While She Sleeps

While She Sleeps was formed in Renishaw, near Sheffield, England, in 2006 by vocalist Jordan Widdowson, drummer Adam Savage, bassist Aaran McKenzie and guitarists Mat Welsh and Sean Long. The group had played together in several bands prior to forming While She Sleeps and are described as being "best mates since school".[1] In 2006, they released their first EP, And This Is Just the Start. This EP, however, was not released on a label.[2] After a handful of live shows, in 2009 the majority of the group decided to focus on the band "full time".[3] In March 2009, the band released a split EP with the band Andwhitestars through James Records limited to 100 copies.[4] After this, vocalist Widdowson decided to leave the band due to work commitments.[5] With the addition of vocalist Lawrence Taylor the band began working on material for their third EP in a home studio. From late 2009 through to 2010 the band toured heavily throughout the UK and eventually in to Europe.[6] With growing public interest, the band finished work on The North Stands for Nothing which was released on 26 July 2010, through Small Town Records. The band held an album launch show on 24 June at The Plug in their hometown and followed its release with extensive touring throughout 2010,[7] including an appearance at Sonisphere Festival.[8] In October, they signed a deal with Good Fight Music to distribute their music in the United States.[9]

Following the release of their mini-album – backed by their extensive touring – the band's popularity continued to increase and interest from media and labels grew. On 15 February 2011, the band recorded a live in session performance at Maida Vale Studios for BBC Radio 1.[10] They also began to work on new material between touring, releasing the non-album single "Be(lie)ve" through Good Fight Music on 15 March 2011.[11] On 4 May, While She Sleeps were invited to open for Bring Me the Horizon in Sheffield at the O2 Academy.[12] In the summer, they performed at several festivals throughout Europe and supported Bring Me the Horizon for two shows in Ireland at the end of August. While She Sleeps were invited to tour the US with Bring Me the Horizon in August through to October. However, While She Sleeps had to cancel their dates in the US, citing problems with immigration.[13] In October, the band went on their first headline tour through the UK and Europe, with support from Bury Tomorrow and Feed the Rhino.[14]

Lawrence Taylor performing at Slam Dunk Festival 2012

On 1 November 2011, While She Sleeps began working on their debut album with producer Carl Bown.[15] First working in Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, England, to record drums before moving to Treehouse Studios in Chesterfield, England, to record the rest of the album.[16] After recording had finished, the band toured the UK in February 2012 as part of the Kerrang! Tour alongside New Found Glory, The Blackout, and Letlive.[17] It was announced on 27 March, that While She Sleeps had signed with Search and Destroy Records to release their début album.[18] On 4 April, Kerrang! magazine revealed that the upcoming album This Is the Six will be released on 6 August 2012[19] however the release date was later changed to 13 August.[20] The title track "This Is the Six" was released as the first single from the album on 13 May.[21] While She Sleeps are scheduled to appear at festivals and shows throughout the UK and Europe in the summer, including their first appearance at Download Festival.[22] Followed by their first tour of Australia as direct support for House vs Hurricane, in late July and early August.[23] On 7 June 2012, While She Sleeps won an award for Best British Newcomer at the Kerrang! Awards 2012.[24]

Following the success of their debut album, This Is the Six, released 13 August 2012, While She Sleeps embarked on a full 9 date headline UK tour during September with support from Polar, Crossfaith and Bleed from Within. The band then embarked on a European Tour in the Fall, supporting Architects alongside Heights. While She Sleeps then joined Motionless in White and Betraying the Martyrs to support Asking Alexandria in their UK and European Tour. The band also played the Soundwave Festival across Australia during 2013. The band supported Parkway Drive across America and Canada during spring 2013. The band, following this, embarked on a short headline run of the UK when returning from the Parkway Drive tour. While She Sleeps were also confirmed on 4 January 2013 to be playing the entire length of Vans Warped Tour in America and Canada.

In an EMP interview in 2013, the singer Lawrence explained that the name of the band originated from a magazine with a story of a woman murdering her husband while he slept, and changed it to "she" instead of "he." Lawrence also explained that he likes to view the name as a reference to a vehicle or a ship sunken in the bottom of the sea, as ships and other vehicles are often referred with the feminine pronoun.[25]

The band performing in Cologne in 2013

During Warped Tour, they confirmed they had started to write their second full-length studio album. The latter part of 2013 saw vocalist Taylor suffer from vocal problems, leading to the band cancelling shows into 2014 in order for him to undergo throat surgery and recovery.[26]

While She Sleeps announced a release for their second full-length studio album, Brainwashed on 23 March 2015. To support the album, the band embarked on a co-headline tour with Cancer Bats in April 2015, while also playing 2015's Warped Tour.

In early 2016, the band mentioned that they had begun writing for their third studio album. On 29 July, they announced that recording for the album had begun in their recently built studio.

On 4 September, they revealed the first song, titled "Civil Isolation", and on 12 September launched pre-orders and a PledgeMusic campaign for the album. Also on 12 September they parted ways with their record label.

The first single, "Hurricane", was released on 20 November, alongside an announcement that the album will be titled You Are We and released on 21 April 2017. The same day the band announce their signing to Australian independent label UNFD. On 23 February 2017, they released a song titled "Silence Speaks" featuring Oliver Sykes, vocalist of Bring Me the Horizon. In April 2017, the group embarked on a month long tour of The United Kingdom and Ireland.

While She Sleeps live at Rock am Ring 2019

On 7 June 2018, the band announced that they are in the process of writing their next album. They also released a special edition of You Are We on 20 July, featuring unheard material, demos and live tracks from their September 2017 stripped down show at St Pancras Church.

On 26 October, the band posted an image of an individual in a white hazmat suit and gas mask across their social media. The figure held a flash drive, which the posts said contained new music from the band, and could be retrieved from these figures at numerous locations in England.[27] The song on the drive was a snippet of the first single, "Anti-Social", which premiered on 28 October on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show.

On the music video for "Anti-Social", the band announced So What? as the title for their fourth studio album. It is scheduled to be released 1 March 2019 through Sleeps Brothers, their own label, and in collaboration with Spinefarm Records. The band said that they wanted total creative control and so chose to self-release and partner up with a label.

UK and European tour dates in February 2019 were announced in support of the album as well as the support acts, Stray from the Path, Trash Boat and LANDMVRKS.

On 21 December, the band released the single "Haunt Me" and its corresponding music video, directed by bassist Aaron Mackenzie.[28] Three weeks later, it was announced that the band would be supporting Architects on the North American leg of their "Holy Hell" headlining tour, along with Thy Art Is Murder.[29]

On 30 January 2019, the band released the third single from the album "The Guilty Party".[30] On 6 December, the band released a new single, "Fakers Plague" and its corresponding music video.[31]

On 15 October 2020, the band released the first single and title track "Sleeps Society" along with an accompanying music video. That same day, the band announced that their new upcoming fifth studio album Sleeps Society is set for release on 16 April 2021.[32]