George Aletras is a Greek singer/songwriter and musician, whose work sees him moving between indie rock, post rock and cinematic soundscapes, frequently blurring the boundaries between them. At times, his work leans into experimental territories, not as a statement of style, but a a natural consequence of exploration, where form isn’t followed but discovered.
This year, Aletras has released a couple of singles that have caught my attention, including “Τώρα,” “Όπως Παλιά” (“Like the Old Times”) and “Γιορτή”(“Celebration”).
Aletras’s latest single “Υπνοβάτες (Sleepwalkers)” sees the JOVM mainstay blends elements of post-punk, New Wave and coldwave. A breakneck, galloping bass line, tight, punchy four-on-the-floor, slashing guitars and glistening, atmospheric synths form a lush and dream-like bed for the Greek artist’s dreamily yearning baritone. The result is a mix of a chilly arrangement and an even chillier production and vulnerable vocals, that evokes an uneasy tension that’s lived-in, deeply universal, without a lot of people being consciously aware of it. The song’s narrator essentially sleepwalks through a life of mundanity, routines and despair — while longing for more.
Lyrically, “Υπνοβάτες (Sleepwalkers)” “explores the sleep of human consciousness — people moving through routines, isolation and everyday life while remaining unaware of their own disconnection.” Aletras adds, “Through images of sleep, movement and psychological tension, the song also reflects on freedom as something fragile: something we can touch, only to lose in a moment without realizing it.”
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