THE WAIT IS OVER
Sleepspent touring in support of long-delayed new album
Finishing an album and waiting to release the songs is unbearable — just ask Austin North.
“It wasn’t fun having to sit on the songs,” he says on the fourth day of the current tour. “But it was gratifying to actually get them released.”
North is a member of the El Pasobased dream pop band Sleepspent. The band released the EP “It’s Better If You Don’t Speak or Think” on May 4.
Two singles — “Something” and “Come Smile With Me” — have already been released from the EP.
North says the reason the band sat on the music for a long time was simple — there was no release date set.
Part of that reason is that North was also in school at the University of California, San Diego.
“When I moved back (to El Paso), we began to work on the songs again,” he says. “It was a very long process. We got together and fleshed out the rest of the songs.”
Joining north in the band are Cecilia Otero and Josh Mendoza.
North says the band tries to create emotional imagery through both the lyrics and the atmospheric sound.
Over the years, North’s writing process has changed.
“I used to find that fine line between being vulnerable and being relatable,” he says. “I don’t write the songs to be relatable. I have come to the conclusion that it’s OK being vulnerable. Without a doubt, it’s an odd feeling sharing those personal feelings.”
North continues to write daily.
“I personally find it easy to write new lyrics during those long six- to 10-hour drives,” he says. “It’s certainly not the easiest to play because we’ve got a pretty packed van.”
North says the relationship among Otero, Mendoza and him has grown exponentially.
“I’m super-lucky to have bandmates that I truly love,” he says. “This helps make the tour very easy.”
North says Sleepspent will begin to tour outside the region in the coming months.
The band is no stranger to Albuquerque’s music scene; it has played in the city numerous times.
“Honestly, we love playing shows,” he says. “I think every single night, we can’t wait to play the show. It’s really cool to be up onstage and making a connection.”