Greek Rock: Seasoned Blues Rock N’ Roller Iam Nothe Rips On Upcoming Live EP ‘Syd Session: Live at Barrett’

Hailing from Athens, Greece, Iam Nothe is bearing the blues rock torch with his upcoming live EP, Syd Session: Live at Barrett, set to hit streaming services on November 22, 2024. 

Iam Nothe is the solo outfit of Spyreas Sid, the former frontman of Greek alternative rock group Cyanna. The five-piece band released three albums, and toured extensively throughout Europe from 1999-2013. In 2016, Sid and his brother would release another album under the name Cyanna Mercury, to which they then hit the road again until the following year. Sid, after years of experience in the Greek underground scene, is now delivering a modern take on soul and blues in his solo work. 

Syd Session: Live at Barrett features three tracks off of Nothe’s 2022 debut album The Grand Design. The EP was recorded live on June 2nd of this year at Barrett, a bar and art gallery in Athens celebrating the eight-year anniversary of Syd Records. 

Along with Sid on vocal and percussion, the tracks on the Syd Session features Sotiris Papaioannou and Blvck Disco, both on electric guitar. Despite its minimal instrumentation, the EP has a full and rich sound, along with a hyped live audience. 

The opening track, “All the Lives I Never Led,” strips the original track of its keyboard and drums while maintaining the old school blues rock atmosphere. Sid’s vocals are sultry, as he looks back on the possibilities that have passed him by. “My heart is racing, mama / All the lives I never led / They’re like stones around my neck.”

“Lord You Are the Cure” is smooth and relaxed in its following of the opening song. The track leans heavily into spirituality, with biblical allusions and personal testimony. Sid’s vocals soar as he sings, “My voice turns low like whisper / My lungs collapse and fail… Your image spins and lingers / Your name is so unreal.”

The final song of the epic trio, “There’s No End,” offers a full and explosive sound with an almost western rock-style sound. The lyrics take a gloomy, introspective turn: “There’s no end, nothing to mend / Don’t even know- am I high or low / Don’t even care – am I here or there.” 

Spyreas Sid, taking on the solo persona of Iam Nothe, delves into a deep bluesy sound on Syd Session: Live at Barrett. Combining vintage rock instrumentals, poetic lyricism, and an electric live atmosphere, the Greek singer-songwriter delivers a sound that is vintage and captivating.