rockyourlyricsRYL: “Apocalypse” it has just been released few days ago, how was the reaction of your fans?
SLEEPERSTAR: There has been a lot of excitement! We disappeared for a bit while we put finishing touches on the album, so we’re all excited to be releasing new music.
RYL: How have you written its lyrics?
SLEEPERSTAR: Lyrics come about in different ways in Sleeperstar. Often, one of us will start a song by ourselves, and then subsequently bring it to the band if there seems to be something special about it. At that point, we’ll try to finish it together. I won’t lie, we’ve gotten into some pretty big lyric fights.
The song Apocalypse had about six different versions, and one time there was a shouting match over whether or not to use the word “if” or “and” in the middle of a chorus of a song called “The Journey.” We always eventually come to an agreement, but it can take some time.
RYL: The new album “Lost Machines” will be released in October, why have you selected to title it like this?
SLEEPERSTAR: The title track of the album is Lost Machines. It’s a song that we fell connected too once we recorded it and we thought the rest of the record tied in really well back to that song either lyrically or sonically.
RYL: Is there a common meaning among all the songs of the album?
SLEEPERSTAR: I think if there is any common meaning, I guess it is the search for purpose, within life, relationships, and the challenges within both. But anyone can take what they need from it; it’s a collection of many thoughts, dreams, and perspectives.
That’s what we love about music, it’s always there when you need it and you can get what you, personally, need from it. These songs will get to people in different ways and that’s part of the reason why we’re so proud of this record.
RYL: Which is the best verse you wrote for a song?
SLEEPERSTAR: When it comes to lyrics we’re always really proud of our songs and how they can have different means for different listeners. When it comes to verses, that’s tough. We’re proud of different ones for different reasons.
Collectively, one of our favorite lyrics comes from a chorus with this album. It’s from our song Carry You. “If you cannot move, then I will carry you. I you cannot breathe, I’ll be the air.”
RYL: Tell us everything about “I was wrong” released with the album “Just Another Ghost”, do you remember writing it?
SLEEPERSTAR: I Was Wrong came about in an interesting way. It was one of the first songs we started to write. Jake wrote the first version on the guitar in LA, and we forgot about it for a while, for a long time really.
Then, Nick made a piano version and an outro in his bedroom studio a year later. It’s funny how it worked out, Jake – the piano player – started the song on the guitar. Nick – the guitarist – finished that song on the piano.
Somehow, it sneaked its way onto the album. We always liked it, but we weren’t sure if it would fit. It ended up being a fan favorite, so we’re glad that everything worked out.
RYL: It is also the most loved song from your fans in ITunes, why in your opinion?
SLEEPERSTAR: Our fans always enjoyed it, but after I Was Wrong was featured on a pivotal scene of The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. After that, the song blew up. It’s been years, but the song is still streamed like crazy.
RYL: Which is the last song you wrote?
SLEEPERSTAR: Apocalypse was the last song we finished for the album. We played multiple versions of it on the road for years. Which is kind of fitting, since it took so long to finish that song.
RYL: When we can see you live?
SLEEPERSTAR: We’ll be updating our website with tour dates ASAP. We’re really hoping to get some things scheduled early on in the fall.
RYL: Which is your favorite rock song?
SLEEPERSTAR: If you mean one of our songs, it’s probably got to be “Samurai” or “Apocalypse” off of the new album. If you mean from other bands, that’s a difficult question! If you were to listen in on our road trip playlists, you would hear a lot of Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Bon Iver, and Third Eye Blind.
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