Sleep Theory’s early run of multi-million-streamed singles quickly set up the Memphis, Tennessee, quartet as one of the heavy scene’s most promising nu-rock upstarts. With the release of the band’s stellar debut album, Afterglow, you could make the case that they’ve officially become a force of nature, the kind of brawny presence that could stand its ground in the face of a raging tornado — coincidentally, just like the band do in the video for the record’s “III.”
As one of their heaviest tracks yet, the single finds Sleep Theory leaning into an uproarious round of metalcore-bombastic riffs. Vocalist Cullen Moore and guitarist-vocalist Daniel Pruitt quickly lock into a tandem screaming attack, though the former also booms through the tune with a powerhouse rock-and-R&B-inflected vibrato by the time “III” gets into its reflective and hooks-soaring chorus. He also hits the doomsday-creating breakdown with a comically-haunting, schadenfreudian laugh.
While that all makes for a dizzying display of Sleep Theory’s many strengths, the timing of the video release could not have been any weirder. Just as the CGI-twisting clip for “III” hit YouTube in early April, a real-deal natural disaster began ripping through the band’s home state, leaving a dramatic path of wreckage in its wake.
“We didn’t see the weather forecast and say, ‘Yo, this is going to be a sick time to drop this.’ It just happened to be when tornadoes were ripping through Middle America,” Moore tells Revolver, recalling how warning sirens were surreally blaring in his own neighborhood just as the song went live. The happenstance of it all did not go unnoticed, though Moore admits he had other priorities on his mind at the time.
“I was streaming while the tornados were going on. It touched down maybe two miles away from where my house is, [but] I was just like, ‘I’m still gaming!’ My internet was on. I was in my garage like, ‘Whatever… it is what it is.’”
He continues of the broader impact of that unexpected weather event and the attitude required to get through such cataclysms: “I’ve seen what they’ve done [but] I ain’t worried about it, man. We out here, hangin’.”
While Moore hunkered down at home during the storm, he and the rest of Sleep Theory — Pruitt and his brother, drummer Ben Pruitt, as well as bassist Paolo Vergara — have been on an active artistic tear the past couple of years.
After forming in 2023, the quartet caught traction right out of the gates via singles like “Another Way” and “Fall Out,” tracks that whirlpooled detuned and djenty tendencies with the anthemic flair of Aughts era titans like Linkin Park. Moore, a military veteran who grew up loving Michael Jackson and metalcore, heightens it all with a yearning, raspy and dynamic vulnerability.
The singles near-instantly made fans of many, going viral on TikTok and exploding on streaming services. This led to a series of crucial opening tour slots for the likes of Shinedown, Falling in Reverse, Beartooth, Wage War and more, which brought plenty of eyes on Sleep Theory.
Now, alongside longtime friend and producer David Cowell, Sleep Theory have upped the stakes with their ambitious Afterglow. While it includes early hits like “Fallout” and “Numb,” the 12-song album is likewise bolstered by hard-grooved and meta-referential nu-metal bangers (“Static,” “Paralyzed”), increasingly emotive and arena-sized ballads (“Afterglow”) and more.
Notably, Revolver connects with Moore just before the band are about to hit their first major headlining tour. The frontman is excited and humbled by the upcoming dates, considering that a bunch of the venues they’re hitting are the same ones they played as an opening act just a year ago. But now, armed with Afterglow, they’ve made it to the top of the marquee. And with the eagerly anticipated album on the horizon, the future’s only looking brighter.
Speaking with Revolver, Moore takes us through a few key album cuts, keeping a cool head as his band’s profile rises, and why Sleep Theory could be the band of the millennium.
“Static” seems to be about the extraneous noise that messes with our heads — the kinds of outside situations that overwhelm or overstimulate us as we work through life. As this band has gotten bigger, has being super focused on Sleep Theory filtered out that chatter, or has it added to your stress?
CULLEN MOORE I’ve always been extremely confident in myself and how I interact with people. “Static” was written more so in regards to Sleep Theory [going] from being a band that no one knew about to then posting a TikTok and then blowing up. There’s been so much that’s happened to us [since then].
For someone that’s gone from not having so much to do, to always having something — I’ve got a photo shoot here, an interview here, a show here and a meet-and-greet there — all those things are great. All those things are what I worked for, so I’m extremely grateful for it.
It’s just when they come [at you] in such a large amount and so fast… there’s just so much noise. There are so many things going on in your life at all times that… you can’t turn it off. Sometimes you feel like you’re going crazy.
Do you think your military background has helped you keep a level head?
It definitely helps with understanding how to take the time to assess the situation calmly and orderly. Or to go about it in a way that’s beneficial not only to myself, but for whoever else is involved.
“III” takes us through the classic idiom of bad things often coming at us in threes. Was this song pulling from that kind of an experience?
It definitely pulls from experience. But in order not to give too much away — because it is about a specific someone — what I will say is that it was written as a “I hope you hit your toe on your nightstand tomorrow night, barefooted” kind of song. I loathe said person. I hope they do well in life, but I loathe them.
That’s a serious emotion, but you also drop a huge laugh right in the middle of this song. Was that scripted or something caught off-the-cuff in the studio?
Me and the person it was written about had an incident [where] the person was laughing [at me]. This person happened to lie about certain things. I’m not one to make fun of anyone’s dentistry, but they also had crooked teeth. So that’s why we say “Well, look who’s laughing now….it’s just another crooked lie.” It’s a dig at the lie, but also their crooked teeth.
You know… when people do wrong to you, it’s never about trying to get even with them. You just let the world teach them their lessons.
Were there multiple takes of that laugh?
No… [the band] were trying to make me laugh [in the studio], so my laugh in the song is my genuine laugh.
You’d previously mentioned that if you strip away some of the metallic crunch from Sleep Theory that these are pop songs at their heart. Theoretically, if you had paired yourself with a different producer at the start of the project, do you think they would have tried to push you further towards that pop sound?
Even if they would have, I would have been like, “No, this is where I want to go.” I think that the relationship that I have with our producer, Dave, [makes for] a very good work environment. We work extremely well together.
You recently posted an outdoor, acoustic performance of “Stuck in My Head” with Daniel. Could you see Sleep Theory exploring that sweeter, stripped-down sound some more?
I love singing the songs acoustically. Again, the idea behind the project is that if you take all the heavy guitars away, you get a pop song. I know that you can do that with any metal or rock song — you make an acoustic version of it and it can be singable.
I think that it’s just the way that these songs are written, and the way that the melodies are, that makes it work without issue being a pop song. Truthfully, if a country artist was to do a cover of “Stuck in My Head,” I have no doubt in my mind that it would work perfectly
How about something more scream-heavy, like “Static” or “III”?
“III” would be harder. That wouldn’t work acoustically the way that I would want it to. Without giving anything away — I know a lot of people look forward to our reimagined versions — we’ve been sitting on some [recordings] for a while.
Can you tell us about the vocal dynamic you have with Daniel, especially with your screams? On the trade-offs in “III,” for instance, he brings the intensity, while you can’t help but add a little melodic sweetness to your screams.
I’ve learned that I can scream — and I can get the vocal fry — but it always has a note in it. But me and Daniel’s dynamic works so well. Our voices match. Same thing with Paolo and Ben. It’s really interesting, because we all have different sounds [and] styles.
It’s kind of a quadruple-threat situation. You’d posted a behind-the-scenes video of the four of you singing Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” at the “Static” video shoot. How often are you rehearsing things like that?
We’re all singing in the van, but it’s not anything that we rehearse. We just start singing! We were just at the music video shoot and I [started singing] “You are my fire/The one desire” and everyone else started singing. [So] we made it a bit [for Instagram].
If you’ll afford us the pun, could Sleep Theory be the actual band of the millennium?
In my brain, Sleep Theory is not that big — [though] some people would be like, “Yeah, you’re tripping.”
I’m about to go leftfield for a moment, but me, Daniel, Ben and another one of our friends were eating out the other night. We were all saying goodbye and whatnot, and as I was walking to my car, two people stopped me and were like, “Hey, aren’t you Cullen?” I looked at them like, “Who are you?” — not in a smug way, or in a mean way, it’s just that I’m always wondering who knows me and why. I guess you could say it’s my army training. I don’t want to say I’m always on edge, but I’m always looking at who’s looking at me. And I forget that I’m in a band [in those moments].
This is all to say: To me, Sleep Theory is poquito. It’s a band that has still got a long way to go before I can say we’re big. But whenever I’m after something, man, I get it. I don’t mean that in a conceited way. I’ve [just] always had confidence… [and] I know my work ethic.
So, to get around to the real question: Is Sleep Theory the band of the millennium? Well, I think Sleep Theory is that next band to be doing massive things.
This interview has been edited and condensed for flow and clarity. Below see Cullen Moore interviewed by Joel Madden on the Artist Friendly podcast.