Slumberhaze Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance Interview

Slumberhaze Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance Interview

A creative collaboration from Sydney, Australia. Musically thematic, dark hip-pop and soulful taste - Slumberhaze debut creative concept named Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance is a trilogy spanning 3 EPs, 6 music videos & 12 songs.

RRR Part 1 released in 2013 garnered critical acclaim with stellar reviews and hype, as well as tracks used on art, film and sports projects around the globe.

Lead single Cool Don't Stop off RRR Part 2 was debuted by Richard Kingsmill on JJJ with Double J picking up the song for high rotation.

Late 2014, Slumberhaze were approached by acclaimed and award winning director/producer Alan Chen to write a theme song/soundtrack for the upcoming science fiction/action/horror film series Vetus. In conjunction with the release of the Vetus trailer, Slumberhaze track titled 'Nothing But You" will be released as the official music video for Vetus. A visually stunning, dark and hauntingly beautiful video clip showcasing sneak peaks of Vetus.

The production is based around sweeping chords and soul filled lyrics - openly explores the vulnerability of love, trust, time & the omnipresent.

RRR Part 3 is set for release in June 2015, preceding the debut album Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance (The Album) for November 2015.

With "Nothing But You" added to both Double J and Triple J rotation and a feature on Australian music show 'Home Brew Radio' (which syndicates to over 70 stations across Australia), strong early support is also coming from Sydney's 2SER 107.3 and FBi 94.5FM, Hobart's Edge 99.3FM, Perth's 89.7FM and Melbourne's Inner 96.5FM

Check out the video here

Interview with Slumberhaze

Question: Can you explain the concept of Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance?

Slumberhaze: We tried to sum up our musical and lyrical influence in 3 words, as we had 3 members & a plan to release 3 EPs in 3 Years.


Question: What can you tell us about Nothing But You?

Slumberhaze: Nothing But You is a song written for an upcoming Fantasy/Horror Epic Visual series called VETUS. It was inspired by lead star Rosa, a vampire hunter. It's set in the 15 century and is crazy and romantic! The song was written in 1.5hrs on a couch, then took six months to finish.

Question: How did the film Vetus inspire Nothing But You?

Slumberhaze: Writer/Director Alan Chen spoke to me over the phone for an hour telling me his vision about VETUS, in that conversation he asked whether Id be keen to write a song for it, that if he liked, he would use it as the official music video for the upcoming series. So I wrote NBY and the crew at Vetus including the main star Rosa, who the song is based around, dug it. But it was his passionate explanation that sparked the theme.


Question: How does it feel to hear your music played on the radio?

Slumberhaze: Liberating, optimistic and fucking soothing. It helps us continue pushing, knowing there are people on our wavelength and we are finally connecting to them. Phew!


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Slumberhaze: I didn't. Now I have many realistic observations. Id rather not get into them. Its all good, we hope.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Slumberhaze: Nah, Kendrick Lamar writes em for us. Of course we do, our inspiration is to create our own Haze, our own world, our own boundless opportunities. We are into comedy, art, sketches, theatre & definitely music that is unorthodox, thoughtful and addictive.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?
Slumberhaze: Kendrick Lamar, Outkast, Dino Merlin, Elbow, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, heaps of Hip Hop, Eastern European folk & some classical.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Slumberhaze: Our new EP is 'Rhyme, Rhythm & Romance (Part 3)' and is the final instalment to our 3 EP trilogy.

We have a Twin Week Showcase at Oxford Art Factory on Friday May 22nd & Friday May 29th. The EP is due out mid June.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Slumberhaze: I've grabbed the towel, wiped the load of blood and sweat off my face and hands and walked back into the ring. This industry is as bad as it gets, but we like our fans and future fans enough to continue forward into the Haze.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Slumberhaze: Both.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Slumberhaze: Born with the need to be creative and expressive. Looked up to false prophets my whole life, idols, rockstars...Its not even about them or their impact on us. We just love what we are doing and hope to do it all the time in many cities and over many stages. We are all equal.

Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Slumberhaze: Keeping the entire group positive, and knowing that we will get our time in the sun, and not every song/clip/sketch we do is for our hard drive only.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Slumberhaze: We work part time, so on HazeDaze, its run or swim to start, then Liam and I will run errands regarding Merch, or recording. It ends in our warehouse jamming new music, talking a lot of shit over wine or rehearsing.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Slumberhaze: Freedom. A very time costly freedom.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Slumberhaze: Danny Brown, Stromae & Andre 3000.


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Slumberhaze: www.facebook.com/slumberhaze www.slumberhaze.tumblr.com www.slumberhaze.bandcamp.com


Question: What message would you like your music to say to your fans?

Slumberhaze: DONT BELIEVE THE HAZE


Question: What is the story behind the band's name?

Slumberhaze: It was an original song I had written in 2010 - the song was about being caught in the confusion of today. I couldn't rhyme anything with phase, so I made up Slumberhaze, which incidentally embodied the whole cloud I was fighting through. And today its our belief, our motto.


Interview by Brooke Hunter