PREMIERE: SOULSLEEP Finds Catharsis on Raw New Single, 'How Did It Feel'
Anyone who is a music fan knows how much music does for us. It can match our mood, bring us up when we’re low, help us process feelings and get them out in a health manner (especially at a gig). Many of us have experienced ‘this music legitimately saved my life’. Musicians know this all too well also, with many songwriters treating their music like a journal and putting their personal experiences into the lyrics and composition.
And that is exactly what SOULSLEEP have done with their raw and unflinching new release 'How Did It Feel' which dives headfirst into the pain of addiction and loss. Through the lyrics, hard-hitting rap style verses, dark and heavy instrumentals and screams, SOULSLEEP convey the heartache, anger and grief of losing someone to destructive choices. There’s a catharsis in processing such an event through music and the band - consisting of vocalist Jake Wiffen, guitarist Jayden Zago, programming/vocals Jimi Fischer and drummer Jesse O'Brien - conveyed the messaging in a gripping and deeply emotive fashion, and we're proud to be premiering the song for you today.
We spoke with the boys all about it, and what else they've got coming up...
Welcome to Wall Of Sound Soulsleep - You’re a pretty new act, with 'How Did It Feel' only being your forth release, tell us all about the band's origin story
Jayden: Thanks for having us! We’re excited to share our journey. SOULSLEEP began a little over 2 years ago when a few of us, who had previously played in different local bands, decided to collaborate on something fresh. The common thread for all of us was a love for many different genres, ranging from metalcore, rock, rap, EDM to pop. We decided to jump straight into the studio without any demo's recorded at all and just see what we could create based on all of the ideas we had. We had a massive helping hand from Chris [Lalic - Windwaker] producing and writing these singles.
How Did it Feel deals with heavy themes surrounding drug abuse and addiction, what was the motivation to turn this painful experience into such a captivating song?
Jayden: The way 'How Did It Feel' came about was a few years ago when I experienced people I was close to overdosing and leaving their three children behind. I felt deep emotions within myself that I couldn't figure out until I became a father myself. It was a mix of anger, loathing, and the feeling of "why."
I think the meaning of the lyrics revolves around my desire to ask them, "How did it feel?" after they overdosed and destroyed three young lives, questioning why they couldn't just stop and be good parents. We aimed to capture the pain, loss, and anger that followed the tragedy, reflecting not just heartache but also loathing towards the destructive choices that were made.
It was important for us to illustrate the emotional aftermath of addiction and how it can tear families apart, leaving lasting scars. We wanted to channel our anger and sadness into something meaningful, giving voice to the struggle of seeing a family torn apart.
Writing this song became a cathartic process, allowing us to confront those feelings and hopefully resonate with others who have faced similar heartache. Ultimately, our goal was to create a piece that reflects personal emotions while sparking conversation about the realities of addiction and its far-reaching consequences.
How Did it feel has darker vibes than previous songs, do you like mixing it up between boppy, dancier tunes and those with a darker sound?
Jake: 'How Did It Feel' definitely has a darker vibe compared to some of our earlier tracks for sure. We really enjoy mixing it up between pop, rock, EDM and metal and just try blend them all together to see what we can create.
I think exploring different contrasts and emotions in our music keeps things fresh and allows us to express a wider range of feelings between upbeat songs and darker themes which could create a deeper connection with listeners, making them reflect on their own experiences in life.
It's all about capturing the complexity of life, and I believe that blending these different styles helps us tell a more complete story through our music.
This song has the heaviest vocals of all your releases, have you found a love for the screams and will they remain consistent on future releases?
Jake: I've always had a bit of a scream on me, but I've traditionally leaned more towards clean vocals. With this song, we really wanted to explore a heavier sound without relying on me constantly screaming. It was important to us to release a few tracks first that showcased a different vocal style, just to mix things up a bit. However, I can definitely say that the screams are here to stay! They add a raw energy that we love, and they’ll definitely continue to play a significant role in our future releases.
For those of us keen to hear the new track in a live setting, do you have any upcoming shows floating about?
Jayden: Yeah, for sure! We’ve got a show coming up on the 5th of April at Sodens in Albury [tickets here]. It’s gonna be a great time, and I can’t wait to share the new track live with everyone!
Other than shows, what else should fans new and old keep their eyes on Soulsleep for in future?
Jake: Fans could keep an eye out for new merch! We’ve got some cool stuff coming out that we think fans will really love. We’re also hard at work on new music, so there’s plenty to look forward to! It’s an exciting time for SOULSLEEP, and we can’t wait to share everything with you!
You could very much be the only band we've covered whose band member's names all start with the letter J - was that coincidental or part of the onboarding process?
Jake: Haha yeah It just happened by coincidence but now we've made it a rule, if your name doesn't start with "J" you can't join the band haha
On the back of the new song's title, give us your best responses to the following:
How Did It Feel - hearing the final mix of the track?
Jayden: When we heard the final mix of the track, it honestly felt incredible. It’s always a little bit surreal to hear the final version after all the brainstorming and changing little parts, but this one really hit home for us. We can't wait for everyone to experience it tell us how they felt.
How Did It Feel - playing your first show as a band?
Jake: As any musician knows, it was one of the best feelings to get up and play the music you've worked so hard on for so long. We supported 'To Octavia' in Melbourne for their, sold out 'Do Ghosts Dream Like Us' release for our first show and we had such a blast and so much positive feedback from the crowd.
How Did It Feel - opening for both Windwaker and The Butterfly Effect?
Jayden: It felt great opening for these guys, we've been good friends with the gentlemen in Windwaker for a long time, playing with them in previous bands and it's always great to catch up with the fellas! We were so stoked when we heard that we would be opening for the legends in The Butterfly Effect. They've been around for a long time and it was awesome to share the stage with them in our home town.
How Did It Feel - when you found out you had listeners in 87 Counties on last year's Spotify Wrapped?
Jayden: Felt so good! We love to see how far our music can spread across the globe, it makes you feel like it was worth all the work knowing that our music has made it so far.
Any final thoughts for fans?
Jake: Stay tuned for some more bangers ❤️
Interview by Cait Macca @caitastrophe_x
'How Did It Feel' is out tomorrow. Pre-save here
