Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2001.Heidi Ulrichsen, "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. Between 2002 and 2007, Jud Haynes played bass guitar for the band. 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. The band received a Juno Award in 2008.Ben Rayner, "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: 2001–2007 Wintersleep formed in 2001.True, Chris "[ 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. Kary released two official albums, The Sound of Beauty Breathing in 2001 and Light in 2004, before disbanding. 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. They released two albums through Dependent Music, a label and artist collective formed in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994.
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.
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: 2009–2014 Wintersleep was selected as one of the opening acts by Paul McCartney for his concert at Halifax Common on July 11, 2009."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 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 Posts Bob Mersereau."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. 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". In 2013, "Weighty Ghost" became the theme music of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television crime drama Cracked.
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.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. 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. In January 2016, they premiered the song "Amerika" through The Wall Street Journals blog. On March 4 of that year, the band released their sixth studio album, The Great Detachment, through Dine Alone."Album of the week: Wintersleep The Great Detachment". Now Toronto, by Vish Khanna. March 2, 2016"Wintersleep out of hibernation". Ottawa Citizen, Lynn Saxberg. March 1, 2016 Rush bassist and vocalist, Geddy Lee, played on the track "Territory".
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.
In December 2018, the band announced their next album, In the Land Of."Wintersleep Announce 'In the Land Of' LP, Share New Single". Exclaim!, December 10, 2018. It was released on March 29, 2019, by Dine Alone. 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. Wintersleep was joined by Montreal band Caveboy as the opening act at four Ontario tour dates. In the Land Of went on to be long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.
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. Paul Murphy has collaborated with various other musicians, including his brother, on his solo project Postdata. Mike Bigelow plays bass in Contrived and also Holy Fuck. Tim d'Eon played guitar for Contrived, appearing on their first two albums.
Band membersCurrent 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 YearAlbumPeak chart positionsCANPeak position for Welcome to the Night Sky on Canadian Albums Chart: 2003Wintersleep— 2005Untitled— 2007Welcome to the Night Sky66 2010New Inheritors12 2012Hello Hum20 2016The Great Detachment19 2019In the Land Of— 2026Wishing Moon— "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles YearSong Peak chart positionsAlbumCANCANAirCANAltPeak positions for Wintersleep's singles on Canadian Alternative chart: For "Black Camera": For "Trace Decay": For "Preservation": For "In Came the Flood": For "Nothing is Anything (Without You)": CANRockPeak positions for Wintersleep's singles on Canadian Rock chart: For "Weighty Ghost": For "Oblivion": 2007"Weighty Ghost"54—×9 Welcome to the Night Sky 2008"Oblivion"——×17 2010"Black Camera"——14× New Inheritors"New Inheritors"———×"Trace Decay"——31×"Preservation"——33× 2012"In Came the Flood"——7× Hello Hum"Nothing Is Anything (Without You)"——31× 2016"Amerika"—5011 The Great Detachment"Spirit"———5 2017"Freak Out"———45 2019"Free Fall / Fading Out"———— non-album single"Beneficiary"———44 In the Land Of 2025"I Got a Feeling"——40× Wishing Moon "—" denotes releases that did not chart."×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.
Videography YearSongDirector 2003"Caliber"Brian Borcherdt 2004"Sore"Sean Wainsteim 2005"Danse Macabre"Sean Wainsteim2006"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 Pasemko2010"Black Camera""Trace Decay""Preservation"Sean Wainsteim 2011"New Inheritors"Danny (Think Tank Creative)2012"In Came the Flood"Sean Wainsteim"Nothing Is Anything (Without You)"Christopher Mills 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
External links
Labwork Music record label 2012 Off-stage video recording session with They Shoot Music Don't They''