LA based band Easy Sleeper has been bubbling in the DIY scene since 2020. They have amassed 14,000 monthly listeners and have a song with 100,000 plays on Spotify. In this interview, we talk about making music in the Covid era, moving to LA, the DIY scene, live shows and a stint on a Yahoo game show.
Julian: Hey, David! How’s it going?
David (Easy Sleeper): Hey, man. Doing well. How about you?
Julian: Good! This is my first time really using Zoom, so I’m still getting used to screen sharing and everything.
David: Oh yeah, the full setup. Nice! Are you in your dorm?
Julian: Yeah, I’m in my dorm room right now.
David: The full college experience. Nice to meet you, Julian!
Julian: You too, David. I’ve been researching your band, and I just want to say—congrats on the debut album A Sacred Way of Living! It’s really great. You’ve got 11,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and 76,000 streams on Timekeeper, which are impressive numbers. How do you feel about the success so far?
David: Thanks! Yeah, it’s been a journey. We’ve always been a DIY band, building everything from the ground up. We started as a three-piece back in 2018-2019, and it’s been a lot of trial and error. It’s easy to focus on the next goal without recognizing the wins, but we’re all really excited about the reception. It’s led to interviews like this, cool gigs, and touring opportunities. It’s amazing to see people resonate with what we’re creating.
Julian: I read that you were a trio in 2018 and added another member during COVID.
David: Yeah, we brought in a second guitar player. Everyone in the band is a multi-instrumentalist, so we all play different roles.
Julian: I also saw that you went on tour for this album, with dates in the Southwest. How was that experience?
David: It was awesome. We played in cities where we’d started to build a following, like Vegas and Phoenix, and also ventured into new territory. Even just going from Albuquerque to Santa Fe—places only an hour and a half apart—the crowds and vibes were totally different. One venue was a DIY space that probably had some questionable code violations, while another was a backyard vintage store where people rolled up in Rivians. That contrast is part of what makes touring so special.
Julian: Yeah, I noticed from your Instagram that your live shows are really interactive. You invite people on stage to dance and do this sacred moments thing where they share embarrassing stories or failures. That’s such a cool concept!
David: I’m glad that resonated! For our LA release show, we wanted it to feel special, so we asked people to dress in a sacred way—whatever that meant to them. We wore monk robes for the whole tour, which added an unexpected, somewhat comedic element. The sacred failures idea came from one of our songs, and it really took off. In LA, people lined up to share, and it became this amazing way to connect with the audience. We started incorporating it into other shows, and it’s been a powerful way to engage with fans beyond just playing music.
Julian: That’s amazing. You mentioned DIY earlier, and I read that you got your start in the DC DIY scene. How has that transition to LA been?
David: DC has a rich musical history—punk, go-go, all kinds of underground music. But it’s also not a place people usually associate with an arts scene. DIY there is about carving out space for creativity despite the city’s corporate and political culture. When we moved to LA, we had to figure out where we fit in. We even started our own house venue pre-COVID, hosting shows and creating a little DIY scene of our own. Now, we play wherever the show is- in record stores, converted warehouses—there’s always a new space popping up. The overall vibe of LA is different from DC, but the DIY ethos remains the same: making things happen without waiting for permission.
Julian: That makes sense. DIY seems integral to your band’s identity. What does it mean to you personally?
David: To me, it’s about pushing forward without shortcuts. Some artists wait for the perfect opportunity—whether it’s a label deal or a big gig—but we’ve always been about taking initiative. No one’s going to hand you a career; you have to be your own champion.
Julian: Totally. On a different note, I read that you have a home studio. Did that influence the sound of the album?
David: Definitely. We recorded in two home studios, primarily at Mike and Alex, our drummer, who also produces. It gave us the flexibility to really refine each track. In a traditional studio, you’re on the clock, and there’s pressure to move fast. With our setup, we could take our time experimenting and fine-tuning. It took about nine months to complete the album—much longer than a typical two-week studio stint—but it allowed us to craft something that truly felt like us.
Julian: That makes sense. I also saw that you had an informal residency at Songbyrd Record Cafe in DC. Did that shape your live performances?
David: Absolutely. We played there about once a month, and it was a great place to hone our performance skills. The shows were free, so people would just wander in off the street, and we had to win them over. That experience taught us a lot about stage presence and how to engage a crowd.
Julian: I also saw that Shock Nerve was played on KEXP. How did that feel?
David: That was surreal. I grew up watching KEXP sessions, so seeing our song introduced on air was an incredible moment.
Julian: That’s so cool. You also opened for Nnamdi in 2023—what was that like?
David: We played one of his LA shows at a punk venue in San Pedro. Funny enough, it was on Passover, and both Nnamdi and I have Jewish backgrounds, so we bonded over that. He’s an amazing performer, and touring with him was inspiring.
Julian: Your listed influences include Velvet Underground, Built to Spill, and Real Estate, but I heard some Talking Heads in your vocal delivery and even a bit of MGMT in the instrumentation. Also, Pleasure Thrills reminded me of 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. Was that intentional?
David: That’s so interesting! We’ve never gotten the MGMT comparison before, but I love it. Talking Heads is a a notable influence, and yeah, I definitely dig that staccato vocal style. Now I need to listen to Pleasure Thrills back-to-back with 1979!
Julian: One last thing—I saw you were on a Hey Yahoo game show? How did that happen?
David: Oh man, you really did your research. I got on some casting email list—I have no idea how—and thought, why not? We went through four rounds of interviews and somehow made it on the show. They didn’t want us to promote our band, but we did anyway. It was a surreal experience, and when we posted about it, people thought we faked the whole thing. Wild times.
Julian: That’s hilarious. Last question—what’s next for Easy Sleeper?
David: We’re working on new music and taking time to recharge. Touring again next year is definitely on the horizon. Hopefully, we can make it to Connecticut and play a show near you!
Julian: That would be awesome. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat!
David: Of course! Thanks for the great questions. And shoutout to Nico!
Julian & Nico: Shoutout Nico!
David: Take care, guys!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.