KBPS Interview - Beauty Sleep

Beauty Sleep are a three-piece dream-pop band from Belfast, made up of Ryan McGroarty, Cheylene Murphy and Aimee Williamson. Starting up six months ago, they’ve just released their second single and we spoke to Ryan about ‘Living Right’ and how he would describe the track.

“It was probably the first song we’d written as a band and we’ve only been for six months so it’s all quite knew, so I guess it became the first song where we were discovering the sounds we were going to make and the type of band we’re going to be, so it’s a special song to us, and always will be.

“It’s just joyous and explosive, and so much fun to play. I’m glad people can finally hear it!”

We wondered if this single was different to their first release as a band.

“We’ve only put out one other single at this point so we’re just trying to give everyone an overview stylistically of the different areas we’re into. When you’re a new band it feels like you can surprise people.

“We’re getting there now. People at some point don’t know what to expect so it’s a fun process!”

Though Ryan said they didn’t have any plans for a video for this release there are exciting future ideas coming up. “We have bigger plans for our next release. We did get some beautiful artwork from a young artist called Jack Coulter. He’s interpreted the song as an image which is really interesting. But no plans for a video at the moment.”

Future plan? “It’s fun putting out a single but at this point it would be fun putting something more substantial out there, something that runs together. I think it will be an EP, that’s a good way to start it. So we’re going to track that pretty soon. The songs are there.

“After playing live, that changes you, so I guess we’ll be doing the recording in a more live-style, so I think that will come back again to it, and we’ll make sounds of microphones falling over and cymbals crashing, that kind of excitement is what we’re after!”

‘Beauty Right’ have so far done around a dozen live dates including recent festivals and they like to do different things to keep things fresh. “We have two different types of live set. We have one with a drummer, a friend of ours. He’s amazing and that excitement of playing small rooms where there’s loads of people, and it’s all happening and everyone’s moving, is really exciting, and we do like to do that.

“But we also have a more electronic set which has more computer elements to it, and has drums loops, and that’s a different feeling as well. I’m not sure which is best and sometimes we just call it depending on the show which one will be more suitable, so it’s good to give these two different sides and presenting the music in two very different ways.”

Gigs for the band coming up include Belfast on the 20^th August. “It’s like a big barbecue show in the Queen’s Students’ Union with loads of local bands we’re friends with and it’s going to be like a two-stage festival. If you’re in Belfast that day it’s going to be really fun!

“When people only hear recordings they never know what to expect. It’s hard to picture a rock band, or what it is. Aimee who plays bass in the band is a visuals designer as well so there’s a really big light show usually with lots of moving elements. It’s coming together!”

Visual elements are a big part of the band and how they like to put themselves across. “We worked with this artist called Maisie Cousins on the artwork for ‘The Dark’, our first single, which had lots of luscious shots of running colours. I guess it was almost psychedelic imagery. We wanted to present a visual that whenever you saw it you’d have an idea of what the band sounded like and you’d make up your own image of what it’d be.

“I think [music and visuals] is really important, and both complement each other, and it’s a big part of what we want to get across.”

And what are the future plans for the band? “A tour would be something to hope for. Personally it’s the main reason why I’m in a band as every time I’ve been before those experiences you have of going to places you’d never normally be, meeting people who’d never otherwise meet, and the stories that you get, are the things I treasure. It would be great to do these things with the band at this time, because it’s absolutely the most exciting part in lots of ways.

“So get out there, get on some planes and boats and play to some un-expecting public somewhere!”

Find out more about the band on Facebook and check out their Soundcloud where you can hear various tracks and remixes, offering different interpretations on their sound.