SLEEP IN.

PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE DAMEO

1. Thanks for taking the time to do this interview! Would you please introduce yourself and what you do in the band?

Hey I’m Eric and I play guitar and sing backing vocals. 

2. Would you please provide some background on the group—where you’re from, how and when you formed, etc.?

We’re from South Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia. We’ve been a band since 2012, and formed when a previous band that a few of us were in called Collisions split up. 

3. Your record Tangled in the Vines came out September 25th. What is the significance of the album title and how does it mark a sort of intertwining of your previous material?

The title is taken from a lyric in the 2nd song on the record, “Cigs Inside”: “Can we twist into knots, and tangle in the vines we’ve hung.” We felt that along with having a nice ring to it, Tangled in the Vines is relatable in a lot of ways as far as being tangled the vines of everyday life. Especially as adults now in our late 30’s. 

4. Can you tell us a little more about the themes and sounds the record explores?

This record feels to us like a quintessential Sleep In record while at the same time feeling unique compared to our previous records. There is a slightly more aggressive nature to a lot of the songs that we hinted at in the past but never really went full send with. 

5. What was the writing and recording process for the album like?

We wrote these songs over the course of many years, off and on since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Before then we were a pretty active band, doing some touring every year and lots of regional shows, etc. 

We sort of took an unspoken semi-hiatus after 2020 while continuing to write songs. This created a situation where we felt no pressure to meet a deadline or write music that was anything other than what we wanted it to be. The recording process was similar, happening over several years at our own pace. I record and mix all our records, so we were able to chip away at it as it was convenient for us and I think it made for a record that feels very true to us as people, and I think the fun we had making it shines through. 

6. Will there be any shows or touring in support of the record?

Right now we have the release show for the record in Philadelphia on 10/9 at Ruba Club, along with a trip down to The Fest for our 3rd time. We love Fest and we’re really excited to get back to Gainesville and play alongside an insane lineup. We’ll also be playing a show in Jacksonville with our friends in Glazed on our way down to Fest. Beyond that we’re hoping to play some more regional shows to support the record in 2027, but no real plans to do any extensive touring at the moment. 

7. What have been some of the major highlights of the band’s existence so far, and what are you most looking forward to about the band’s future?

We’ve had a long tenure at this point as a band, and there’s been a lot of great times. Playing The Fest twice already is certainly a highlight. We also did some really awesome tours in the past, one that stands out was the tour we did with our friends Fossil Youth and Heavy Hearts back in 2017. I think that tour was some of the most fun we’ve had out on the road. To be honest, though, this record is a big highlight since it’s our first full length in 7 years, and we all feel like this record encapsulates Sleep In, maybe better than any other record we’ve ever done. In some ways it feels like we’ve spent the last 14 years writing songs together just to get to this collection of songs.

8. I’d like to close with a fun exercise. I’ll say a name, title, place, or phrase, and you say what comes up for you organically in ten words or less. First one: New Jersey.

It’s called pork roll.

Emo.

Sometimes it’s a controversial word but some of my favorite bands ever are often called emo. 

Settling.

We made Settling with no expectations and were pleasantly surprised how many people love it. 

Tension & Release.

The phrase is both a musical reference as well as a reference to the tension and release of life. 

The Stars on Your Ceiling.

Our 2nd full length, it was a much quicker process than the new LP and I look back fondly on making that record as well. 

Choke Artist.

Joe is an old friend and we’re stoked to be working with him on this release. 

Your fans.

Truly eternally grateful for anyone who gets something out of and loves our music. That’s why we do it. 

Sorry those were mostly more than ten words!