Wintersleep
{{Short description|Canadian rock band}}
{{About|the Canadian rock band|the wintersleep in biology|Hibernation}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = Wintersleep
| image = Wintersleep live.jpg
| caption = Wintersleep performing in 2004
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alias =
| origin = Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada{{cite web |last1=Herygers |first1=Andrew |title=Wintersleep {{!}} On the Edge of East Coast |url=https://www.hurrah.ca/wintersleep |website=hurrah.ca |publisher=Hurrah |access-date=April 6, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Conner |first1=Shawn |title=Nova Scotia's Wintersleep gets a Snow Patrol vibe going |url=https://www.straight.com/article-116429/nova-scotias-wintersleep-gets-a-snow-patrol-vibe-going |website=straight.com |date=October 31, 2007 |publisher=Straight |access-date=April 6, 2020}}
| genre = Alternative rock, indie rock{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Wintersleep/2441/|title=Wintersleep reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic|access-date=December 26, 2014}}
| years_active = 2001–present
| label = {{hlist|Labwork|Dependent|Hand Drawn Dracula|Dine Alone}}
| website = {{url|wintersleep.com}}
| current_members =
- Paul Murphy
- Loel Campbell
- Tim d'Eon
- Jon Samuel
- Mike Bigelow
| past_members =
- Jud Haynes
- Chris Bell
}}
Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2001.Heidi Ulrichsen, [https://www.sudbury.com/lifestyle/wintersleep-offers-sneak-peeks-of-new-album-at-boreal-250947 "Wintersleep offers 'sneak peeks' of new album at Boreal"]. Sudbury Star, June 30, 2014. The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist and guitarist Paul Murphy, guitarist and keyboardist Tim d'Eon, and drummer Loel Campbell. In 2002, Jud Haynes joined the band as bass guitarist until 2007. In 2005, Mike Bigelow joined on keyboards until 2006, after which he played bass, until 2016. Since 2006, Jon Samuel has served as a backing vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist, while Chris Bell has served as a backing vocalist and bass guitarist since 2016. Bigelow returned to the band in 2021. In 2005, Wintersleep opened for Pearl Jam for two shows in St. John's, Newfoundland at the Mile One Stadium.{{Cite web|title=09/24/2005: Pearl Jam / Wintersleep @ Mile One Stadium {{!}} Concert Archives|url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/pearl-jam-wintersleep|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=www.concertarchives.org}} The band received a Juno Award in 2008.Ben Rayner, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/11/29/wintersleeps-hit-echoes-us-political-tenor.html "Wintersleep's hit echoes U.S. political tenor"]. Toronto Star, November 29, 2016. page E1 To date, Wintersleep have released seven studio albums.
History
=First three albums: 2001–07=
Wintersleep formed in 2001.True, Chris "[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p704056|pure_url=yes}} Wintersleep Biography]", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation Originally from the small town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, members Paul Murphy and Tim d'Eon had known each other through their previous progressive rock band, Kary, which they formed in the mid-1990s, while still in high school, with drummer Mark d'Eon and bassist Jesse Luke.{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/thevault/reviews/kary.shtml|title=Kary - The Sound of Beauty Breathing Review|website=www.theprp.com|access-date=March 15, 2019}} Kary released two official albums, The Sound of Beauty Breathing in 2001 and Light in 2004, before disbanding.{{cite web|url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/3930025|title=Kary (2)|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=March 15, 2019}} Murphy was friends with drummer Loel Campbell, a native of Stellarton, with whom he recorded a number of songs. Tim d'Eon and bassist Jud Haynes soon joined them, and they named themselves Wintersleep.{{Citation|last=Lynn Hemeon|title=Wintersleep - ECMA 2003|date=September 15, 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_9nE72zsbU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/u_9nE72zsbU |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=March 15, 2019}}{{cbignore}} They released two albums through Dependent Music, a label and artist collective formed in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
In 2006, Wintersleep signed with Labwork Music, a partnership label of Sonic Unyon and EMI Music Canada, and re-released their first two studio albums. The re-releases included bonus tracks and videos not featured in the originals.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
On October 2, 2007, Wintersleep released their third full-length album, Welcome to the Night Sky. A limited edition of the record, on vinyl, with alternative artwork, was published by Hand Drawn Dracula. They won the 2008 Juno Award for New Group of the Year.
=New albums, increased exposure: 2009–14=
Wintersleep was selected as one of the opening acts by Paul McCartney for his concert at Halifax Common on July 11, 2009.[http://www.ctvnews.ca/mccartney-hires-halifax-musicians-as-opening-acts-1.415110 "McCartney hires Halifax musicians as opening acts"]. CTV News, July 9, 2009. That year, the band toured in support of Welcome to the Night Sky and also began writing their next record, New Inheritors, which came out on May 17 in Europe and May 18 in North America.Persuad, Travis [https://archive.today/20120709161455/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=144&csid2=4&fid1=46690 Wintersleep Find Their Groove] atExclaim! June 2009 Their fifth album, Hello Hum, was published in 2012.
The group's song "Weighty Ghost" was used in the 2008 film One Week, in both the trailer and one of the final scenes. In 2010, the song was included in The Top 100 Canadian Singles by National Post{{'}}s Bob Mersereau.[http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/the-top-100-canadian-singles "The Top 100 Canadian Singles"]. National Post, | October 4, 2010 Wintersleep performed "Weighty Ghost" on the Late Show with David Letterman on January 14, 2011.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} In 2011, the song appeared on the TV series Being Human and was also used in the background of a Molson Canadian commercial, advertising the "Red Leaf Project".{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} In 2013, "Weighty Ghost" became the theme music of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television crime drama Cracked.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
Wintersleep toured extensively during 2013, including as the opening act for Scottish indie band Frightened Rabbit, who invited them on their UK tour and later their North American tour. Wintersleep also opened for Frightened Rabbit on the latter's North American dates in early 2018.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p014vd4l BBC 6 Music - Wintersleep speak to Marc Riley. March 9, 2013]
In 2014, the band recorded eleven tracks at The Sonic Temple studio in Halifax.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} That year, they also performed on a moving streetcar at the North by Northeast festival in Toronto.
=New label and further releases: 2015–present=
In December 2015, Wintersleep signed with Dine Alone Records.{{cite magazine|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/wintersleep_plot_new_album_great_detachment_share_new_version_of_weighty_ghost|title=Wintersleep Plot 'The Great Detachment' LP|magazine=Exclaim!|author=Alex Hudson|date=September 25, 2015}} In January 2016, they premiered the song "Amerika" through The Wall Street Journal's blog.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/01/07/wintersleep-takes-inspiration-from-walt-whitman-on-amerika-exclusive-song/|title=Wintersleep takes inspiration from Walt Whitman on Amerika exclusive song | Wall Street Journal blog|newspaper=WSJ |access-date=January 7, 2015 |last1=Danton |first1=Eric R. }} On March 4 of that year, the band released their sixth studio album, The Great Detachment, through Dine Alone.{{Cite web|date=March 4, 2016|title=Spill Album Review: Wintersleep – The Great Detachment|url=https://spillmagazine.com/spill-album-review-wintersleep-great-detachment/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=The Spill Magazine|language=en-US}}[https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/wintersleep-the-great-detachment/ "Album of the week: Wintersleep The Great Detachment"]. Now Toronto, by Vish Khanna. March 2, 2016{{cite news|author=Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen Updated: March 1, 2016 |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/wintersleep-out-of-hibernation |title=Wintersleep out of hibernation |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=March 1, 2016 |access-date=June 17, 2019}}[https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/wintersleep-out-of-hibernation "Wintersleep out of hibernation"]. Ottawa Citizen, Lynn Saxberg. March 1, 2016 Rush bassist and vocalist, Geddy Lee, played on the track "Territory".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-wintersleeps-soaring-song-with-rushs-geddy-lee-20160218/|title=Hear Wintersleep's Soaring Song with Rush's Geddy Lee|author=Hank Shteamer|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=February 18, 2016}}
On Valentine's Day 2018, Wintersleep announced that their first three albums would be reissued on vinyl, with a bonus 7" single including previously unreleased tracks.{{cite web|url=http://dinealonerecords.com/news/wintersleep-vinyl-reissue-wintersleep-untitled-welcome-to-the-night-sky/|title=Wintersleep Vinyl Reissue: Wintersleep, Untitled, Welcome to the Night Sky|date=February 13, 2018|website=Dine Alone Records|language=en|access-date=March 15, 2019}}
In December 2018, the band announced their next album, In the Land Of.[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/wintersleep_announce_in_the_land_of_lp_share_new_single "Wintersleep Announce 'In the Land Of' LP, Share New Single"]. Exclaim!, December 10, 2018. It was released on March 29, 2019, by Dine Alone.{{Cite web|url=https://theontarion.com/2019/03/28/canadian-band-wintersleep-discusses-their-relationship-with-the-land-in-latest-album/|title=Canadian band Wintersleep discusses their relationship with the land in latest album|date=March 28, 2019|website=The Ontarion|language=en-CA|access-date=January 7, 2020}} The album release was supported by a national tour, from March 20 to May 3, 2019, with some but not all dates featuring Partner as the opening act.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} Wintersleep was joined by Montreal band Caveboy as the opening act at four Ontario tour dates.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whatsthestory.ca/pressreleases/2019/3/15/montreals-caveboy-release-brand-new-video-for-landslide|title=Montreal's Caveboy release brand new video for "Landslide"|date=March 19, 2019|website=What's the Story?|access-date=November 26, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the Land Of went on to be long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.{{Cite web|url=http://spillmagazine.com/spill-new-music-wintersleep-announce-two-new-singles-free-fall-fading-out/|title=Spill New Music: Wintersleep Announce Two New Singles "Free Fall" & "Fading Out"|date=August 10, 2019|website=The Spill Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://eventseeker.com/artist/4433-wintersleep|title=Wintersleep - Artist Profile|website=eventseeker.com|language=en|access-date=January 7, 2020}}
In September 2019, Wintersleep embarked on a tour of Europe, following the worldwide digital release of "Free Fall" and "Fading Out", on September 9, 2019. The two singles were originally released on Record Store Day and became the top-selling release of the national event.
Other projects
Drummer Loel Campbell is or has been a member of several other projects, including Contrived, Holy Fuck, and Billy Talent.{{cite web |last1=Bain|first1=Danielle|title=Canadian rock band Billy Talent continues cross-country tour with Rise Against in Ottawa|url=https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2022/04/04/canadian-rock-band-billy-talent-continues-cross-country-tour-with-rise-against-in-ottawa-5231365/|website=City News|date=April 4, 2022|accessdate=March 2, 2025}} Paul Murphy has collaborated with various other musicians, including his brother, on his solo project Postdata.{{cite web |last1=Woodbury |first1=Richard |title=Paul Murphy's new album sees him step out from shadow of Wintersleep and pandemic |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/paul-murphy-postdata-new-album-run-wild-wintersleep-1.6950378 |website=CBC |access-date=December 22, 2024 |date=September 22, 2023}} Mike Bigelow plays bass in Contrived and also Holy Fuck. Tim d'Eon played guitar for Contrived, appearing on their first two albums.
Band members
Current
- Loel Campbell – drums, guitar (2001–present)
- Paul Murphy – vocals, guitar (2001–present)
- Tim d'Eon – guitar, keyboards (2001–present)
- Jon Samuel – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar (2006–present)
- Mike Bigelow – bass guitar (2007–2016, 2021–present), keyboards (2005–2006)
Former
- Jud Haynes – bass guitar (2002–2007)
- Chris Bell – bass guitar, backing vocals (2016–2020)
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Album !colspan="2"|Peak chart positions |
|---|
| width="80"|CAN Peak position for Welcome to the Night Sky on Canadian Albums Chart: {{cite web|url=https://archive.today/20071011203249/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html|title=Albums: Top 100|access-date=April 1, 2025}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/431472/wintersleep/chart |title=Wintersleep - Chart history |magazine=Billboard |date=February 9, 2008 |access-date=November 25, 2015}} |
| 2003
|— |
| 2005
|— |
| 2007
|66 |
| 2010
|12 |
| 2012
|20 |
| 2016
|19 |
| 2019
| - |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Song !colspan="4"| Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album | |
|---|---|
| width="40"|CAN !width="40"|CAN !width="40"|CAN
!width="40"|CAN
| |
| 2007
|54 |— |× |9 |rowspan="2"| Welcome to the Night Sky | |
| 2008
|"Oblivion" |— |— |× |17 | |
| rowspan="4" | 2010
|"Black Camera" |— |— |14 |× |rowspan="4"| New Inheritors | |
| "New Inheritors"
|— |— |— |× | |
| "Trace Decay"
|— |— |31 |× | |
| "Preservation"
|— |— |33 |× | |
| rowspan="2"| 2012
|"In Came the Flood" |— |— |7 |× |rowspan="2"| Hello Hum | |
| "Nothing Is Anything (Without You)"
|— |— |31 |× | |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
|— |50 |1 |1 |rowspan="3"| The Great Detachment | |
| "Spirit"
|— |— |— |5 | |
| 2017
|"Freak Out" |— |— |— |45 | |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
|"Free Fall / Fading Out" |— |— |— |— | non-album single | |
| "Beneficiary"
|— |— |— |44 | In the Land Of |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart. "×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived. |
Videography
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
!Song !Director |
|---|
| 2003
|"Caliber" |
| 2004
|"Sore" |Sean Wainsteim |
| 2005
|"Danse Macabre" |Sean Wainsteim |
| rowspan="5"|2006
|"Jaws of Life" |Sean Wainsteim with James Mejia |
| "Fog"
|Mirco Chin |
| "Lipstick"
|4030 CREW |
| "Faithful Guide"
|Sean Wainsteim |
| "Insomnia"
|Jesse Luke |
| 2007
|"Weighty Ghost" |Sean Wainsteim |
| 2008
|"Oblivion" |Darren Pasemko |
| rowspan="3"|2010
|"Black Camera" | |
| "Trace Decay"
| |
| "Preservation"
|Sean Wainsteim |
| 2011
|"New Inheritors" |Danny (Think Tank Creative) |
| rowspan="2"|2012
|"In Came the Flood" |Sean Wainsteim |
| "Nothing Is Anything (Without You)" |
| 2016
|"Amerika" |Scott Cudmore |
Awards
- 2008: Juno Award for New Group of the Year
- 2008: Much Music Video Award – VideoFACT Award for "Weighty Ghost"
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|wintersleep.com}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070706102021/http://www.labworkmusic.com/ Labwork Music] record label
- [http://theyshootmusic.at/semi-acoustic-video-sessions/wintersleep-2/ 2012 Off-stage video recording session] with They Shoot Music Don't They
{{Authority control}}
{{Wintersleep}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wintersleep}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2001
Category:Musical groups from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Category:Canadian indie rock groups
Category:Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year winners