Friday, 08 June 2018 20:50

Doug "The Sleeping Bag" Campbell

Doug 'The Sleeping Bag' Campbell is a multi-talented young Independent musician from Louisville, Kentucky.   Now in 2018 and only 16, Doug has produced 5 albums within the last two years, each covering a new ground of sub-genres in avant-garde, indie rock, and post rock.  Packed with acoustic synergy and DEEP lyrics. Very deep. 

 

A popular Music Magazine Never Nervous from Louisville has stated that his solo projects “blends the earnestness of Elliot Smith with the melancholia and sense of exploration and vulnerability of Mount Eerie”.

 

His passion for music is not only evident in his growing catalog of his unique sound and style, but also what he's done with his friends outside his studio - cofounding Lo-Fi Lullaby Records, a music collective with his friends that curates several other independent talents with their own unique vibe.  

 

When asked to describe his latest albums, Doug gave a very detailed and thorough response for each - a good look into the origins of his creativity, his sound and his rembrandt-like journey. We're definitely looking forward to his progression.

 

The Sleeping Bag: My first album, Sadness Eternal, released October 25th, 2016, chronicles the stories of a man I met named, Anthony, in a rehab center. Though I say “chronicles” (I guess in an attempt to sound sophisticated or something), I more so mean represented. The album contains no vocals up until the second-to-last track, in which I retell the story of how he ended up in the rehabilitation center after a drunk driving incident left him badly injured and took his best friend’s life. It’s a short album, but nonetheless and album dedicated to him and his struggle to overcome alcoholism.

 

My second album released only 4 months after is my longest release to date, at an easy hour and seven minutes. What If You Stayed This Time (the name of the record), tells the story of a boy questioning whether or not his summer has been worth living or not after finding out the girl he’s been chasing the whole time is generally not interested. Looking back on it now it seems like a bit of a stretch, but it contains some of my best writing (I think). And even under a cheesy narrative, I manage to keep the sounds of the album very reserved, aggressive, and somewhat contemplative.

 

3rd record, No Frustration.  Not much story to be told. It’s an album inspired by divorce and what it’s like to be a kid growing up in a broken home. It’s an album that focuses more on musical growth in my progression as a musician, not so much my lyricism, although I do manage to tell a concise story.

 

4th record, I’m On Your Side.  Easily my most personal album. This album truly chronicles the chaotic end of my longest friendship. I don’t know much know how to describe it in words, other than the words I used to describe it at the time of its release, noted on the back of the CD:

I hadn’t originally intended to release YET another album before the end of 2017, but recent events led to rapid songwriting. This album signifies the death of an abusive friendship and each song represents the nails in its coffin; a coffin filled with memories that are useless to me now; memories I once cherished but now dread to recall...

This is a final resting place...Goodbye old Friend...

 

This album is my most accessible and most well known album to date. Instead of a lo-fi sound quality with distorted guitars throughout. I opted for a storytelling approach and kept it strictly acoustic (for the most part). Lyrics deal with nightmares, murder of the ego, wearing masks, and ultimately, the motif of “where will your family be when you die?” along with “who is your family?”. 

 

My 5th album was set to release June 1st, but the release will most likely have to be pushed back on account of the fact that I am unemployed and currently lack the funds to have CD’s manufactured."

 

Contact: (502)-991-1431

 

Links

Bandcamp - https://thesleepingbagky.bandcamp.com/music

Music Magazine: Never-Nervoushttp://www.never-nervous.com/2017/11/30/interview-doug-campbell-on-his-musical-aesthetic-embracing-chaos-and-fights/

Music Magazine: Never-Nervous - http://www.never-nervous.com/2018/01/19/review-the-sleeping-bag-im-on-your-side/

 

 Follow him on Instagram

 

 

 

Published in Music