While She Sleeps

Passionate, dedicated and above all fucking hefty - While She Sleeps are a hardcore mob with some seriously big plans

Sometimes, all you want in a new band is a bunch of dudes who play like their lives depend on it. The sort of band who, if you go and see them you can't take your eyes off them because it looks like one of them's about to bust a lung or something.

With that in mind, we'd like to introduce you to the awesome While She Sleeps, our newest Band Of The Week. You can read more about them in Rock Sound issue 138, onsale Wednesday from WHSmith and all good newsagents, but for now we've got an exclusive premiere of the video for 'Crows' further down the page. And before you watch it, read this Q+A with the band.

Introduce yourselves - who's in the band and what do you do?
"Hello! I'm Mat Welsh, guitar/vocals. Then there's Lawrence Taylor, vocals; Sean Long, guitar; Aaran Mckenzie, bass; Adam Savage, drums."

When was your first gig?
"Our first ever show was in April 2006, in a community hall. It was horrible!"

Name three albums which made you want to be in a band...
"Thrice 'The Illusion Of Safety', Rancid '...And Out Come The Wolves', Still Remains 'Of Love And Lunacy'"

What's the story behind the video for 'Crows'?
"The song's about the end of the world. The video represents that, and hopefully portrays the destruction and chaos of it."

What's your practice room like?
"Our practice room is like thug's mansion, a place for us to chill and our work environment too. It's a big room in an old barn, We lived there for four months while recording our album and it's pretty much home for all of us and our friends. And to be honest we're pretty glad the walls cant speak, it's had some mental times."

Rate these films in order of excellence, from best to worst: Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade. AND WHY?
"Man, I haven't watched these films since I was about eight. And even then I was probably too busy learning 'Mmmbop on my dad's acoustic!"

What was the point when you realised being in a band wasn't just something fun to do but a viable way to spend your life?
"When we got offered our first real tour, we realised it's not something we can push 100 per cent with a job as well. We found a missing piece to the band that made us feel more complete than we ever had. So we all took the plunge and never looked back."

Who would your ideal tour be in support of, and why?
"A bunch of dudes who we can hang with and who rip it up on the stage. We're in this industry to make new friends and learn new things, anyone who is both of these is a pleasure to tour with."

How do you want people to feel during a While She Sleeps show?
"We want people to feel the passion we do. And be able to relate and express themselves in whatever way. Its as much about them as it is about us and we hope people can leave the show knowing it's a family not a fanbase."