SLEEPLESS DENVER
By Kreig Marks, August 2024
TRR: Could you tell us about how your band formed and what inspired you to start making music together?
SD: The band was originally formed in 2019 by Joey Estrada, Jesse Wilson & Hunter Milam. Releasing their first single Stereo, and then the Growth EP following that in 2020. COVID slowed things down quite a bit. The band picked back up in 2022, releasing the Bloom LP in January of 2023 and have been consistent since then.
TRR: What would you say sets your music apart from other emerging rock bands today?
SD: One thing that definitely sets us apart from other groups is having three guitar players. We also each take a lot of time in approaching new songs, in how we want to deliver a message, or a specific sound we’re going for. We kinda aim for a sense of Nostalgia in our music, mainly the 2000’s Alt-Rock.
TRR: How would you describe your band’s sound and style? Are there any specific artists or bands that have influenced your music?
SD: 2000’s Alt-Rock has definitely influenced our sound. From bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Foo Fighters, and many more. We enjoy a lot of synth elements, taken from our love of bands like Angels & Airwaves.
TRR: What has been the biggest challenge your band has faced so far, and how did you overcome it?
SD: Honestly one of our greatest challenges was being a part of the Battle of the Bands for OBX Fest. Lots of great bands played, and it was definitely a very challenging & stressful experience. Even though we didn’t make it, the experience helped us a lot in our growth.
TRR: Can you share a memorable moment from one of your performances or recording sessions that stands out to you?
SD: One of the most interesting moments happened recently. Zach got on the shoulders of one of our good friends (Josh Parsons) and was head banging on his shoulders during the breakdown of our song 2020.
TRR: What are your short-term and long-term goals as a band? Where do you see yourselves in the next few years?
SD: As far as short-term, getting out there more in the scene and networking with all of these great bands that we have around. Long-term would definitely be things such as getting around to touring, there are things we want to continue to upgrade on our end, etc. Within short & long-term is continuing to push new music out.
TRR: How do you approach songwriting as a band? Is it a collaborative process, or does each member contribute individually?
SD: It’s collaborative as well as individually. Sometimes someone comes with an idea and it just takes on its own life. Sometimes we sit down collaborating and come up with ideas that start to become a song. Sometimes that means days & weeks of working on it, sometimes it comes all together within the same session.