Sleep Sinatra has been putting in work for years, steadily building a name for himself while carving out a lane entirely his own. Hailing from Lincoln, the artist has earned respect for his off-kilter flow, unconventional production choices, and experimental approach to hip hop that continues to separate him from the pack.
Never one to follow trends, Sleep Sinatra has stayed true to his sound while continuing to evolve artistically with every release. With a new album now in the spotlight and more moves on the horizon, HipHopMyWay caught up with the Nebraska emcee to discuss the new project, his creative process, and what the future holds.
- Your new album Strange Fires has a very unique and experimental sound throughout. What was the creative mindset going into this project, and what did you want listeners to take away from it?
Sleep – Heather Grey is an amazing producer. Gotta giv ehim major credit for shaping the sonic foundation of this piece. the “Strange Fires” Concept comes from a biblical story of a man having a prophetic vision of a burning bush. I used that nuance to dive into self prophecy, dealing with trauma and loss, navigating life via the rhymes. If anything I would like the listeners to take away from this project that you can forge your own prophecies via fulfilling your destiny, by whatever means or outcome it is you see fit to achieve.
2 Coming out of Lincoln, you’ve managed to carve your own lane without really sounding like anyone else. How has your environment and underground scene influenced your style and production choices over the years?
I’ve always been considered an underdog in this rap shit coming from where I’m from. Nobody has really broken the “mainstream” rap bubble from here, so going into this as a musical career that was never the goal, I grew up on and im hugely inspired by the underground rap genre. Jedi Mind Tricks, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Ras Kass, some of my earliest influences. There’s an unspoken dynamic specifically in lincoln that exists where poverty and drug abuse and gang violence exist amongst prosperous (mostly white) average citizens, I grew and came into my formative years experiencing this dichotomy. That is the foundation existentially of Sleep Sinatra. S.urvive L.ife E.xamine E.very P.erspective. Sleep
3. Fans have always appreciated your off-kilter flow and unconventional beats. Do you approach making music differently than most artists, or does the creativity just come naturally when you’re in the studio?
Sleep – Its really organic man, It all just depends on mood when I’m writing, depending on the production that will influence my approach and cadence, Im still a fan and student of this shit, so i study rap alot. I try to stay as innovative as possible while still adhering to that flow and lyricism that heads have come to appreicate over the years.
4. Over the years you’ve built a loyal underground following by staying authentic and consistent. What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned while navigating the independent hip hop world?
Sleep – The biggest and most important lesson ive learned and i was actually just tellin a younger cat this the other day, is to just keep going if its what you truly love. There will be naysayers, quacks, crazy fans , all that. and at times you’ll reach a point when you question what your doing. See it through, any accolades I’ve gained within hip hop are the direct result of me staying consistent and preservering through the times when I wanted to hang the mic up. See it through.
5. Looking ahead, what’s next for Sleep Sinatra after Strange Fires? Are there any upcoming collaborations, visuals, tours, or future projects fans should be on the lookout for?
Sleep – I’ve got an album coming out this May titled “JazzEtherix” produced by a producer out of New York named Ten Ten, thats next. I got an insane album with August Fanon called “Midnight of The Soul” thats been years in the making. Not sure when that will drop but that ones definitely gonna make an impact. Plenty more on the way still too though, I stay busy.
The Ends Of Earth” (Visualizer) : Sleep Sinatra – The Ends Of Earth (Lyric Visualizer)
“Strange Fires” prod by Heather Grey Out Now :
Strange Fires | Sleep Sinatra,Heather Grey | Sleep Sinatra
Twitter : @SleepSinai
IG : @SleepSinatra
follow and support on bandcamp https://sleepsinatra1.bandcamp.com/music
