Sleepmask
Sleepmask
Genres: post-punk, shoegaze, Gothic Rock, goth, electronica
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About Sleepmask
Members: Ming Vauze (Vocals + Guitars) Andru Aesthetik (Guitars + Vocals) James Hendrix (Bass) Garey Spider (Drums + Pads) Sleepmask is a Los Angeles based band comprised of post-punk/shoegaze veterans who have played in bands such as The Chameleons Vox, Scarling, Faculty X and Mount Sims among others. Inspired by the music of Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, Sisters of Mercy & Tones on Tail, Sleepmask's distinctive blend of ethereal textures and jagged post-punk conveys a world of comprised of magical and romantic themes. The idea for Sleepmask was conceived in 2005 by songwriter, guitarist & fron tman Ming Vauze after leaving his former band Faculty X whose eponymous EP had been produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Gang Of Four, Killing Joke, Lou Reed, Arcade Fire, etc.). Aside from working with Launay in Faculty X, Ming's list of musical work includes Mount Sims, So Does The Fire, Les Enfants Terribles and he also shared a writing credit on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's single "Need Some Air" off their Baby '81 album. With over a handful of demos already written, Ming formed Sleepmask as a band in 2007, steadily gigging over three years at such venues as The House of Blues, Cinespace & Cafe Du Nord building a strong local following while along the way releasing an EP in 2008 and opening for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in Las Vegas. After a year hiatus, Ming rejoined with original guitarist Andru Aesthetik who had played in Sleepmask's first incarnation. Having left to work on his own project The AETHER, Andru subsequently went on to play guitar for Mark Burgess of the legendary Manchester band The Chameleons UK touring with The Chameleons headlining such venues as The Bell House in Brooklyn NYC for legendary indie rock magazine The Big Takeover's 30th anniversary, Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco and The Troubadour in Los Angeles. During that time, Ming had also enticed the drumming talents of Garey Snider, the original drummer/writer for The Art of Safecracking as well as L.A. alt./shoegaze faves Scarling who opened for The Cure during the Curiousa tour in 2004 alongside acts such as Interpol, Muse & The Rapture. Following his departure from Scarling, Garey went on to compose material for Blackrainbow (w/ Maya Ford of The Donnas), GSpider & Farah (Italians Do It Better) and also currently performs live with The Present Moment (DISARO). When the trio of Ming Vauze, Andru Aesthetik and Garey Snider completed the new lineup with talented bassist James Hendrix (Crush Violets, Childhood Dilemma) at the end of 2010, Sleepmask was ready to move forward into the new decade with a passion and fire to bring their ambitiously atmospheric and introspective melodicsm to the world once again.
Taken from Last.fm
2,377 listeners · 21,492 plays via Last.fm