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Forever Alien with Sleepyard - An Interview

Q. When did Sleepyard starts, tell us about the history...
A: I started Sleepyard in 1994 as an outlet for my experimental pop leanings, to play around in the studio. At the time i was playing in a punk band, but that started to become a bit boring. My brother joined me in Sleepyard the following year and we became a band.

We released our first EP in 1999 and have released three albums an EP and one single after that on various labels.

Q: Who are your influences?
A: Beach Boys, Neu!, John Cage, Miles Davis, Fleetwood Mac, Spacemen 3 Walt Whitman, Edvard Munch, Stanley Kubrick

Q. Made a list of 5 albuns of all time…
A:
1: Friends - The Beach Boys
2: Basement Tapes - Bob Dylan & The Band
3: Discreet Music - Brian Eno
4: Music from the Penguin Cafe - Penguin Cafe Orchestra
5: Then Play On - Fleetwood Mac

Q. How do you feel playing alive?
A: Very strange. Sometimes it is enormously cathartic other times it can be a bit weird if things go a bit cliche. I`m not one who loves smoke machines and stuff, haha. Still it is a great experience to be able to entertain people.. It really is an honor.

Q. How do you describe Sleepyard sounds?
A: Psychedelic and Calm

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
A: I usually start recording my songs at home. Often starting with a simple drone or a beat and do progress to what sounds natural. Sometimes i might send it to a guest musician who can add things i am not able to play. They send the files over to me and i then try to mix it together. On this new album i am working with Mike Garson and Judy Dyble a lot. They both have added so much to the music and that in turn inspires me. It`s all a big circle these days.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
A: Universal Ornament, F-Sky, Barnaby Bennett

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?
A: We used to play 2000 Light Years From Home by The Rolling Stones. Now, i would like to cover "Simon Says" by 1910 Fruitgum Co. and one poem of Steve Kalinich. He is a great poet and have written lots of great lyrics for The Beach Boys.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
A: I`m finishing our new album Black Sails. It will be released in the US this year and also in Europe.
I`m also going to do a tribute to Karlheinz Stockhausen hopefully with a proper orchestra.
I hope to work more with US band Fuxa also in the future. I`m on their album "frequencies for physical, mental and spiritual healing" and will be contributing to their next album "Dirty D".

Q: Any parting words?
A: Keep cool, Be still, Peace out! Love.

Thanks Oliver

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