Whether it was receiving a cryptic flyer from a bartender or seeing a screen projected onto a truck outside Alexandra Palace, Mike was at the end of his set of “While She Sleeps” at Ally Parry last September. I couldn’t miss the moment the was dropped.
After completing a set that warmed a packed room of revelers ahead of their Parkway Drive headline performance, the Sheffield Metal Quintet held up a spectacular white banner announcing their own Ally Parry headline date in September 2023. announced.
After 20 years of waiting behind the scenes, her slumber show at an iconic North London venue is dearly deserved.and Album 6 confirmed to be in progress, 2023 is shaping up to be a monumental year for the band. “It feels like our time has come,” says vocalist Roz Taylor NMEone can’t help but smile at the prospect of “five punk rock guys from chefs” taking over the palace for one of the biggest nights of their careers.
For the latest version of NME’s In our Conversation Series, Loz sits down with guitarist Mat Welsh to discuss the band’s plans for Alexandra Palace, the evolution of their sound, and the huge success of the “Sleeps Society” fan community. Here’s what we learned.
They earned the right to take the challenge of their ally Parry
Having performed at London venues such as Roundhouse and Brixton Academy, Ally Pally is a giant, but a natural step up. An earthquake-like, multi-layered anthem lounging on a massive stage has always been central to the band’s sound, but it’s even more pronounced on the last two records. “We’ve become just beings on the big stage,” she admits Loz.
Matt compares the Alexandra Palace gig announced a year ago to a marathon challenge. “It’s fun to sign up for something you don’t know you can do. You might sign up for a marathon, but you’re not ready for the marathon.”
However, the band’s training for this music marathon has taken nearly 20 years since the quintet (which was first rounded out by drummer Adam Savage, bassist Allan Mackenzie, and guitarist Sean Long) formed in 2006. It’s been done for years. With a back catalog filled with arena-ready tunes and a reputation for polished live performances offering a blistering masterclass in metal, his Sept. 23 is set to be a huge night.
Intimate shows are still important to the band
A far cry from the 10,000-capacity Alexandra Palace they plan to play later this year, While She Sleeps’ recent London gig took the form of a three-night residency at Underworld. . From Ally Parry.
“We try to keep our relationship with the audience at the highest level within the band,” explains Matt. “We’re still a band playing in sweaty rooms. It’s part of our culture, and it’s important to maintain that and support those venues.”
Switching between the two settings is a prospect that excites bands “not very familiar with where they are or where they live”, and their discographies, despite the different sizes of venues, environment equally at home. “Since we started, we’ve always written melodious anthems. We try to write so that they sing well sonically,” he explains Loz. “I don’t think it’s hard to write an anthemic song, but some songs will make your nose bleed.”
Expect the unexpected when it comes to new music
Recently revealed that they are in her sleep Working secretly on their 6th album, promises that the “initiation” will arrive before the end of the year. About this element of surprise, Loz said: NME: “We keep quiet during the recording hours, and when we come out we often have a pretty new turn. I think that’s why people see us as an exciting band. They I really don’t know what to expect.”
They were always open to experimentation. “We’re not a band that sticks to one sound or genre,” he says Loz.
Mat explains the spectral origins of their sound: New ingredients emulate this very culture, allowing all five members to bring their own flavor to the table. Kendrick Lamar, Aphex Twin and Norma Jean are prime examples of this eclectic taste. “The older I get, the more inspiration I get and the more confidence I have in doing things that make me feel good.”
“Sleeps Society” is the “inner ring” of the band
Two years ago While She Sleeps launched ‘Sleeps Society’. This is her Patreon-based fan community, where she now has over 1,000 members. From hosting open days where fans can play gear, to hosting exclusive one-off gigs, the group goes beyond collectives.
“You just had a barbecue with them over the summer, didn’t you? That was wicked, we made them all lunch,” Matt Beam. It’s one thing to say let’s build a teeth community. I made friends there and went to shows with them. “
Matt, who has been featured as a choir on previous records, details how the band welcomes all input from the association. “They’re the inner circle of it. We talk to them very openly about what we’re working on, our plans for next year. They’re like shareholders in our band. We know we’re keeping the space for creativity open.”
“Mat once said he could easily go out drinking with 90% of our fan base,” recalls Loz. This is now very real and the level of appreciation and care probably stems from what brought them onto the scene in the first place. Seeing someone else wearing the band’s hoodie, you have that connection.That’s what “Sleeps Society” brought back to us, back in the year 2000. It’s like “
Ally Pally could be the biggest UK metal show of 2023
Conversations for this monumental show, including those with Sleeps Society, are well on their way, revealing Mat. British metalcore band Very Tomorrow will participate.further support will be confirmed in the future.
Loz and Mat say that since they handcrafted the banner announcing their performance, they can expect a DIY approach to production. Mat elaborates. “We design achievable parameters. We have so many great ideas in the band and they haven’t slowed down. In fact, as we get older, we’re getting more ideas. .”
Ultimately, though, it all comes down to celebrating history while she sleeps so far. Both for the band and for the fans. “This is a big moment for us, a big moment for everyone who has supported us and kept us on this journey,” Matt recalls. “as if [the fans] Win for getting us there too.
Play Alexandra Palace on September 23 while she sleeps. Tickets are available here.
