ASLEEP – THE STORY SO FAR AND THE LAUNCH OF VERSION 2.0
What do Grammy nominated music producer Bill Hamel and rising singer-songwriter star Diane Birch have in common, apart from their American origin? They interpret songs by Norwegian underground popsmiths Asleep.
Somewhere in a lounge bar in Hollywood, on her rise to fame, Birch would render Asleeps much praised debut single Be my light. On the other side of the States, in Florida, Hamel put together his highly personal remix of the follow up single I lost You, to his mind "a fucking awesome track".
Why this attraction? Asleep – under the wings of founder, singer- songwriter Fredrik Christie – devote their time to the reinterpretation of dark melodic pop in the vein of Doves, the Smiths and House of Love. Although firmly rooted in 80s and 90s alternative rock, the sound has a timeless character that attracts disparate figures on the music scene, and has secured Asleep a solid fan base, from Mexico and the US, to Germany and Spain.
ASLEEP VERSION 1.0
The band was born in a Grünerløkka rehearsal studio in Oslo, Norway, springtime 2005. Christie and Oslo drummer Lars Haugen, produced a demo, showcasing the best of an extensive, but unreleased back catalogue.
Modest concrete walls soon proved to harbour a creative well and the fruits of the ensuing sessions reached the Oslo music scene to unanimous appraisal.
The demo caught the ears of Oslo based EGO Records, who signed Asleep for the release of the debut album Days of Pure Delight, in late 2006.
Described by Magne Furuholmen of a-ha as encompassing "a unique sound, strong vocals, and an uncompromising ambition to communicate with the audience", the album did particularly well on the internet download market.
Dissatisfied with the promotion work done by their Norwegian record label, Asleep severed ties with EGO in late 2008, looking elsewhere for the follow-up to Days…
Christie dismembered the band for a period of two years, and released solo material under the Asleep name in Germany. Since then, tracks have appeared on compilation albums in Germany, Norway and the UK.
ASLEEP VERSION 2.0
But the need for a follow up album to Days… is long overdue, and Christie is not content unless he can take forthcoming studio work to the live scene. – Asleep was always ment to be a band, not a solo project, he explains.
In September 2010, Christie started rehearsals with original Asleep members Lars Haugen (drums), Johan Bach (guitar) and newcomer Erlend Peter Valkvæ (bass).
This time around Asleep up the ante, and look outside their native Norway for musical collaborators. In 2009 Fredrik established ties with Bubblegum records in Glasgow, where he played a solo-gig at the Stereo Club, after Asleep featured on the Pick 'N' Mix compilation album. The same city will mark the launch of Asleep version 2.0., when the band hit the stage at the Pivo Pivo for the Glasgow Popfest 2010 on December 3.
If things go to plan, 2011 will see Asleep buisy in the studio recording their second album, with a release date some time in the autumn. This will be preceded by extensive live work, at home and abroad.
Asleep are currently looking for a record company who wants to be part of this process.
CONTANCT BAND:
Fredrik Christie: fredrikchristie@gmail.com / telephone: + 47 930 73 171
CONTACT MANAGEMENT:
Henrik Christie: henrik.christie@hotmail.com / telephone: + 47 922 84 745
