Kicking around the post-rock scene since 2006, sleepmakeswaves have steadily built small but loyal followings in countless cities across the globe. Their unique brand of ambient, climatic instrumental rock has an effortless cinematic quality that makes it hard to believe they are still relatively unknown on their home turf.
Thanks to the endless virtual opportunities via the internet, the band have worked tirelessly to spread their sound through word of mouth and have offered their music through a pay what you want contribution model online. It’s a tactic that Kid and Otto from the band say has worked in their favour to get their foot in the door overseas.
“We really thought about what we wanted to do when recording the album”, Kid says about the process behind last July’s full length, And So We Destroyed Everything. “We thought, you know, we’ve got to get our music out there.”
“If you want an example of a band that has been helped immeasurably by the internet, sleepmakeswaves would be right up there. Ever since our first two track EPs, the internet has been there to distribute the material far and wide around the world,” says Otto.
However, in an industry where money or major label support is often necessary for bands to be able to tour nationally, let alone to foreign shores for a showcase at SXSW, it makes you wonder whether offering their music cheaply online is a sustainable choice for a band growing in profile.
“You just stop eating basically – home brands in the supermarket do wonders!” Kid jokes. And getting to Texas? “SXSW is going to be expensive but we think that in the long run it’s worth it and we gotta do it. It’s our passion.”
Hoping to make the most of the trip by squeezing in a few extra shows in the States, sleepmakeswaves will also be heading over to Europe for an extensive headline tour and performance at Belgium’s Dunk! Festival alongside some of the band’s musical heroes. Debuting a mixture of old and new material, plus some freshly written and previously unreleased tracks, sleepmakeswaves are eager to make an impression on audiences abroad.
“I’m just going to have the little fish in a big pond sort of thing going on, especially at a festival like Dunk! in Belgium where we’re playing alongside our heroes like 65 Days Of Static and This Will Destroy You and Pelican. There’ll be fans there who have journeyed along to see those bands and if we can hold any sort of candle to them, I’ll be happy,” says Otto.
Australian fans should not fear for losing the boys to distant lands just yet. The group have decided to throw in just one more national tour for loyal homegrown fans. It’s this sort of dedication to putting on a great show that make sleepmakeswaves a refreshing and welcome part of the Australian live music scene. For them, band life is something they continually hope to improve in. “I think part of being in sleepmakeswaves is doing stuff that’s weird and in doing stuff that pushes the envelope a bit – that’s the zone we want to stay in.’”
BY TEGAN BUTLER
