a very summer vibe.”
Annis, whose dad is from Greece, has brought the sounds of the Mediterranean and Latin influences into her new music with a country twist. “I’ve explored lots of different genres,” she said. “There’s a lot of bouzouki, a Greek instrument I’ve used throughout the EP….The bouzouki player on the tracks is actually a man from Darlington originally from the same town as her dad in Greece.”
What’s more, her Grandma, originally from Cyprus, painted the artwork which has now been used for the EP cover. “It’s absolutely incredible,” Annis explains. “It’s massive eyes and all these people in the background and I feel like as I’ve got older I’ve just connected to the simple pleasures in life and what’s important and what makes me happy.
“The EP is about different acts of love, finding yourself, and being strong and it works so well with the painting which is now in my apartment in Greece. I also associate the artwork with the Greek evil eye and it links to yoga and spirituality and keeping away bad energies and love and connection – that sums up the EP and almost my journey as well.”
Each single cover reveals a section of the painting that combines to create the full artwork of her EP which will be released for Annis’ 30th birthday in October.
“My Grandma has been a really important person in my music journey. She’s always supported me at my gigs. She bought me my first guitar from the car boot sale and she’s my biggest fan and I love her so much,” Annis adds.
“With this EP I’m still figuring out my sound and you can definitely hear more of it,” Annis said. “have this country, sweet, folky, Greek vibe. I also have this more gritty, rock chic vibe. My producer Dan Crabtree said to me, if you’re ever on tour you’d start off with a guitar and it’d be dead sweet country girl and the second set would be like put the guitar down and get the dancers! It’s like Ella Langley into rock and pop.”
To celebrate the launch of her new single, Annis held a music launch party at Slug and Lettuce Durham. She plans to release her second single ‘Rise’ about resilience and the strength to not give up in the industry in late August. Later in the year she hopes to release the third single ‘Over and over’.
“It’s the song I wrote most recently and it resonates with me the most. I’m going to release it on my 30th birthday on October 16 with a big launch party and celebration. It’s a happy and hopeful song, manifesting things will be alright even if it doesn’t feel great now.
Annis adds: “I’m really proud of the song I wouldn’t have got here without yoga that’s really helped me connect to the feeling and depth of these emotions that everyone goes through.”
‘Stay’ by Annis Rallis is available to stream and download now.
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