Artist Profile: sleepazoid

Photo Credit: Joshua Nai

sleepazoid, the post-punk-influenced, alternative rock band based in Melbourne, has taken another step forward into their rough-edged sound with the release of their second EP “New Age” in early 2026. In doing so, they have done more than log another entry into their catalogue, however– they have crafted a testament to their creative cohesions as a band, a refinement of their sonic intentions, and a staunch move towards a striking dynamism.

The band originally formed as a result of a chance encounter. Nette France, the band’s vocalist, and Josef Pabis, the band’s bassist, had spent years playing together in post-punk band Sputnik Sweetheart before moving to Melbourne together as a creative duo. Once there, they became connected with George Inglis, a local guitarist and producer who owns a private studio in Melbourne.

Almost as soon as Nette and Josef met George, they began jamming together, enlisting their drummer, Luca Soprano, and another guitarist, Jim Duong, in the process.

Nette credits the presence of George’s studio, a creative haven in a bustling Melbourne scene, as a gateway not only for the origins of sleepazoid but also for helping to acclimate her into new artistic surroundings.

“The music community in Melbourne is very broad and diverse and there's lots of different scenes. Finding a scene and finding people to play with, it was kind of a daunting thing. When I met George, he had this really vibrant community and space… It really opened up my network and was quite instrumental in how sleepazoid came to be.”

With Nette and Josef having worked together in the past and George and Luca having pursued their own creative efforts in tandem, the project started out with a relatively wide divide between the two parties’ tastes.

Over time, they melded to form the initial sounds of sleepazoid, but there was clearly a dynamic at play of two creative duos attempting to formulate a singular, cohesive sound. Through the course of their two EPs, however, the group has found a rhythm, gaining clarity on the tighter and more refined direction they’ve ultimately chosen to go.

“I think through sort of meeting Joe and Nette, we've all realized sort of a visionary process,” said George, “And so that's where we're at now. We started off with not much, just seeing what's out in the world. And now… we've actually got a very specific idea that we're trying to create.”

Their first entry into their catalogue, “running with the dogs” is an intense affair, drawing heavily from the post-punk backgrounds of Nette and Joseph. From the first serrating riffs of the opener, “ALICE”, to the cataclysmic moments of its closing track, “CHOMP”, their first EP captures all of the raw energy and pulsing rhythms that capture the band’s imagination in the first place.

But heading into the process of creating their second EP, they knew they wanted to employ this sound more strategically.

“We all have our long-term influences that always play a role. But, with each record, we've had a sound that we've been aiming for in a way,” said George, “That first record was definitely the more post-punk, sort of raucous thing we were going for. And then we've refined away from that sound. Not left it, but we've figured out when we actually want to use it.”

In fact, the band credits “3AM”, the first track on their newest project, as being the first track where this unified direction was truly palpable. It was crafted in an improvised studio session, and, as Nette began to write lyrics over the mellower instrumental the band had spewed out, they immediately knew they had struck upon something special.

Their newest EP, “New Age”, simultaneously takes on a wider array of sounds while remaining remarkably focused. In just over 16 minutes of runtime, sleepazoid takes the listener on a complex tour of the peaks and valleys that their sound can provide.

Each of the five tracks choose their moments to take on a weightier sonic substance, utilizing the softness and tenderness that Nette’s voice is capable of to lull the listener into a false sense of security, only to burst forth with chest-thumping chords and intense drum breakdowns when the opportunity presents itself. 

Even though the project itself is short, it displays a remarkable act of artistic intention and restraint. It is, in short, a promising sign of what’s to come for a band with intense creative ideas and, now, a clear vision for the direction they want to take them.

“That first EP,  if you know the band, you can kind of see where all the ideas are coming from and how that fits together,” said Nette, “Whereas I feel like now we're a bit more like… a collective in lockstep that has a vision– that has a sound. We're all comfortable in our roles and we're all exploring that.”