Sheffield metal band While She Sleeps have certainly gained well-deserved popularity over the last few years, with their two most recent records expanding the band’s loyal fanbase to new heights. All of this after toiling for years playing their brand of breakneck metalcore/hardcore hybrid to anyone who would have them – it’s rather impressive considering some of the bands they’ve outlasted.
With four well-received full-length albums under their belts so far, the Sheffield band have amassed a fanbase that most bands would kill for – and they’ve released a new song, “Sleeps Society”, as well. Of course, that new song doesn’t just qualify as a new song release – it’s a statement for the band’s new Patreon campaign, which will take the creators directly to their fans with exclusive rewards, perks, and the whole nine yards. While many bands and artists have turned to Patreon over the years, it seems While She Sleeps are really going for it with some of the rewards they’re offering.
The band’s statement reads as follows:
After 14 years as a band and in the ever-changing climate that is the music industry, we are embarking on a new chapter of our life as While She Sleeps.
Our goal is to create a sustainable model for artists and creatives, to break from the traditional industry mold by building and developing a true interdependence between the band and fans.
With the future of live performances uncertain, the Sleeps Society will enable a secure existence for WSS and gives us the opportunity to stay connected with our fanbase, developing new ways to provide for our supporters and fill the void left without live music. In these uncertain times, this is the difference between life and death for the future of WSS. We aren’t prepared to be another band forced to give up simply because the system isn’t designed to support the artist.
The idea behind the society was created after over a decade’s experience of this rollercoaster ride that is the music industry. Having overcome mountains of hardship and financial debt, it feels important to share what we’ve learned along the way with those who are drawn to a similar path as ours. This model will provide a new route for upcoming artists and bands similar to us, using our knowledge and guidance to help achieve a realistic career in the creative industries.
The society will ask a membership fee, ranging in different tiers of support. These contributions directly fund the creation and survival of WSS. The cost will be repaid to the fans with a plethora of informative, exciting and engaging videos, as well as special events to get involved with and many exclusives to members. We’ll be sharing full album guitar and drum play-throughs, a tutorial series for songwriting, studio production, vocal techniques, art and branding, self-management, videography, and much more. There’ll be an in-depth look into making the forthcoming album and livestreamed studio sessions where members can help make decisions in the writing stages of songs. Members will get early access to tour tickets, exclusive merchandise, warehouse meet-ups, events, and secret ‘members only’ shows. And that’s just scratching the surface of what we’ll be offering members through the Society.
Our aim is to deliver a ‘too good to be true’ level of rewards for the prices we are asking our supporters to pay, using our individual skills to develop and create entertaining and informative videos, tutorials, ideas and more for our members. This is us sharing our knowledge and experience in the hope that other artists can take this model and use it for their own.
With the monthly support of our fans, the band will be able to break free from the traditional music industry method of ‘cash advances,’ where artists are essentially borrowing large sums of money and giving up the rights to their songs, only to spend the years that follow in debt which oftentimes becomes insurmountable and crippling.
The Sleeps Society ensures a solid future for WSS and creates a new model of survival for artists and bands alike. We will be delivering the highest level of fan involvement and fostering a symbiotic relationship as the Sleeps Society becomes an integral part of Sleeps’ existence.
