Sleepmakeswaves

sleepmakeswaves

sleepmakeswaves perform at the 2012 SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
Background information
Origin Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Post rock
instrumental rock
Years active 2006–present
Labels Bird's Robe Records (AUS)
Associated acts Tangled Thoughts of Leaving
Meniscus
Website
Members Alex Wilson
Jonathan "Kid" Khor
Otto Wicks-Green
Tim Adderley
Past members Tom Binetter
William Smith

Sleepmakeswaves (typeset as sleepmakeswaves) are an ARIA-nominated Australian post rock band who formed in Sydney, New South Wales in December 2006. The group is currently composed of guitarist Jonathan Khor, guitarist Otto Wicks-Green, drummer Tim Adderley and bassist Alex Wilson. To date they have released one extended play (2008's In Today Already Walks Tomorrow) and two full length studio albums (2011's ...and so we destroyed everything & 2014's "Love Of Cartography"), as well as a split EP with Perth band Tangled Thoughts of Leaving and a remix album. The band have reached notable success internationally for their energetic live performances and modern approach to post rock. They are currently released through Australian independent record label Bird's Robe Records, which is distributed through MGM in Australia and independently worldwide. In 2013, UK label Monotreme Records licensed their debut album for an international release across the UK, Europe and North America.

History

The band formed when Alex Wilson and Tom Binetter responded to a Myspace post by Jonathan Khor, looking to start a new post rock project. Khor had previously collaborated with Jeremy Davidson (aka Johnny Wishbone of the Snowdroppers) and Dom Alessio (of Triple J's Home and Hosed), before continuing to compose music under the name sleepmakeswaves (which was originally coined by Alessio). Binetter recruited drummer William Smith and the band recorded a self-titled demo, which was released free online through the Lost Children net label.

In 2008 the band released their debut EP, "In Today, Already Walks Tomorrow" featuring 6 tracks. The success of the EP proved the catalyst for the band's international fan base, aiding this, one fan included the track one day you will teach me to let go of my fears on a Twilight movie fan video on YouTube. Topping 200,000 hits in a matter of days, the video briefly exposed the band to a worldwide audience before being taken down. Acclaimed online music community The Silent Ballet listed the track in their top 30 songs from 2008[1] alongside releases from peers Sigur Rós, Mogwai, Earth and The Samuel Jackson Five.

In Australia, the band developed a cult following, supporting Pelican on their Australian visit. An online friendship with Perth band Tangled Thoughts of Leaving led to the release of a split EP in 2009.

Later that year, founding guitarist Tom Binetter announced his decision to leave the band to pursue a career in law.[2] He was replaced by long-time fan and friend of the band, Otto Wicks-Green. The new lineup began work on what would become the band's debut record, recording for eight days on location in Wingello State Forest in rural Australia with producer Dax Liniere of Puzzle Factory Sound Studio, Sydney.

...and so we destroyed everything was released through new independent label Bird's Robe Records in 2011 and topped worldwide sales on Bandcamp within a week. It went on to feature heavily on international radio, including Triple J, BBC6, FBi and featuring as album of the week on KOOP and RTR FM.

The album generated enough buzz for the band to pursue extensive national tours of Australia in regular succession. They were also invited to support American post-metal band Russian Circles and Japan's Mono and Boris on their Australian visits. During their national tour in support of the record, it was announced that founding drummer Will Smith would be departing to pursue work interests.[3] After a short audition process, the band announced their new drummer, Tim Adderley, also of Sydney band Pirate.[4] The band performed at the 2011 Peats Ridge Festival for New Year's Eve and announced a national tour for February and March.[5] They were also announced as the national support for Karnivool's 16-date sold out Australian tour.[6] The success of the band's album enabled them to tour overseas for the first time. sleepmakeswaves announced they would be performing at the 2012 SXSW music festival during their March US tour. They were also invited to co-headline Belgium's dunk!festival alongside 65daysofstatic in April, becoming the first Australian band to play at the event. The band completed their first European tour in April 2012, playing 15 dates across 8 countries.[7] In July, the band announced the 'Now We Rise and We Are Everywhere' Australian tour for September and were also announced as one of the supports for the Sydney and Melbourne dates of Tortoise's Australian tour in October.[8]

August 2012 saw "...and so we destroyed everything" released in the USA, with the album debuting at #165 on the CMJ Top 200 radio chart in its first week. The band are currently seeking to arrange a US tour to support the release.

In October it was announced that "...and so we destroyed everything" had been nominated for a 2012 ARIA award for 'Best Hard Rock / Metal Album.' The band were also awarded 'Band Of The Year' at the 2012 Locies.

sleepmakeswaves confirmed they would be touring with influential UK electronic-rock band 65daysofstatic on their Australian visit in January 2013[9] and headlined Melbourne's Rock The Bay Festival in February 2013.

In January, sleepmakeswaves announced the release of a remix album "...and then they remixed everything" featuring new interpretations of their album tracks, with contributions from 65daysofstatic, Rosetta, Kyson, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving, Glosfrosch, Ten Thousand Free Men and Their Familie, Atlantis and True Vibe Nation member DJ Klue.

The band have just announced an extensive Australian tour for June & July, premiering new material and performing multiple shows in cities with alternating sets each night.[10]

In June, the band announced they had signed with influential UK label Monotreme Records, for a US and European release of their debut album. The release includes a deluxe edition of the album, including the remix album, as well as the band's first ever vinyl release.[11]

In July, sleepmakeswaves were invited to tour with 65daysofstatic on their extensive run of UK & Europe dates in September, October and November.

The band returned to Australia for the 'Polymorphism' tour in January 2014, taking in sold-out theatres and outdoor marquees alongside Karnivool and Dead Letter Circus.

Following this, sleepmakeswaves announced pre-orders for their as yet untitled second album would be available via Pozible, in order to raise sufficient funds to begin the recording in February. The band eventually raised over $30,000 for the record and began recording with producer Nick DiDia at Studios 301 in Byron Bay.

On Feb 7th it was announced the band were confirmed for Dunk Festival in April & Beyond The Redshift Festival in May, with full UK & Europe tour dates to follow. They subsequently announce an 18-date European tour visiting 10 countries in April/May.

On May 15th the band premiered a new song 'Something Like Avalanches' on triple j & announced a 10-date headline tour of Australia with supports Breaking Orbit & Teal. On July 4th the new album 'Love of Cartography' was released and subsequently debuted at #31 on the ARIA Charts and #6 on the AIR Charts (#2 for 100% Independent releases). The band released a video for the single 'Great Northern' in mid-July.

In September, the band announced a national tour with Dead Letter Circus and Voyager in December.

During October and November, ‘Love of Cartography’ was nominated for an ARIA Award for ‘Best Hard Rocky/Heavy Metal Album’, a J Award for triple j’s ‘Australian Album of the Year’ and an AIR Award for ‘Best Heavy Album’ alongside eventual winners Violent Soho.

The band also performed at Newtown Festival in November and announced their fourth European tour for March and April 2015, alongside Indian-English progressive rock band Skyharbor and Polish band Tides From Nebula.

In January the 'Great Northern' tour was announced, a 55-date international tour taking in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, running from March to June. In March it was revealed that US act This Will Destroy You would support at the Sydney & Melbourne shows, as well as co-headlining in New Zealand.

Musical style and influences

The band's debut release, In Today Already Walks Tomorrow was touted as one of the most impressive debuts of the post rock calendar in 2008. The band's sound has since developed towards a more indie/experimental sound, with increased use of electronics and cleaner guitars. Comparisons with post-rock giants Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Rós are common, however the band cite heavier acts such as Russian Circles, And So I Watch You From Afar and Rosetta as recent influences. Though they employ the standard soft/loud dynamic common of most post-rock bands, the band treat the term lightly, calling themselves "crescendo-core" and preferring the use of tightly structured songs and melodies rather than the 'beautiful noise' opted for by bands like Mono. In recent times, the band have often cited touring partners 65daysofstatic & Karnivool as key influences and inspiration.

Discography

Demos

Extended plays

Studio albums

References

  1. ↑ "The Old Acclaimed Music Forum". Pub37.bravenet.com. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  2. ↑ "Tom leaves Sleepmakeswaves". Rockfreaks.net. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  3. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves | Will leaves sleepmakeswaves". Sleepmakeswaves.tumblr.com. 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  4. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves | New Drummer and Representation". Sleepmakeswaves.tumblr.com. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  5. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves announce "(hello) Australia" national tour Feb/March 2012 - Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Culture". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  6. ↑ "Off The Record – Sleepmakeswaves announced for Karnivool national Tour Support". Offtherecord.cc. 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  7. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves European tour - April 2012". Facebook. 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  8. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves announce australian tour for september - Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Culture". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  9. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: SLEEPMAKESWAVES LAND 65 DAYS OF STATIC SUPPORT". Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  10. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves announce national tour dates". Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  11. ↑ "sleepmakeswaves to release their powerful symphonic debut album and so we destroyed everything on Monotreme Records". Retrieved 2013-06-20.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sleepmakeswaves.