On episode 225 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Bran Merritt of Sleep Nation!
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sleep Nation is an alternative rock duo comprised of Merritt (vocals, guitar) and Joey Lauretta (drums). Initially founded in 2010, Sleep Nation has made a name for themselves in the Music City with their own style and energetic live shows over the years.
After becoming a duo in 2020, Sleep Nation has been hard at work, both on the stage and in the studio. In September 2023, they dropped their sophomore album entitled AND THEN THERE WERE 2, their first release as a two-piece. That album helped them get nominated for "Best Rock Album" and "Best Duo of the Year" at the 2024 Josie Music Awards, which were held at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
After releasing their album entitled Deadbeat Disco in November 2024, Sleep Nation has continued to explore creative expression and multiple genres in their music. The duo's latest endeavor is a concept album arc inspired by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Conquest, War, Famine, and Death.
Each of the Four Horsemen represents a different music genre in Sleep Nation's releases. The first installment was The Spaceman - Conquest in August 2025, which was in the electronic and industrial vein. The next was Famine the Desolate (dark folk) on 9/30/26, which will be followed by Death the Destroyer (80s goth, darkwave) and War the Destructor (metal, hard rock) before the end of the year.
Additionally, just in time for Halloween, Sleep Nation dropped a dark, slowed down, folkier version of the Hall & Oates classic "Maneater" with Sisters Mann and Nikki Christie (Flight Attendant). Directed by Adam Settle, the music video for the "Maneater" cover features an old school Frankenstein silent film vibe.
On November 7th, Sleep Nation will be performing as part of "Alt Goth Night: Return of the Living Death" at The East Room in East Nashville, Tennessee. Sleep Nation will be performing as Death the Destroyer on a bill that also features OUDi, Herbi, and DJ Not Trent Reznor. For tickets, visit https://www.ticketweb.com/event/death-the-destroyer-oudi-the-east-room-tickets/14336424.
In this episode, Bran talks with Mike about the impetus for the Four Horsemen concept albums, the timing of these releases with current events, choosing "Maneater" as a cover, his favorite concept albums, some of their favorite records, and more.
This episode of the podcast also features an early listen of the forthcoming single "To Death" from Sleep Nation, available on October 14th where you get your music!
Follow Sleep Nation on Instagram @sleepnationtv. To stay up to date on Sleep Nation, visit https://www.slpntn.com/. Watch the music video for Sleep Nation's cover of "Maneater" with Sisters Mann and Nikki Christie here: Sleep Nation - MANEATER.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLA4pT-YRkk&list=RDrLA4pT-YRkk&start_radio=1
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
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