Sleeping at Last

 V
Location:
Wheaton, US
Type:
Artist / Band / Musician
Genre:
Alternative / Indie / Rock
Site(s):
Sleeping At Last 2011 Biography:
It has been quite a year for Sleeping At Last.
The release of the new "September" EP concludes the ambitious "Yearbook" project (October 2010-September 2011), defined most simply as "3 brand-new songs, every month, for 1 year." "Yearbook" originated from songwriter Ryan O'Neal's desire to devote himself more comprehensively to his creative process. The subscription model offered by "Yearbook" introduced a revolutionary approach to the modern listener's voracious appetite. The project invited the listener to follow O'Neal's progress on his year-long musical journey as he promised them three new songs each month. Listeners agreed, and 36 songs later, with the release of "September," he has delivered.
The "Yearbook" EP project demonstrates O'Neal's willingness to reimagine his craft, which is another critical element of Sleeping At Last's remarkable independent success and longevity. As Ryan describes the project's origins, "Inspiration for the project stemmed from a simple question: What is my favorite aspect of being a songwriter? The answer was hidden in the question - writing songs. 'Yearbook' has created an opportunity to devote myself to the craft of writing songs from a more close and personal place than ever before." O'Neal embraced this challenge and pushed himself diligently in his writing process in order to achieve his goal. The unique subscription structure of "Yearbook" further illustrates O'Neal's gift for reinvention in his art.
The project continued to innovate by expanding its broad themes through artwork and guest collaboration as well. Each month, a custom watercolor cover depicts a different event in nature, from a lunar-inspired migration of "Box Jellyfish" off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii ("October" EP), to nature's most beautiful light show, the Aurora Borealis, as seen from a small town in Iceland ("February" EP). A continued partnership with painter Geoff Benzing allowed O'Neal to translate his inspiration from nature to cover artwork as he pursued his commitment to the curation of new art as well as music. Multi-instrumentalist O'Neal performed most of the parts for "Yearbook's" 36 tracks himself, from the core melodies of piano, acoustic/electric guitars and ukulele to banjo, melodica and even an occasional violin part, and too many more to list. His exploits into the world of collaboration also demonstrated O'Neal's commitment to variety in the project. Featured guests on "Yearbook" include Singer/Songwriters Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Katie Herzig, David Hodges, and Stacey DuPree-King (Eisley) as well as multi-instrumentalists Dan Perdue (former member of Sleeping At Last), Ryan Francesconi (Joanna Newsom) and Paul Von Mertens (Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Wilco), along with many, many more. These "signatures" on the project contribute even more personal variety to a project that explores many different musical directions. And all throughout, a listener gains the sense that he or she is privy to a process so personal and immediate that it feels like reading an intimate journal.
Ryan O'Neal's journey has taken many turns over the past twelve years under the moniker of Sleeping At Last. What began in 1999 as a Chicago-based teenage garage band has organically transitioned to original songwriter O'Neal as a solo artist continuing the gorgeous thread of work that has amazed and captivated listeners over all these years. Near its inception, Sleeping At Last's amateur debut album, "Capture," was noticed by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who helped expose the music to the major-label world. Soon after, the band signed to Interscope Records and released "Ghosts" (2003), their first official full-length album. Two independently-released full-length records followed: "Keep No Score" (2006) and "Storyboards" (2009). In between the writing and recording of albums, the band has established a reputation for a pitch-perfect live show, successfully headlining several U.S. tours and sharing the stage with such artists as Switchfoot, Yellowcard, Something Corporate, Billy Corgan's Zwan, Alanis Morrisette, Lifehouse, and Phantom Planet, just to name a few. The creative process has always been protected, as the band self-produced each record, working with respected mixers such as John Goodmanson and Alan Moulder. On "Storyboards," the song "Clockwork" featured an orchestral arrangement composed by the legendary Van Dyke Parks, which was a veritable dream come true for O'Neal. TV placements in ABC's Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice series have garnered new attention for the band and emphasize the cinematic nature of Sleeping At Last's music. All along, their grassroots following has continued to build strength and demonstrates fierce loyalty to the music that has progressed alongside their own lives for all these years.
Sleeping At Last has long been a beacon shining brightly on behalf of independent artists. In the ever-changing climate of the music industry, the quest for a successful independent career seems evermore difficult to attain. From his new home in L.A., O'Neal pursues this challenge relentlessly through his commitment to musical integrity in his songwriting, and in this way nurtures a unique and personal relationship with his listeners. He has remained true to the things that brought him to music in the first place: his love of melody and the power of words. His music and lyrics emerge from a place that is honest and raw, asking every question that occurs and promising no fast, sure answers, but somehow always offering hope as the consistent, overarching theme.
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