By Stevie Connor.
Ahead of their debut UK tour this January, The Sleeping Souls present the official video for “Scared Of Living”. Extracted from their exhilarating debut album ‘Just Before The World Starts Burning’ (out now on Xtra Mile Recordings), “Scared of Living” arrives in 2024 with a brand new video directed by Mihaly Sipos.
A song about the Orwellian, screen-dominated world we find ourselves living in, the “Scared of Living“ video comments on the cheap dopamine thrills we find ourselves seeking through virtually constructed realities. Flitting between slick video game-esque graphics and elegant real-world imagery, the video offers a stylish and thought-provoking companion to the track’s dystopian lyrical themes.
As The Sleeping Souls explain of the song: ““Living your life through cameras and apps isn’t living. Everyone is trying to live up to a version of themselves that doesn’t really exist in the real world, and you can’t have your own opinions for fear of being lambasted publicly. Even though we’ve moved forward technologically, old institutions still inform everything we do. We need to break free, but at what cost”
A punk-rock firecracker, “Scared Of Living” sits alongside totemic previous singles including “Liar/Lover”, the highly charged polito-punk follow-up “Caught Up In The Scrape”, the explosively antagonistic “Rivals”, and the brooding “Weathering The Storm”; all of which can be found on ‘Just Before The World Starts Burning’.
Streaming everywhere now (via Xtra Mile Recordings), ‘Just Before The World Starts Burning’ was recorded over the last 3 years between Frank Turner's rehearsal space in Oxford and Badlands studios in Ireland. Its 12 varied tracks take their cues from a wild array of influences, from the explorative post/rock sounds of Radiohead or Death Cab For Cutie, to the tempestuous punk thrashings of Plosivs and Hot Snakes, to the introspective alt/folk of the Elliot Smith and Ryan Adams canons.
Speaking about the process of making the album, Cahir of The Sleeping Souls says: “It's been a very collaborative experience with everyone bringing ideas and throwing them into the mixing pot… Lyrically the album touches on a few different subjects - lost love, frustration, escapism and obsession - but at its core it's about my relationship with my family. The process of writing and recording this album has been cathartic and helped me survive.”
Marking the album's release, The Sleeping Souls will be heading out on their first ever UK headline tour in January 2024, accompanied by co-headliner Sean McGowan + his full band, plus support from Hannah Rose Platt. The tour will mark The Sleeping Souls’ first live appearances outside of their usual day jobs of touring with Frank Turner.
THE SLEEPING SOULS UK TOUR 2024
JANUARY
23 GLASGOW King Tuts
24 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
25 MANCHESTER Band On The Wall
26 BRISTOL Thekla
27 LONDON The Garage
The Sleeping Souls have toured alongside Frank Turner for over a decade, having previously recorded six studio albums with the punk icon, including 2022 #1 ‘FTHC’. They’ve headlined Wembley Arena, performed at the 2012 London Olympics and played across the world many times over.
The Sleeping Souls comprise Tarrant Anderson (bass), Matt Nasir (piano), Callum Green (drums), Ben Lloyd (guitar). They are joined by fellow road warrior Cahir O’Doherty (Fighting With Wire, Jetplane Landing and currently New Pagans) who has filled in previously for Frank on guitar, as well as Tarrant and Ben at different times. The band decided now was time to branch out with their own independent project, and debut album ‘Just Before The World Starts Burning’ is out now.
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