1. NSM
What is Asleep’s story? When did you guys get together and how did you form the band?

Asleep - Well, the band itself has been together for almost four years now. Three of us, Jon Dean (guitar), Larry Serb (keyboards) and Jeremy Hanhold (bass) had played together in a band for about three years before “Asleep.” Todd and Dave came along when we formed this band. We basically met them through friends and seeing them in other bands from Youngstown. The rest is history I guess.

2. NSM
May I ask, why the name "Asleep"?

Asleep - That's a question we get a lot and we really don't have a great answer for it haha. We went through a whole list of ideas on what to call ourselves and that one just sorta stuck out. Some of us have a lot of college education and sleep studies always seemed to intrigue us and we figured that name kinda defined the sound that we're going for.

3. NSM
Can you tell us some personal things about each band member? Ages, what do you do for a living, any hobbies outside of music, etc.?

Asleep - In no particular order...

Jon Dean - guitar player. 25 years old. Went to Youngstown State University for four years, studying biochemistry before dropping out to further pursue this band. He works a variety of odd jobs to make ends meet. His hobbies include, but are not limited to, cartooning his make believe friend Michael.

Larry Serb - keyboards. 26 years old. Works at Wheatland tube to pay the bills. Went to Youngstown State and majored in geology for three years. Also, had to put school to the side to put all his time into the band. He's a Celtics fan and one heck of a golfer.

Jeremy Hanhold - bass. 26 years old. Graduated YSU with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Substitute teaches, bounces at a bar and does odd jobs to pay the bills. Enjoys playing "Mike Tyson's Punch Out" and Nintendo.

Todd Kaden - singer. 24 years old. Tried out for American Idol one time. Currently does some concrete work to make ends meet.

Dave Ardale - drummer. 24 years old. Works for the stage hand union and at a cell phone stand in the mall. He enjoys guitar hero.

4. NSM
Name a few of your musical influences as well as why, and how these people have an effect on you and/or your music.

Asleep - The music we enjoy listening to kinda hits all ends of the spectrum. Everything from “Radiohead” to “Coverge” and in between. We just take little bit from everything and try to mold it all together into our own sound. Some days on the road we'll listen to “Ours” or Jeff Buckley and other days its “Meshuggah” and “The Locust.” Recently we've been into more classic rock type stuff like early “Genesis” and “Pink Floyd.”

5. NSM
How would you describe the band's working relationship, as far as the musical process is concerned?

Asleep - Cooperative. We work as a team usually in that someone brings an idea to the table, we get together jam it out, everyone puts there touch on it and we go from there. It's not a situation where just because you play the keyboards you write all the keyboards. At times people step in and take the reigns on different things. When you do that, work together that is, it makes it easy to create something unique.

6. NSM
Who, in the band, writes your music/lyrics?

Asleep - Usually Jon or Todd come forward which the basic idea, a riff, a melody, an idea, and we all get together and work it out from there.

7. NSM
I really love the song “Forever Hidden.” What inspired the writing of this song?

Asleep - Well, the basic instrumental idea came about when our guitar player was studying for a physics final. But, the meaning says something about religious and sexual confusion. Basically, it touches on the age old hypocrisy that exists: Just because you go to church, you are not necessarily a good Christian, just as being in a garage doesn't make you a car or holding feathers doesn't make you a chicken.

8. NSM
If you were to make a music video for this what would it be like?

Asleep - We actually have two music videos on YouTube right now. Both were done by independent people and used kinda as portfolio builders for them. They turned out good and got the idea across. The big thing we want to avoid is having a totally meaningless, green screen digitally enhanced video of us playing in front of some giant castle or something weird like that. As for a video for "Forever Hidden" I'm really not quite sure...

9. NSM
How do you guys prepare for a show, individually and as a group?

Asleep - Usually on the road we spend the days visiting friends, chillin out and walking around the city we're in. Then after load in we relax, kick a couple drinks back, warm up and take the stage. We play so much, everything is just kinda routine. There's no big pregame ritual or pep talk. It's just about putting yourself in that zone to go up there and at least try to demolish. Some days you need a nap, some days you need a drink.

10. NSM
What has been your most memorable performance so far?

Asleep - Each show usually has its own character and it's own little memorable moments. Most bands that get asked this question usually say it's the time they played a huge festival in front of thousands of people. For me, even though we've played to big crowds on big stages, my most memorable was from our first tour. We were in Chicago and played a burrito stand / music venue. The show was horrible, the PA was non-existent and tensions amongst certain band members ran high. The night ended with us sleeping in the van underneath a train track in an alley with a bum basically using the "bathroom" no more than 20 feet in front of us. Kinda weird.

11. NSM
I read in your blog that you’re working on a new album, “Ages.” How is this coming along?

Asleep - Good. We haven’t been playing much because we've spent the past three months writing all the material. So now, we have about 20 songs ready and plan on hitting the studio sometime this month.

12. NSM
Any memorable moments from this you’d like to share?

Asleep - From this interview? Yes. When I was responding to the question dealing with what else we do besides music. I realized we don’t have any hobbies, music is pretty all we do 24 hours a day haha. But ya know, that's the only way to do it I guess. Model airplanes never interested me.

13. NSM
Is there anything you would like to say to the people reading this interview?

Asleep - Yes. Thank you for years of support. We feel confident that our next record won't let anyone down. And we can't wait for people to hear it!