The Sleeper Pins

The Sleeper Pins began in 2003 as a side project to the alternative rock band Gliss in St. Paul, Minnesota. Guitarist Tyson Allison and drummer Justin deLeon decided to work on some quietly intriguing songs that Tyson had on the back burner. They quickly discovered a new musical freedom and grabbed the opportunity to develop the songs into an official project. They dubbed themselves The Sleeper Pins and began recording right away. Their influences are diverse, with a mixture of singer/songwriters, sonic knob twiddlers, jazz and ambient electronica artists holding their admiration. The formula worked, and in the summer of 2003 The Sleeper Pins released their self-titled debut album on local indie label Emperor Penguin Records. Soon afterward, Tyson began a family and Justin played with two other projects and the duo went under the radar. In 2006 they regrouped with the additional accompaniment of cellist and McKnight Foundation Fellowship recipient Aaron Kerr in tow and began working on new songs while performing live in clubs and bars around the Twin Cities. In 2007 the band began recording what would become their soon to be released album "Keep It Coming Like A Miracle." About halfway through they added on another member in the form of multi-instrumentalist Steve Nord and the band achieved a lush, full sound while still incorporating room to breathe in their songs. The new album will be released in September of 2008 on Emperor Penguin Records.