Cam Wilder and CashNasty Confirmed for NXTStar Showcase 2026
8 months ago
Canada Wintersleep, an acclaimed Canadian indie rock band, has built a significant presence through consistent releases and notable collaborations, establishing themselves as a fixture in the alternative music scene.
In 2006, Wintersleep signed with Labwork Music, a partnership label of Sonic Unyon and EMI Music Canada, and re-released their first two studio albums. The re-releases included bonus tracks and videos not featured in the originals.
Wintersleep band members have publicly allied with @oxfamcanada to advocate against complicity in geopolitical conflicts, stating, "We DO NOT support Canada in its complicity in Israel's genocide We DO NOT support the ..."
Wintersleep signed with Dine Alone Records, releasing albums like 'In the Land Of' and 'The Great Detachment' through them, and also handling vinyl reissues and single releases.
Wintersleep originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2001. The founding members included Paul Murphy on vocals and guitar, Tim d’Eon on guitar and keyboards, and Loel Campbell on drums. Prior to forming Wintersleep, Murphy and d’Eon were part of Kary, a progressive rock band. Between 2002 and 2007, Jud Haynes served as the band’s bassist. In 2005, Mike Bigelow joined on keyboards and later transitioned to bass, a role he held until 2016 before returning in 2021. Jon Samuel became a backing vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist in 2006, and Chris Bell served as backing vocalist and bassist from 2016. The band’s early releases through Dependent Music gained attention, leading to their signing with Labwork Music in 2006, a joint venture between Sonic Unyon and EMI Music Canada. This partnership led to the re-release of their initial two studio albums, which included additional content.
Wintersleep released their third album, ‘Welcome to the Night Sky,’ in 2007. The album’s limited edition vinyl release was handled by Hand Drawn Dracula. In 2008, the band received a Juno Award for New Group of the Year, marking a significant recognition of their work. Their song “Weighty Ghost” was featured in the 2008 film ‘One Week,’ gaining broader exposure. The band continued their career progression, releasing ‘New Inheritors’ in 2010 and ‘Hello Hum’ in 2012. “Weighty Ghost” was further recognized when it was included in Bob Mersereau’s ‘The Top 100 Canadian Singles’ in 2010. Wintersleep performed “Weighty Ghost” on the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ in 2011, which also saw the song used in the TV series ‘Being Human’ and a Molson Canadian commercial. In 2013, “Weighty Ghost” was adopted as the theme music for the CBC television crime drama ‘Cracked.’
In 2015, Wintersleep partnered with Dine Alone Records, releasing their sixth studio album, ‘The Great Detachment,’ in 2016. This album notably featured Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee on the track “Territory.” The band’s consistent touring schedule has included support slots for artists such as Pearl Jam and Frightened Rabbit. In 2018, Wintersleep reissued their first three albums on vinyl, which included bonus tracks. Their seventh album, ‘In the Land Of,’ was released in 2019 by Dine Alone Records and was long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize. The band further expanded their reach with the worldwide digital release of singles “Free Fall” and “Fading Out” in 2019, which had previously been a top-selling Record Store Day release.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
