Seguindo o canho da barulheira híbrida aberto pelo Nothing, Whirr e similares, o Sleepwalk de Chicago, estreia com um EP, igualmente brutal, melodioso e porque não sonhador.
Três sintomas são encontrados na vértebra dorsal sonora do Sleepwalk, MBV, Smashing Pumpkins e Fugazi. Essa união casa perfeitamente com o propósito do Sleepwalk, melodias, texturas, barulho, densidade e peso.
Uma receita perfeita seria a melhor descrição do Sleepwalk.
***** Interview with Sleepwalk *****
I will first start by introducing the members so the rest makes sense: Ryan Davis – Vocals/Guitar, Dave Jedlecki – Bass, Steve Burton – Drums, Alex Cegielski – Guitar, Dave Gabriel – Keys. The band technically started off about 3 years ago with just Ryan, Steve, and Dave J. Originally, we were going to be called Heaven’s Gate and our intention was to be a post black metal band in the veins of Lantlos, Heretoir, etc. We wrote a few songs in the style, and even had a friend try vocals, but Ryan wasn’t too happy with his material and decided to try something different, which led to a more black-gaze style. The same thing happened again, and this led to the more traditional shoegaze style we have now. Actually, the song Hemlock was originally written as a blackgaze song, which explains why it is so dark compared to the other material. Also, the name Heaven’s Gate was already taken, so eventually we settled with Sleepwalk.
Q: Who are your influences?
Ryan: Billy Corgan
Dave G.: Anyone who excels at melody, mood, and texture.
Steve: Elvin Jones, Nick Mason, Jerry Nolan, Clyde Stubblefield, Charlie Watts
Dave J.: Geezer Butler for having the best bass tone of all time. Alex: I aim to make my guitar parts very textural. So I would say I draw from bands like eluvium or bands like my bloody valentine that have very processed, effects oriented guitar work. In general I like a lot of twinkly, sad emo sounding stuff too and I think that definitely creeps in when writing guitar parts.
Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
Ryan: The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream, Thursday – Full Collapse, American Football – American Football, Mogwai – Happy Songs For Happy People, Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
Dave G.: Joanna Newsom - Ys, Bjork - Vespertine, Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album, Daughters - Hell Songs, Yowie - Damning with Faint Praise.
Steve: Can - Delay 1968, Albert Ayler - Spiritual Unity, U2 - The Unforgettable Fire, Skinny Puppy - Last Rights, Young Prisms - In Between
Dave J.: Burning Witch - Crippled Lucifer, The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds, Electric Wizard - Come My Fanatics, Hum - Downward is Heavenward, Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes.Alex: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell, Tegan and Sara - The Con, Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker or Red Medicine, Xiu Xiu - Knife Play or Fabulous Muscles, The Smiths - Everything
Q. How do you feel playing live?
I (Ryan) was deathly afraid of playing live. I am originally a drummer, and started guitar when I was 15 to write black metal songs. I never tried actually singing until we formed this band, and even then I didn’t have the confidence and signed up for vocal lessons. I was only in them for a couple months, but they gave me the foundation I needed to be able to move forward if I wanted to ever sing live. I believe there is a very noticeable difference in the singing between the newer 3 tracks (first 3 off of Heaven’s Gate) and the older 2 (last 2 on Heaven’s Gate). Our first show went better than expected, and each show went better after that. We only had 2 shows booked, but after we released Heaven’s Gate, we got offered two shows, one of which was opening for Ringo Deathstarr. It’s crazy to us that our fourth show ever (and my fourth time ever singing live) was with Ringo Deathstarr!
Q. How do you describe Sleepwalk sounds?
I would say the dense production and guitar tones of Smashing Pumpkins meets the whispery vocals of MBV with the pop of late 80s/early 90s shoegaze.
Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
We have only recorded two sessions so far. On the first one we tracked bass and drums live first, and on the second just drums first. Then we add the instrumentals, overdubs, auxiliary instruments, and vocals. In the newer recordings a lot of time was spent on vocals and layering. During the last chorus of “The Morning After I Killed Myself”, there is something like 14 vocals tracks going on at once!
Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
There are a lot out there, but we decided this would be a good opportunity for our members to mention the other bands they are involved with:
Ryan/Alex are in Forfeit[https://forfeitchicago.bandcamp.com/], which combines early 90s emo with sludge, shoegaze, and post-rock influence.
Steve is in Future Women[https://futurewomen.bandcamp.com/], which is a heavy post-punk/shoegaze band.Dave G. is in Imelda Marcos[https://imeldamarcos.bandcamp.com/], which is mathy noise rock, and Ombrelli Sciolti[https://ombrelli-sciolti.bandcamp.com/] which does improvisationally-driven experimental “music.”
Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
We were actually considering covering “Movies” by Alien Ant Farm or “If It Makes You Happy” by Sheryl Crow, but in actuality we don’t have the time to spend on covers, so unfortunately we probably won’t ever get to do either of those.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
We currently have studio time booked for the end of June into the first week of July. We are spending tons of time working on these songs (including putting off any shows until after we finish), and we are giving ourselves a lot of studio time so that we can really put 100% into these recordings. If you liked anything you have heard of us, then look for around July/August for the next release, because it’s really going to be so much better in every way: better songs, better writing, better recordings, everything. I think we have really honed in to our own, unique sound this time around and feel really confident about the upcoming release.
Q: Any parting words?
Thank you so much for the time and anybody for reading! If you have liked anything you have heard of ours, please follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sleepwalk-1679776672238007/?fref=ts. That is really the only place to get any up-to-date information on us!
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Thanks
https://sleepwalkchicago.bandcamp.com
