Sleepaway
Backyard Show
Ventura, Calif.
January 19, 2019
Tear Down: A Q&A With Sleepaway
Mathew, drums and vocals; Tudor, bass
Soundcloud, “A Vague Reflection”
VENTURA, CALIF. – Ventura experimental punk band Sleepaway kicked off Saturday’s Nardcore New Year show and while the two-piece had a few challenges with the mic slipping for drummer and vocalist Mathew, not to the mention the mic’s sound going out toward the end, the duo made it through and kept the crowd entertained.
Paradigm chatted with them on the driveway just outside the Ventura backyard the show was housed at with the pair talking about what Sleepaway could have been named, their sound and why a saxophone may be coming to their lineup soon.
You guys were great. You had a few technical difficulties but you powered through.
Mathew: Yeah. Oh, that’s how we practice. That’s how we practice. There’s always something that goes wrong when we play. Just because how we set up the stand for the mic. That’s the thing that gives us the most trouble.
So you’re a two piece?
Mathew: It’s just us.
And how long have you guys been around?
Mathew: Since September of last year.
And you’re local?
Mathew: Yeah we’re from here in Ventura. He goes to UCSB right now so he’s living up in Santa Barbara.
What are you studying?
Tudor: Chemical engineering.
OK, so what has Sleepaway released?
Mathew: We have a SoundCloud and it’s on just Sleepaway. No spaces. And we have an EP out and a couple songs. Oh! We have some music videos. We have two up on our YouTube. It’s just Sleepaway Music.
How would you describe what Sleepaway sounds like?
Mathew: OK –
Tudor: Edgy, little teens who want to be cool.
Mathew: That’s how he describes it. I really don’t know how to categorize our sound so I usually just say experimental, indie punk just because it leaves it open enough so we can experiment with other sounds like that one jazzy song. I think that’s one of people’s favorites that we do and it’s just different. And that’s what we really want to do.
Do you host shows often?
Tudor: This was the first time.
Mathew: But we’re trying to find more places to throw shows all around the county.
Are there not a lot of options?
Mathew: Not really. There’s not a lot of venues. But there’s a lot of businesses and restaurants and maybe some warehouses that will let you rent them out.
Do you come down and play in the L.A. and O.C. areas at all?
Mathew: Not really, but we’re trying to. We’re trying to reach out and just play anywhere we can.
What does the band have going on for this year?
Tudor: We have a couple shows.
Mathew: We have some out in Simi Valley and we’re also trying to look for a saxophone player because I want to do something different. For us, it’s just throw shows around here. I want to do as many all ages, free shows as possible because it’s a place for the kids mainly. Right Tudor? Right Tudor?
Tudor: Sure. Sure.
That doesn’t sound convincing.
Mathew: He just does what I say to do. [laughter] He’s a simple man but a good man.
Where did the name Sleepaway come from?
Tudor: I suggested Despacheeto.
[simultaneous] or Catano and the Boys
Mathew: And I was like, no, we’re not doing that. It’s only me, Catano, and one boy so that’s a no. Then after that, Sleepaway’s this old slasher film, “Return to Camp Sleepaway.” So I took that and we just used that name.
Anything else people should know about you guys?
Mathew: Tudor anything?
Tudor: Not really
Mathew: We’re just normal dudes who like music. There’s nothing special about us. Anyone could do what we do.
I couldn’t do what you guys did tonight, especially with the technical challenges.
Mathew: Well ... if you practiced you could. Anyone who wants to start a band, can start a band and play shows.
