Slumberhaze are a project of three minds that make music that is hard to categorize. Inspired by science and society, tension and irony, the music is somewhat dark and highly revolved around melody.
The project has come together from all corners of the map: two members from south Sydney, one from Perth, one from Poland and another from Tamworth.
The group has no boundaries and have travelled across whatever style we like, musically. All residing in Sydney city now, we are an atypical group that don’t live together and record in an abandoned squat house.
You’re launching your debut EP, Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance – Part 1 in July. What can we expect from the EP?
Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance – Part 1 is the first of the three to be released; the theme is strange and dark and thematically based around the inside of the modern day over thinkers’ mind. The music is not typical rock or pop or soul, it touches on quite a few genres, but has heavy influence by hip hop music both rhythmically and vocally.
The EP is just the first instalment in a trilogy. What inspired you to come up with idea for a trilogy of EPs?
The music is weird, so a 12-track album would have been too high a dose to begin with, plus there is always room for improvement and refining. A lot of different techniques are going into PART 2 that we didn’t think of for PART 1, so we believed this way is far superior when starting a project.
You’ve already started work on Part 2. Tell us about that, how will it differ from your debut?
As above, technically different, the recording is being done in a squat where one of the boys lives. It’s just felt. There has been hardly any thought and I think that may come across in the cut. It feels deeper and it carries the Slumberhaze story that much further.
How consistent, both lyrically and sonically, do you think the next two parts will be with the first part? Does making a trilogy limit your ability to diverge from the one path too much?
Lyrically, it links with all three parts. It’s the thoughts of the over-thought mind. Musically it is simpler. There are piano bangers and hip hop beats. PART 2 is a neat pack.
Should we expect similar projects like this from Slumberhaze in the future? Or can you see a more traditional standalone EP or album being released?
Honestly, we have no idea of what’s to come in the future yet. Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance trilogy is what we have our hearts on and we will work on it for a little while considering its three parts. At this stage, we want to focus on ‘now’ and deliver the best result.
You’ve self released the EP. Being an independent band is never easy. Has its release been a long time coming? How much hard work has been done to get this far?
We have never felt as free as we do now, to do whatever we like and that took some time. But a lot of time always goes into projects that you believe in.
To launch your debut you’re playing shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. What can we expect from a Slumberhaze show?
We are currently working on a Slumbershow, to be visually and aurally tight. It’s not near complete, but the journey to its completion will be the trip. Something to watch, something to hear.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod at the moment?
Hip Hop music, Nina Simone, our new demo’s, some old Outkast, maybe some space travel music.
If you could collaborate with any living Australian artist who would it be?
Maybe Nick Cave, he has a dark voice, and I would get him to rap. Definitely not sing, just flow and spit crazy dark mental lyrics over weird hooks and beats, some off-white themes and pure freshness. Always staying melodic.
What are your plans for the rest of 2013?
Release PART 2 in September and play some more music to people we’ve never met in states we’re yet to play. Then begin to record PART 3.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
We have few dates in July and August and ‘Ryhme, Rhythm and Romance – Part 1’ available as a free download at: http://slumberhaze.bandcamp.com/
Slumberhaze 2013 Tour Dates
JULY 4 – AFTR DARK – The Curtin, Melbourne – w/RY
JULY 7 – CHERRY BAR – Melbourne – w/ New Manic Spree
JULY 13 – ANNANDALE HOTEL – Sydney – w/ My Mars Riots (Festival)
JULY 18 – BRIGHTON UP BAR – Sydney – W/New Manic Spree & Callithump
JULY 20 – THE ZOO – Brisbane w/Drawn From Bees & New Manic Spree
AUGU 3 – BRIGHTON UP BAR – Sydney – w/ Morning Harvey & Black Lakes
AUG 8, 15, 22 & 29 – Low 302 – August Residency – Sydney (Surry Hills)
Watch ‘Until The Summer’ here:
