Sleepthief

Wikipedia:

Sleepthief is an American electronic music recording project formed by producer and composer Justin Elswick. Elswick began writing music for the album ten years prior to its release. The album was mixed, mastered, co-produced, and co-arranged by Israel Curtis. Sleepthief's first album, The Dawnseeker, was released in 2006.

Sleepthief is most often compared to musical groups such as Delerium (in its output from the mid-1990s onward) and Balligomingo, which produce emotive, melodic, synthesized music with what is often described as New Age-influenced ethnic characteristics from other cultures. Also similar to these groups is Sleepthief's use of pop music-based song structures with performances by female singers: eleven vocalists contribute to The Dawnseeker, many of whom are established recording artists, and some having worked with the aforementioned groups previously.

Biography [edit]

Born in Southern California, Elswick served as an LDS missionary in Texas and received a B.A. degree in History from Brigham Young University. Throughout this period, he became a self-taught musician. Justin also studied in Ireland, graduating with a Master's degree in philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin followed by a law degree at J. Reuben Clark Law School. He is currently a practicing attorney in Provo, Utah.

In addition, Elswick wrote for Musical Discoveries, a music website dedicated to female vocalists, as an associate editor.

History of Sleepthief [edit]

Elswick began working on songs with Curtis around 2003. Russell Elliot, editor-in-chief of Musical Discoveries, put Elswick in contact with singer Jody Quine in December 2003; Quine became the first singer to join with the project, recording three songs and being filmed for a music video by 2005. Vic Levak, who worked with Balligomingo along with Quine, also worked with the group.

The Dawnseeker [edit]

All songs written by Elswick and the vocalist featured except where otherwise noted.

Singles [edit]

The lead single, "Eurydice", was released as a digital download as well as a limited-edition CD single. The tracklisting for the single is as follows:

New "Eurydice" mix has been released on 12th August 2012 and is credited to DjMikelD (Angels on Water Mix). The follow-up single, "The Chauffeur", is a cover of the Duran Duran song of the same name and will be released in the same formats. 11 different versions of the song, as well as a bonus track "Send Me an Angel", song originally by German hard-rockers Scorpions, with Kristy Thirsk on vocals. A limited edition CD single featuring the music video for "The Chauffeur" is also slated for release via www.neurodisc.com in the upcoming months.

The tracklist is as follows:

Music videos were filmed for "Tenuous", "Eurydice", and "The Chauffeur".

Labyrinthine Heart [edit]

Singles [edit]

The lead single for the new album, "World Gone Crazy", features the vocals of Coury Palermo and was released as a digital download EP on June 30, 2009. It includes the original version as well as several remixed versions.

In December 2009, a new "World Gone Crazy" remixes ep was released.

TRACKLIST:

The track "Skimming Stones" performed by Kirsty Hawkshaw is a reprised version that was originally released on a compilation album featuring various female vocalists, "Sirenes: The Beauty of the Female Voice". A music video was also produced for this track. "Skimming Stones"

The next single was "Reason Why", a duet performed by Coury Palermo & Zoë Johnston (Digital EP - 23rd March 2010). Also a video has been shot for the track, set in the Provo Tabernacle, now destroyed by a fire in December 2010. Along with several remixes, a new song,titled "Asunder", was released. It is performed with the neoclassical/Celtic duo Mirabilis.

The tracklist is as follows:

Afterwards Justin released two new tracks, included in the compilation "Beauty 2 - Music That Touches The Soul" (25th October 2010). The first track "Another Day" (with Kyoko Baertsoen) is a cover of the song originally by This Mortal Coil. The second, "Empyrean" (with Suzanne Perry) was performed with the glossolalia technique.

He is currently busy with a side project, named 'Spythriller', (in collaboration with Caroline Lavelle and Israel Curtis). The first video and related single has been released on 15th November 2011. The first track to be released was Nightwish cover song "Nemo" (plus two remixes), followed by "Cold War Kisses" and "Aftermath". They can be found on the Spythriller official site and YouTube official channel. Next single will be "Asleep in Metropolis" with a video shot by Hugh Marsh. In addition, he is working with Roberta Carter-Harrison on her solo album and with Carla Werner, on her solo dance album. A new Sleepthief release will likely be released in late 2013. It will be a full-length. Kirsty Hawkshaw, Coury Palermo, Carla Werner, Jody Quine, Kristy Thirsk, Sonja Drakulich, Phildel, plus Marcella Detroit and Sandra AlikasSt Thomas, are the singers. In the beginning of June 2011, Jody Quine recorded her two tracks titled "Mortal Longing" (as the EP) and "Falcon in Snow". They are in the same vein as "Eurydice" and "World Gone Crazy". A video for "Mortal Longing" was shot in September in Utah and it has been released as a first single on 4th June 2012, while the digital single and the three remixes (Psychosomatic, Blue Stone, DjMikeID) have been released on 11th June 2012. A new site has been launched on 11th June and digital release will be available only there together with all the remaining discography. He is also working on a remix and a song for Nicola Hitchcock's solo album. A cover version of the Scorpions "Send Me an Angel" has been released in December 2012, featuring strings by Caroline Lavelle. Both the albums are again available on ITunes since 4/12/2013.

Mortal Longing [edit]

New video (Mortal Longing video) was released on 4th June 2012. It was shot in the Goblin Valley State Park in Utah and features Jody Quine and Justin Elswick himself in what can be defined a metaphor of the search for love - a search that not always is happy. Digital single will be released on 11th June 2012 along three remixes.

Short insight by Jody Quine on the song concept:

When Justin gave me the title 'Mortal Longing' and the ideas behind it I struggled with how to best embody it lyrically. What I heard and followed was diving into the idea of physical addiction to the point of death almost and yet having it also be the saviour. Choosing the right words that weren't cliche or cheesy can be difficult, but I think I found some very strong and vivid choices that portray the physical responses of being in love and also cry out for breath. Now that the song is out and I know more about where Justin was coming from in his concept, I think I wrote a kick ass song with him. I love you Justin, and I'm always so honoured to work with you, Thank you.

Remix [edit]