The Don't Sleep Band: A Musical Journey To Remember

Don't Sleep is a hardcore band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, formed in 2016 or 2018 by vocalist Dave Smalley. The band features current and former members of several other groups, including Dag Nasty, Down By Law, DYS, and The Commercials. Don't Sleep's music has been described as melodic hardcore that is immune to any stupid era-related trends. The band has released two EPs and a full-length album titled Turn the Tide, which was released in September 2020.

Don't Sleep's musical style

Don't Sleep is a hardcore band from the East Coast of the United States, more specifically Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The band was formed by vocalist Dave Smalley in 2018 and includes members of other hardcore bands such as Dag Nasty, Down By Law, DYS, ALL, Very Americans, Safari So Good, The Commercials, Junction, and In Wilderness.

Their musical style has been described as melodic hardcore, with their music immune to any era-related trends. Their sound has been described as powerful and distinctive, with a mix of melodic fury that sets them apart from other bands. Their songs often carry important messages, with their single "Refine Me" carrying the message of taking inspiration from those that try to bring you down and letting your enemies make you stronger.

The band's self-titled debut EP was released in 2017, followed by their second EP, "Bring the Light," in 2018. They released their first full-length album, "Turn the Tide," in September 2020. The album was produced by Carson Slovak, Grant McFarland, Walter Schreifels, and Matt Holmes, with Brian McTernan engineering the drums on three cuts. It was released by Mission Two Entertainment, a label owned by Tony Brummel, the founder of Victory Records.

In addition to their musical releases, Don't Sleep has also premiered a music video for their song "Refine Me", offering fans a visual component to their music. The band has received praise from No Echo, with owner Carlos Ramirez expressing his support for the band and their unique sound since their early days.

The band's formation and members

Don't Sleep is a hardcore band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that was formed by vocalist Dave Smalley in 2018. Smalley, who has also been a member of Dag Nasty, DYS, Down By Law, and ALL, is joined in Don't Sleep by bassist Garrett Rothman (Junction), drummer Jim Bedorf, and guitarists Tom McGrath (Very Americans) and Tony Bavaria (The Commercials, Very Americans). The band features both current and former members of a variety of other groups, including Safari So Good, In Wilderness, and ALL.

Don't Sleep creates melodic hardcore music that is immune to era-related trends. Their self-titled debut EP was released in 2017, followed by a second EP, Bring the Light, in 2018. Their first full-length album, Turn the Tide, was released in September 2020. The album includes the single "Refine Me," which was inspired by the idea of taking inspiration from those who try to bring you down and turning pain into strength.

The band has released music on multiple labels, including Mission Two, Reaper Records, and Unity Worldwide Records. Turn the Tide was released by Mission Two Entertainment, a label owned by Tony Brummel, the founder of Victory Records. Brummel was impressed by the band's music and encouraged them to write additional songs for the album, resulting in a creative process that Smalley described as "a catharsis and a challenge."

Don't Sleep's music has received praise from No Echo, with owner Carlos Ramirez expressing his enthusiasm for the band since their early days. Ramirez, who has played in bands such as Black Army Jacket, Hope Collapse, and Deny the Cross, has featured Don't Sleep on the No Echo website and promoted their music video releases.

Record labels and releases

Don't Sleep Records is an independent record label that focuses on jazz and soul-infused hip-hop and limited-edition vinyl releases. The label aims to preserve the art of physical media and the nostalgic sound of the golden era.

Don't Sleep Records has released music by artists including Awon & Phoniks, Awon & SOUL.DOPE.95, Phoniks, Knuckles x Phoniks, Anti Lilly & Phoniks, and Awon & Dephlow.

Some of the releases by Don't Sleep Records include:

• "A Phoniks Christmas" by Phoniks
• "Golden Era 2" by Awon & Phoniks
• "Return To The Golden Era" by Awon & Phoniks
• "The Next Chapter" by Knuckles x Phoniks
• "Dreams" by Phoniks
• "Don't Sleep Instrumentals: Volume One" by Don't Sleep Records
• "Infinite Wisdom" by Awon & SOUL.DOPE.95
• "Nothing Less" by Awon & Phoniks
• "The Quarantine Tape" by Phoniks
• "Beautiful Loser (10th Anniversary Edition)" by Awon
• "The Actual Proof" by Awon & Phoniks
• "Down To Earth" by Phoniks
• "That's The World" by Anti Lilly & Phoniks
• "Stories From The Brass Section" by Anti Lilly & Phoniks
• "Sleep Is The Cousin Of Death" by Awon & Dephlow Prod. Phoniks

Don't Sleep Records also has a YouTube channel, where they presumably release music and other content.

Music videos

Don't Sleep is a hardcore band from the East Coast, featuring vocalist Dave Smalley, bassist Garrett Rothman, drummer Jim Bedorf, and guitarists Tom McGrath and Tony Bavaria. The band has released music videos for their songs "Refine Me" and "Don't Sleep", which are tracks from their EPs and albums.

The music video for "Refine Me" premiered on No Echo and was directed by Carson Slovak, Grant McFarland, Walter Schreifels, and Matt Holmes, with Brian McTernan engineering the drums. The song is about taking inspiration from those who try to bring you down and using adversity to make you stronger.

The "Refine Me" music video may reflect this theme of resilience and strength in the face of betrayal and pain. The visual narrative could showcase the band performing in a gritty, industrial setting, with intense lighting and dynamic camera movements to match the energy of the music.

The "Don't Sleep" music video, being self-titled, might explore the band's identity and the message they want to convey to their audience. It may include performance footage interspersed with behind-the-scenes content, giving fans a glimpse into the band's creative process and dynamic.

Don't Sleep's music videos have likely contributed to their growing popularity within the hardcore scene, with their powerful and distinctive sound resonating with listeners. The visuals accompanying their music help to enhance the impact of their songs, providing a multi-sensory experience for fans to engage with.

Song inspiration

Don't Sleep is a hardcore band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, formed by Dave Smalley in 2018. The band includes members of The Commercials (Blackout Records), Junction (Art Monk Construction), and Admiral, as well as current and former members of Dag Nasty, Down By Law, DYS, ALL, Very Americans, Safari So Good, and In Wilderness.

The band's music draws inspiration from a range of sources, but one common theme is resilience in the face of adversity. In an interview, vocalist Dave Smalley explained that the song "Refine Me" is about "taking inspiration from those that try to bring us down" and using pain and betrayal as fuel for self-improvement. He elaborates that "it is important to be forged and refined by the flames of adversity. Let your enemies make you stronger”. This sentiment is echoed in the band's name, Don't Sleep, conveying a sense of vigilance and perseverance.

Another source of inspiration for the band's music is their desire to create something authentic and timeless. In the same interview, Smalley expresses his ambition for their album, "Turn the Tide", to have a powerful and distinctive impact, immune to era-related trends. He describes it as "a really powerful, distinctive hardcore album" and hopes that it resonates with listeners in the same way that classic albums from his youth impacted him.

The band's sound and lyrics are also influenced by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members. With members hailing from various notable bands, Don't Sleep combines their collective experiences in hardcore, punk, and melodic styles to create their unique brand of hardcore music. Their songs often explore personal struggles, resilience, and the emotional intensity associated with hardcore music.

Overall, Don't Sleep's music is inspired by a blend of personal experiences, a resilient mindset, and a passion for creating authentic and impactful hardcore music that resonates with listeners facing their own struggles.

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