On October 30th, 2024-SLEEPTALKER released their newest single “Illuminate(d)” featuring one of my favorite metalcore vocalist Myke Terry from Volumes! In the beginning of the video there is almost like a slight humming sound with a person in the background looking like they are trying to claw something out of their face giving me dark psychological vibes. Making me wonder is this person stuck in a darkness that they can’t get out of? Is this person struggling to find themselves, but the past is still bound to their thoughts causing them to stay in a mental darkness of not being able to move forward? The video has that grainy and blurry look to it making me think that the person is struggling mentally throughout the video and that the textured look is the brain rewiring itself and at the same time the strobe lights is that flash of realization that they can surpass this darkness, but once the light passes; the person goes back into thinking those dark thoughts.
“Haunted by silhouettes; Can’t seem to catch my breath; I see the shadows dance; Won’t get another chance; To reclaim the night” The way I interpret the chorus is that the person is still facing something from the past that keeps coming back to remind them; yes; these memories are still here. And that if they don’t have that courage to change who they are that looming feeling of darkness will continue to consume you to the point where it’s too late.
“Shadows sing the siren’s song” I am obsessed with this because the mind that is swarmed with darkness will almost mimic a siren luring in their next victim which is a great metaphor in my opinion. It’s easy to be lured back into something that you are so use to and moving forward could be difficult, but at the end of it all; can you ignore that call from the darkness?
“And for what the song was written about, it’s about feeling paralyzed over mistakes you’ve made. The burden of regret, the secrets you’ve kept, who you used to be or how things were, & trying to move past everything. But feeling like sometimes it’s impossible to not still be affected by it all. The growing pains of changing who you are as a person & getting over trauma” –SLEEPTALKER
Get to know SLEEPTALKER below!
Florida / Tennessee heavy music outfit SLEEPTALKER is redefining what it means to experience love, loss, grief, and hopelessness, while seeking solace in the unity those emotions can bring.
SLEEPTALKER emerged onto the scene in 2024 with their debut single, ‘LakeSideDreams,’ after years of work behind the scenes, honing their skills and building a strong team of creatives. Their introspective and evocative lyrics, paired with an explosive, unique, and well-rounded sound, position SLEEPTALKER to become a mainstay in the genre.
The band has faced their own share of grief, notably when drummer Eugene Plastino was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left him with a broken back, neck and in a coma, unsure if he’d ever walk again. After months of recovery, the band channeled the emotions of this traumatic experience into their music. In August 2024, SLEEPTALKER announced their debut EP, Deathbed Confessions, set for release in December. This journey of visceral self-reflection begins with the EP’s first single, ‘Opaque.’
In a haunting attempt to bridge the gap between old school and new, SLEEPTALKER unveiled the EP’s 2nd single, “Illuminate(d)“, featuring Myke Terry from Volumes in October 2024, solidifying the band as a modern sonic force to be reckoned with.
SLEEPTALKER consists of: Jamar Shipley, Cecil Thomas, Eugene Plastino and John Parrish
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