Photo Credit: Jess Plunkett
Words: Sophie Thompson

Ahead of their sold out hometown performance at Manchester’s Deaf Institute, we sat down with SLEEPING TOGETHER to chat about the occasion, their latest single and their dream festival to perform at.

—

You’re about to play a sold-out show to Manchester’s Deaf Institute. How are you  feeling about the big hometown show? 

Alex: Buzzing! I think the fancy dress will be a good touch as well. We’ve played this venue before, but this one sold out about four months in advance which was class… I’m hoping that this will be done quick and then we’ve hired out the bug room upstairs so  roll on April Next year.  

Your song ‘In Love with My Ex’ dropped just yesterday. Can you tell me a little bit  about the song and the story behind it? 

Mike: You wrote the song Alex 

Alex: I think it’s good to say that it’s not actually about anyone’s ex it’s from the other  perspective just so we’re all in the clear. I’d seen the new person… It’s from the point of  view in that you’re the ex. It’s not a confession.  

You said ‘In Love with My Ex’ almost didn’t make the cut. Can you tell me why? 

Alex: I think it was just because it was so different to our other stuff that it was like, is  this what we want? And then after a while I think we liked it so much and we kept writing  things, and we were like it’s not as good as that we should finish it.  

When people hear ‘In Love with My Ex’, what do you want people to take away from  it?  

Alex: I’d like it to be partly amusing a little bit. It doesn’t need to be the most serious  track in the world… 

Amber, it’s your first show back. How does it feel to be back with the band and how did it feel to be missing out on the shows previously? 

Amber: Sad obviously, but Alex (drummer) did a great job in my absence but it’s so nice to be back. It just feels back to normal like nothing’s changed… 

Looking back on this year you’ve had an incredible year playing at Isle of Wight Festival and Truck Festival. What would be your dream festival to perform at next  year or in 10 years’ time?

Alex: Just one in health  

Amber: Just one for me to play at

Alex: we’re all different on this, I think I’ve changed my mind like three times but i think  Glastonbury would be number one, but my second choice is Leeds.  

Dan: I thought we’d all be different, but we’ve all gone for Leeds.  

Alex: Glastonbury has never got the line-up that I’m like, yes. It’s always just Coldplay  and then a few other acts. When I went to Leeds it was Fontaines D.C, Wolf Alice and Arctic Monkeys and Glastonbury is not competing with that. 

Dan: When I went to Leeds someone urinated on my tent and then set it on fire.  

You’ve worked with producer Andrea Cozzaglio who has famously worked with  Inhaler. How does it feel to have worked with someone who has so much  experience in the industry? 

Alex: It was nice, but it was an eye opener telling us we need to get better, but it was  good to see that the bigger bands have their own way of doing it. Nobody turns up and is  just flawless. You instantly compare yourself against the giants and you think oh this is  hard. There were points where he would pull up a track, I remember him showing us a  bit of Cheer Up Baby and was like if you trust the process you will end up with this.  

What would you say are your main musical influences? 

Alex: We all have different ones. 

Amber: I would say I’m a bit heavier than you guys. I think at the minute its probably  Wunderhorse  

Mike: 80s rock … Divorced Dad rock I learnt from the greats  

Dan: I’m a big Wunderhorse fan at the moment, but i think overall we take more of an  early 2000s approach. 

You have a song Daisy (Marc Jacobs) what would you say is your signature scent? Alex: Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet  

Mike: Paco Rabanne One million  

Dan: Calvin Klein 

Amber: Carolina Herrara Good Girl

—

Interview conducted by Sophie Thompson at The Deaf Institute, Manchester.