El Paso-based dreampop trio Sleepspent, led by 22-year-old Austin North, addresses mental health issues on standalone single, out now.

Band out on tour now supporting latest track, current Chris Common (Minus The Bear)-produced EP. Hear “California” at Substream.

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Sleepspent (L-R): Grant Gonzalez, Austin North, Josh Mendoza. Photo credit: Jesse Maynes.

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Sleepspent

“California” Single

(Slow Start Records)

Out Now

[STREAM | MP3]: https://fanatic.lnk.to/Sleepspent-California

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Sleepspent – On Tour

11/10/2018: El Paso, TX @ Lucchese East

11/11/2018: Albuquerque, NM @ Moonlight Lounge

11/13/2018: Denver, CO @ Seventh Circle

11/14/2018: Fort Collins, CO @ Pinball Jones

11/15/2018: Omaha, NE @ The B Bar

11/17/2018: Kansas City, KS @ House Show

11/18/2018: Oklahoma City, OK @ The Root

11/19/2018: Amarillo, TX @ The 806

11/20/2018: Lubbock, TX @ Downtown Social Club

11/24/2018: Tucson, AZ @ House Show

11/25/2018: Indio, CA @ Club 5

11/30/2018: Reno, NV @ St. James Infirmary

12/01/2018: Fallon, NV @ The Telegraph

12/02/2018: Las Vegas, NV @ The Beauty Bar

12/04/2018: Tucson, AZ @ Monterey Court

12/05/2018: Phoenix, AZ @ The Lunchbox

12/06/2018: Bisbee, AZ @ The Quarry

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Check out “Come Smile With Me” by Sleepspent at All Things Go and see the video at Popdust (or at the links below!)

[STREAM | MP3]: https://fanatic.lnk.to/Sleepspent-ComeSmileWithMe

[VIDEO]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWq6guCw1TM

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“Deep, focused vocals seem to glide effortlessly through a dense fog. This may be the perfect soundtrack to the morning.” — All Things Go

“‘California’ came from a place of desperation, from a feeling of being trapped in a painful and hopeless situation,” explains 22-year-old Austin North, the leader of El Paso-based dreampop trio Sleepspent. The song is a new standalone single, released on the eve of the band’s fall tour (see itinerary above.) “I’ve suffered with mental health issues for years now,” North continues, “I have been in some situations that have made my struggle much more difficult.  This song is a reflection of those feelings as they escalated, and shows a very personal experience that happened in California. I hope it sheds light on the struggles people with mental illness go through.”

Sleepspent also recently released its first official music video, for the song “Come Smile With Me,” off of its current EP “It’s Better If You Don’t Speak Or Think”.

 “The video involves me kicking people out of a party,” says North. “It kind of replicates the contrast that the song has. Sonically, it makes sense to soundtrack a house party, but lyrically it is much more introspective and contemplative than a stereotypical party track. The lyrics involve sleep and silence, and so it feels appropriate to showcase the song with the end of a party, when one is exhausted and just wants to rest.”

North began performing as a UC San Diego student before eventually returning to his hometown of El Paso to form Sleepspent. The band, now a trio including Grant Gonzalez on bass and Josh Mendoza on drums, released its Chris Common (Minus The Bear, Chelsea Wolfe, Le Butcherettes)-produced debut “It’s Better If You Don’t Speak Or Think earlier this year.  

North’s knack for creating music that is bathed in atmosphere (think Slowdive mixed with a more reverb-y Radiohead, led by a guitarist with an effects pedal fetish) that doesn’t lean away from authentic lyricism and captivating vocal performances (think Jeff Buckley) is proven on “It’s Better If You Don’t Speak Or Think”.

“We’re also definitely inspired by shoegaze and dreampop,” North says, elaborating on Sleepspent’s sound. “That can be heard in the alternate tunings used throughout our music as well as the melodic chord progressions and melodies.”

The new Sleepspent single “California,” as well the current EP “It’s Better If You Don’t Speak Or Think,” are both out now via Slow Start Records. Austin North is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Sleepspent

“It’s Better If You Don’t Speak Or Think” EP

(Slow Start Records)

Out Now

  

Track Listing:

01. Something (LISTEN | MP3)         

02. Roots

03. Come Smile With Me (LISTEN | MP3 | VIDEO)

04. Stars

05. Cracking

06. What's The Rush?

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Sleepspent Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : INSTAGRAM : BANDCAMP : SLOW START RECORDS

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : SNAPCHAT : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : BLOG : E-MAIL

Milwaukee’s D.B. Rouse recovers from gear robbery – his guitar named “Meal-Ticket” was spared – to write upcoming “Choices Were Made.”

“A superb musician” (Austin American-Statesman) with a kazoo sponsorship, former cruise ship singer, goat farmer, cabana man’s latest out Feb. 1^st.

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D.B. Rouse as photographed by Darin Dubinsky

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“A superb musician.” — Austin American-Statesman

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[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/db-rouse-about-the-bite-missing-from-your-sandwich

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[VIDEO]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxCovQQdbXA

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D.B. Rouse is America’s least-earnest traveling troubadour.

Offering up all the sincerity, none of the pretense, Rouse is armed with a guitar (nicknamed “Meal-Ticket”) and a kazoo. In fact, he is sponsored by Kazoobie Kazoos, natch. A poet with an absurd sense of humor, the Milwaukee-based former cruise ship lounge singer, goat farmer, and cabana man, will release a new album Choices Were Made on February 1^st.

Recently, one choice made resulted in Rouse becoming yet another musician robbed of his gear while on tour. Rouse’s experience contains an unusual fact, however: The gear was stolen while Rouse was in the vehicle it was stolen from. With his van doors unlocked due to Rouse and his wife sleeping off a night of drinking in the back, thieves quietly worked in the front, absconding with Rouse’s laptop and most of his instruments.

If you’re asking, “Oh, no! What about Meal-Ticket?!” don’t worry, Meal-Ticket was spared, the tour rolled on, and while this event makes for a story, it also adds an important counterpoint to the art made by a guy like D.B. Rouse.

 In other words, it’s not all fun and kazoos.

“It could have been so much worse,” Rouse admits. “What if we had woken up? What if they were armed? I was ready to quit,” he confesses. “Ready to quit touring, quit music, quit everything.”

 Instead, after the insurance company refused to cover the cost of replacement, Rouse reached out to his fans. Owing to the relationships Rouse has built through that unique quality of pretense-free sincerity and humor, he was able to replace the gear.

Even so, he did quit one thing: Drinking.

And with that, Rouse continued the pursuit of his dream to be “the best damn hobo musician in the world.”

Not unexpectedly, the negativity of the robbery and the positive aftermath – the “choices made” –  inform Choices Were Made. The album’s first single “Get My Shit Together” is a prime example. The title speaks for itself.

Even so, Rouse speaks for himself, too, offering this confirmation:

“This album is about a person struggling to quit drinking and get their shit together. It’s about having the courage to leave behind old habits, and facing the world with your best self forward.”

Other songs on the record, including “Your Jailbird is Coming Home,” new fan favorite, “The Only Designated Driver in Milwaukee is Having a Pity Party,” and the inspiration for the album’s first music video, “About the Bite Missing From Your Sandwich” all speak to Rouse’s undaunted sense of humor in the face of adversity.

“It is near impossible to tell when a bite has been stolen from a soup,” he says of the latter song. “This is why soups are the easiest foods to steal bites from.”

A ridiculous thought to end on, and also true! Believe the man with the kazoo.

Choices Were Made by D.B. Rouse is out on February 1^st, 2019, preceded by the single and music video “Get My Shit Together,” available November 30^th.

D.B. Rouse is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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D.B. Rouse – Live

11/16/2018: Milwaukee, WI @ Bremen Cafe

12/15/2018: Iron Mountain, MI @ Sol Blu

12/31/2018: Terlingua, TX @ Starlight Theatre

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D.B. Rouse

Choices Were Made

Feb. 1^st, 2019

(S/R)

Track Listing:

01. Your Jailbird is Coming Home

02. Get My Shit Together

03. Mañana Mañana

04. Streetlight Moon

05. About the Bite Missing From Your Sandwich (STREAM | VIDEO)

06. The Only Designated Driver in Milwaukee is Having a Pity Party

07. Never Again Ever Again

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D.B. Rouse Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : INSTAGRAM : YOUTUBE

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : BLOG : E-MAIL

L.A.-based musician, songwriter, producer, Alex Lilly shares “Distracting Me” video from upcoming debut album “2% Milk” with The FADER.

Just off arena tour in Beck’s band, Lilly brings “sexy psychological thriller” sounds to clip starring iconic gender fluid actor, Freckle. Watch here!

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Alex Lilly as photographed by David Black.

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[VIDEO]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFbFnvVmf1A

“Pretty freaking awesome. It’s a weird Los Angeles fantasy world where the digital realm crosses into real life and there’s a lot of cats all around,” says The FADER in its premiere coverage of the music video “Distracting Me” by Alex Lilly.

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“Lead single ‘Distracting Me’ is a light (but not slight) pop song with a punchy beat and engaging twisty-turny melodies.” — L.A. Record

[STREAM | MP3]: https://fanatic.lnk.to/AlexLilly-DistractingMe

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Los Angeles-based artist Alex Lilly is a renaissance female.

In addition to the writing, arranging, producing, and playing of her own music, Lilly has established a notable career out on the road as a part of the touring bands of such esteemed musicians Beck, Lorde, Ry Cooder, and the bird and the bee. When Lilly’s in L.A, she has stayed busy throughout the years with her own projects such as Obi Best, The Living Sisters, Touché, and Zero DeZire.

Now Lilly is bringing all of her talents, ideas, and her singular voice to the table in the form of 2% Milk, her debut full-length album, out Jan. 11^th, 2019 via newly-formed Release Me Records.

Lilly’s ability to take a song out of the realm of merely entertaining to intriguing is all over the album’s first single “Distracting Me,” a tune dedicated to the idea of enjoying the annoying. “Distracting Me” is available on all major streaming platforms now. The music video for the song is now available via an exclusive premiere at The FADER.

“Most of the time, I don’t like distractions, they get in my way,” Lilly sings on the song. “What made you the exception? Showing up and all I can think of to say: I love it when you are distracting me from what I think I need to do.”

“What better testament to loving someone than when you enjoy their interruptions?” Lilly explains of the tune. Of the video, Lilly says, Jason Greene (aka iconic gender fluid actor, Freckle) had previously killed me in a music video and danced around with my blood. This time I wanted her back in a more playful role as a relentless kitten that pulls me away from my digital addiction.”

Lilly’s songs – she describes her sound as “sexy psychological thriller” – are synthy, syrupy, and suspicious i.e. there’s something going on here that’s not only pop, but actually pops. The intrigue that abounds on 2% Milk moves the listener beyond toe-tapping and finger-snapping, straight to brain-mapping.

2% Milk is the first release for the newly-formed Release Me Records, founded by musician Inara George, both friend and bandmate to Lilly via their previous work together as part of The Living Sisters, Zero DeZire, and when Lilly plays live in the bird and the bee.

“I met a very young Alex around 2006 when the bird and the bee was putting together a live band,” George explains. I started Release Me to shine a light on Alex, and all the other insanely gifted musicians I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

2% Milk, the debut album from Alex Lilly, is scheduled for release on Jan. 11^th, 2019, preceded by the single and music video “Distracting Me,” out now.

Alex Lilly is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Alex Lilly

2% Milk

Jan. 11^th, 2019

(Release Me)

Track Listing:

01. Confucius Says

02. 2% Milk

03. Distracting Me (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)

04. Pornographic Mind

05. Boomerang

06. Night Drive

07. Infantile

08. Cold Snap

09. Hypothetical

10. Firefly

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Alex Lilly Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : RELEASE ME RECORDS

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : BLOG : E-MAIL