Sleepwalker, out of Austin, Texas, is a post-punk rock band that are fairly new to most listeners. The four-piece band is comprised of vocalist Brian Blevins, bassist Joe Gerhard, guitarist Michael Gessert, and drummer Josh Smith. Singer Blevins spoke with us recently about an array of topics.
-Can you please talk about the inception of Sleepwalker?
Myself, Michael, and Joe ran in the same circle in the Arizona music scene during the 2000’s and had worked together in previous bands and recording projects. One day we found ourselves between bands and started writing songs together that eventually turned into forming this band.
-Where do you draw your musical inspirations from?
When we started out we were inspired by bands like Thrice and Muse, but we’ve incorporated some punk and motown-era influences more recently.
-For those who haven’t heard you quite yet, what would you say you sound like?
A speeding locomotive with a dance party on board.
-Why did you guys decide to go the genre route you did?
It really just felt right to us. We knew we wanted to have a loud, attention-grabbing sound that was relatable and fun.
-What has been the reception to your latest Holy Hell release?
It’s been great so far! We’ve been getting reviews and feedback that make us feel like the risks that we took on the album have paid off in a rewarding way.
-We’re eally digging the song and video for “Bad Bitch.” Was there an ex-girlfriend or someone close to one of the band members for the inspiration for that song?
Not at all, haha. It’s more of the metaphoric embodiment of a reckless attitude that comes out to play after following the rules for too long.
-What have live performances from Sleepwalker been like and what has been the reception from crowds?
We make it a point to have as much fun as possible on stage. Depending on the crowd, that’s either a great thing or something that they don’t quite latch on to. So we either capture the energy in the room or come off as too much at times. That’s ok with us, because we’d rather be too loud and energetic, than come off as boring in any way.
-Who would you like to play a show or tour with?
One of the bands we’ve all been really into lately that would be fun to play with would be Dead Sara. If you haven’t checked them out yet, we highly recommend it.
-What is your ultimate goal with Sleepwalker?
[We want to] play as many different stages as possible for as many new people as possible. The sky is the limit, really.
-When being interviewed, what is something you wish the interviewer would ask you guys?
Any questions that dig in to our personal tastes and hobbies that aren’t music related are always fun. It’s easy to read interviews and view a band as just a group of musicians with a common goal, so we like when our individual personalities get to come out and play a little more.
-What are your thoughts on the new Star Wars film?
It was awesome! It was definitely a great place to pick up after Return of the Jedi and get Star Wars fans reenergized about the franchise.
-Are you excited for the future of Star Wars movies?
Absolutely. The new characters show a lot of potential for depth and great story-telling that we’re excited about witnessing in the next few movies.
-What did you do for the holidays?
Spent a lot of time with family and friends. Sort of recapping and resetting for 2016. It’s going to be a big year for all of us!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8A2w6xO3HM&w=560&h=315]
What are your thoughts on Sleepwalker? Comment below.
Post by Corey Kleinsasser
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