Back in middle school, Drew Tuzson of Scottsbluff, Neb., was the first person I ever collaborated with musically. We wrote a couple songs together, but things turned sour after an overzealous game of NBA Jam.
Things were never the same. Even Stewart Copeland and Sting had a better working relationship. But time heals all wounds, even those sustained by basketball player Tom Gugliotta, and we’ve patched things up. Tuzson now has a band called Sleep Well Destroyer, which is just getting ready to release their second album. We talked about the band name, storm troopers as fans, favorite Nebraskan bands and more.
Hear Nebraska: Let’s talk about your band’s name, Sleep Well Destroyer. There's an Akira Kurosawa film called The Bad Sleep Well. Is the Destroyer a bad person, or is it just that the person issuing the imperative thinks that the Destroyer is bad?
Drew Tuzson: First off, I do have to put it out there that Akira Kurosawa is my favorite director of all time. OK, now that my fanboy garbage is out of the way, Sleep Well Destroyer really doesn’t have anything to do with a "character" as the destroyer.
(photo by Chelsea Bowker)
The album displays something of that nature, but let me explain. We all have demons inside us regardless of how well things in our lives are going. The whole point of the name Sleep Well Destroyer is to put to rest our inner demons. So it’s more of a way to say to your demons, “Sleep well, Destroyer.”
HN: What is the complete history of SWD abridged?
DT: The project has been active for about two years now. Justin and I are the only original members left. We have had a few lineup changes over the years, and we are confident that our lineup now is here to stay. Over the last year we have also "softened" up a bit. We still try to make sure our brute roots are in there, but we have definitely shifted our focus to be more melody-driven.
photo by Chelsea Bowker
HN: I know you have a young daughter. How has being a father changed your music?
DT: In every way possible. My daughter has changed who I am down to my core. She has impacted the way I write, not only music but lyrical content as well. Huge inspiration for me.
HN: Who is your ideal listener?
DT: Anyone who will listen! Seriously, though, anyone who is looking for something a little different. Some of our material deals with internal conflict and whatnot, but anyone can benefit from listening to SWD. Also, all the employees of the Imperial Death Star. We sponsored their employee benefit drive, and that really boosted our numbers. Storm Troopers love our shit.
HN: From what I understand, several of your members live in another state. How does the long-distance musical relationship work? Do you have to Skype frequently and say "I love you" a lot?
DT: Yeah, we do have the distance bridge coming into play with SWD. We did this because we wanted to be very selective of the musicians we brought into the project. Denver has a much larger pool of musicians and we are very lucky to have the members we have.
It works pretty much just like any other long-distance relationship. We talk as much as we can. When we are together, we make that time count, and yes, we say “I love you.”
HN: Now on to the division of labor. Who does what?
DT: That a tough question. Live, I sing, Justin plays guitar and sings, Barzon plays guitar, Kyle plays bass and does dirty vocals, and Eric plays drums.
HN: Considering the history of the western Nebraskan scene, what are your favorite Panhandle music memories?
DT: The ones that involve us leaving the Panhandle to go play elsewhere. Just kidding (laughs). I don’t really know. We have worked very hard over the last several years, but the music scene in the Panhandle has seemed to all but die out.
HN: Who inspires you?
DT: My mom, my daughter, my girlfriend, Arnold Schwarzenegger, lion tamers, Darth Vader, Mexican food, naptime, couches and when Heather folds my underwear. She does it so different than I normally do. It takes up half the space in the drawer, which is freaking awesome and they fit more on the snug side for some reason.
HN: What do you think of my questions so far?
DT: I dig them! Keep ‘em coming, man!
HN: What can you tell me about your upcoming album? Release dates, details, gossip, overarching mission, et cetera?
DT: Our new album is titled Awake and Dreaming. It’s a full-length album, and it contains tracks we have been working on for over a year now. It has a few remakes from the last album, but most of the material is new, well-thought-out tracks.
We are heading a different direction musically, and we feel this album really reflects that. We’re still trying to keep some of the edge SWD fans are used to and love, but also trying to focus more on melodies. We are looking at a June release date. As far as gossip goes, I heard we recorded the whole album naked.
HN: Nice. I know a Lincoln band which does that. They claim it increases the sense of camaraderie. Speaking of Lincoln bands, who are you some of your favorite Nebraskan bands?
DT: Nebraska has a pretty diverse music scene. Tim Ostdiek and Taylor Gulley are two of my favorites. We just lost Taylor to a car accident, and the music world will not be same without him. He was a visionary and an extremely talented musician. He will be missed. Also, our buddies in Eyes Like a Singularity are awesome.
HN: What music is really exciting you these days? How does that make you feel, being excited? What do you do about it?
DT: It honestly takes a lot for me to get pumped about new music. I think it’s my over-saturation to all genres that comes with owning a recording studio. As far as bands that fire me lately, I would definitely have to say Crown the Empire and Southern Lights.
In general, I have been listening to a lot of Phillip Glass. Something about the minimalist solo piano is simultaneously haunting and soothing.
HN: Do you have any plans to get the show out on the road?
DT: Depending on the tour, yes. We are all older, most of us have family and kids, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be out there to see everyone.
Will we live on the road eleven months out of the year? No. Are we willing to play anytime, anywhere to spread the music we love? Absolutely!
Samuel Segrist is a Hear Nebraska contributor. He plays in the band Dude Won't Die, which released its own album on March 30. Reach him at samuels@hearnebraska.org.