Sleepthief

"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

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.cite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/sleepthief.htm | title = Sleepthief - The Dawnseeker | format = | work = | publisher = Musical Discoveries | accessdate = 2007-01-11 | accessyear = ]

In addition, Elswick wrote for Musical Discoveries, a music website dedicated to female vocalists, as an associate editor.cite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/au.htm | title = About Musical Discoveries | format = | work = | publisher = Musical Discoveries | accessdate = 2007-01-11 | accessyear = ]

History of Sleepthief

Elswick began working on songs with Curtis around 2003. Russell Elliot, editor-in-chief of Musical Discoveries, put Elswick in contact with singer Jody Quinecite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.ephemerid.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/html/interviewsleepthief.htm | title = Morpheus Music Interview - Sleepthief | format = | work = | publisher = Morpheus Music | accessdate = 2007-01-11 | accessyear = ] 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.cite web | author = | year = | url = http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/viia.htm | title = Viia - Vic Levak and Judy Quine | format = | work = | publisher = Musical Discoveries | accessdate = 2007-01-11 | accessyear = ] Vic Levak, who worked with Balligomingo along with Quine, also worked with the group.

The Dawnseeker

Infobox Album |
Name = The Dawnseeker
Type = Album
Artist = Sleepthief


Released = June 27, 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Electronic, pop
Length =
Label = Neurodisc
Producer = Justin Elswick, Israel Curtis
Reviews = All songs written by Elswick and the vocalist featured except where otherwise noted.

# "Eurydice"
#* featuring Jody Quine
# "Desire of Ages" (Curtis, Elswick, Harland, James Harland-Wright)
#* featuring Shelley Harland
# "You Did a Good Thing" (Elswick, Eric Harris, Hitchcock)
#* featuring Nicola Hitchcock (formerly of Mandalay)
# "Just Say It"
#* featuring Kyoko Baertsoen (of Lunascape)
# "The Chauffeur" (Duran Duran) (original by Duran Duran)
#* featuring Kirsty Hawkshaw
# "Tenuous"
#* featuring Jody Quine
# "Sublunar (Sweet Angel)"
#* featuring Kristy Thirsk
# "Nightjar" (Lavelle)
#* featuring Caroline Lavelle
# "Fire from Heaven"
#* featuring Roberta Carter Harrison (of Wild Strawberries)
# "The Metro" (John Crawford) (original by Berlin)
#* featuring Jerri Eckert
# "Kiss to Savor"
#* featuring Jody Quine
# "Afterthoughts" (Edman)
#* featuring Lauren Edman
# "Entre Ciel et Mer" (Elswick, Harris, Sandrine Ligabue)
#* featuring San.Drine

ingles

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:

# Original
# Nick Wax's "Orpheus Descending" Mix
# Psychosomatic Remix
# Dark Territory Mix
# Nook and Kranny's "Lost" Remix
# Sensory Gate Remix
# Underworld A Capella

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", 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:

#Original Album Version
#Psychosomatic Mix
#Flipside's Remix
#Seize Puts on the Brakes Mix
#Martin Preston Mix
#Lemonsoul Deep Hous Mix
#Sapphirecut with Dave Shaffer Mix
#Nick Wax's Drifting Haze Mix
#DJ Vapour Mix
#Timo Mae-Main Mix
#Timo Mae -Dub Mix
#Send me an Angel (ft. Kristy Thirsk)

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

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.sleepthiefmusic.com Official site]
*
* [http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/sleepthief.htm Interviews with all vocalists] at Musical Discoveries
* [http://www.jamiebonk.com/conversations/sleepthief.html Interview] by Jamie Bonk
* [http://www.djfix.com/interviews/show/48/SLEEPTHIEF Interview] at DJFIX