They Are Sleeping
They Are Sleeping marks Donnie Bugden’s return after three years, delivering a live-recorded, lo-fi indie folk collection that strips each song down to its raw emotional essence. With themes centered on mental health, resilience, and life’s often unspoken struggles, the album invites listeners to step into a world of unfiltered introspection. Recorded in a single month, the album’s live approach captures moments of beauty and imperfection, mirroring the fragile and fleeting nature of the themes it explores.
Each track offers a different lens on the universal experiences of grief, love, resilience, and quiet revelation. Tracks like “Funeral Home” and “Beggars Revenge” delve into darker reflections, while “Sunshine” and “Always on Your Side” provide moments of hope and light. Collaborations, like “All The Black” with Cat Clyde, add a layer of depth and connection to the album’s narrative of solidarity through struggle.
With a sound that’s intimate and unadorned, They Are Sleeping is an album meant to be listened to in solitude, where each lyric and melody creates a quiet space for the listener’s own reflections. The album captures moments of melancholy and solace in equal measure, evoking a haunting beauty that will resonate deeply with those who find themselves in its echoes.
Available now on Bandcamp, They Are Sleeping is a tribute to the power of vulnerability and the strength found in quiet persistence.
Tracklist:
“They Are Sleeping” – 04:16
The title track captures a sense of eerie stillness, a contemplative lullaby for those who are weary but continue on.“Funeral Home” – 06:50
A long, winding ballad reflecting on the complexities of grief and the lives that shape us, even after they’ve passed.“Beggars Revenge” – 03:42
An impassioned piece on justice and survival, echoing the resilience of those left on the fringes.“Salvation Army” – 02:58
A reflection on the places where broken things find new purpose, symbolizing hope in the unlikeliest of places.“All The Black” (feat. Cat Clyde) – 03:39
A haunting duet that speaks to finding beauty in darkness, capturing the spirit of defiant resilience.“Cleopatra’s Job at The Strip Mall” – 03:27
A poignant story of identity, dignity, and endurance in a world that often overlooks the ordinary.“Parking Lots” – 04:04
A reflection on forgotten places and the memories they hold, with a gentle, nostalgic melody.“Always on Your Side” – 03:00
A comforting ballad on loyalty and unconditional support, a promise of companionship through life’s ups and downs.“Blue” – 03:45
A song that channels a bittersweet mood, touching on feelings of isolation and quiet strength.“Sunshine” – 06:49
An expansive track that builds slowly, celebrating moments of light and the warmth they bring amid the darkness.“Halfway Home” – 04:33
A song of hope and perseverance, capturing the feeling of being on a journey with a glimpse of the destination ahead.“Angels in The Same” – 04:24
A tender closing track that reflects on shared experiences and finding beauty in the shared humanity of life’s trials.