Doomed Confessionary: Keegan Kjeldsen (Slumbering Sun)
Photos by Erik Bredthauer
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Slumbering Sun is a powerful new melodic doom entity formed by members of underground mainstays Temptress, Destroyer Of Light, Monte Luna and Scorpion Child. Their resulting sound explores broader melodies and sonics than their other bands, inspired as much by Celtic folk standards as by doom, grunge and shoegaze.
Slumbering Sun makes music for crazy romantics. Keegan Kjeldsen (guitar), James Clarke (vocals), Kelsey Wilson (guitar), Garth Condit (bass) and Kelly “Penny” Turner (drums) joined forces in 2022 in order to weave a dreamy kind of doom that would incorporate shoegaze, grunge and prog. All were friends in the Texas metal scene, assembled from bands in Austin & Dallas, who sought to elevate the love and camaraderie they’d found over the years into an artistic vision.
Following their debut album »The Ever-Living Fire« (2023, #20 debut on Doom Charts), Slumbering Sun is ready to release their second full-length album »Starmony« on May 9th, 2025.
Can you say a few words about your band?
I’d written an album – essentially doom metal, but drawing inspiration from weird, idiosyncratic places like Celtic folk standards or early shoegaze – and wanted to put a band together to perform it. Initially, my only concern was finding musicians to realize that vision. It all came together rather quickly, given that the time between our first rehearsals to the recording sessions in the summer of 2022 was only a couple months. The final result exceeded our expectations, and we found we worked well together. I suppose you could say that we began as a recording project, but things quickly got out of hand.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Every single member was already in another touring band; one member lived three hours away and another member was in Europe for almost half the year. The first years were a bit difficult, in terms of scheduling rehearsals or blocking out time for the new project to go on the road. This year, we’re no less busy, but we’ve finally been able to carve out some time to bring Slumbering Sun on some longer tours, and we’re very excited to release our second album, “Starmony”. But even this name is somewhat ironic, given that the process behind making the album was anything but harmonious. It was the longest I’ve ever spent on the post-production process, and ultimately we had to do a lot of secondary tracking and even some retracking, not to mention months and months of mixing. Everything is more difficult when you have members whose time and energy is in demand, pulled in various directions, but that is the price of working with stellar musicians.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Our first album touched many hearts, I have never had a response to an album that was quite like that one. It was not just that people would comment to say that they enjoyed the album… this is the first time that something I’d released inspired people to leave these very heartfelt responses, to tell us that the album connected with them on a deep level, or even that it was life-changing. People have sent private messages just to express things like this.
What was your biggest regret?
We didn’t take advantage of our time last year, at least not in the wisest possible manner. It’s incredibly valuable when all of us can be a part of a tour or a festival appearance. But it’s been a learning experience. I’ve realized that we have to really lock in and be ahead of the game in planning the future of the band.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
It’s difficult to say, because we just played an amazing show at Stoner Jam during SXSW in Austin, and that one is fresh on my mind. Maybe that show could round out a top three with our appearance at Ripple Fest, and the amazing Free Week show we played at Valhalla with Duel.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
I’ve been a part of the Austin scene for 15+ years, nothing surprises me anymore.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Some heavy bands in my recent rotation are Daevar, Pagan Altar, and our friends in Medicine Horse. Bandcamp recently told me that Faetooth was a “similar artist” to us, and I’ve been really enjoying their material. I’ve also been listening to Messa’s new singles, and this made me think of our other Italian friend, Davide, and his band Shores Of Null, so I’ve been revisiting their music recently as well.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
I remember T.J. O’Leary from the band Experimental Aircraft once told me that all I needed to do if I wanted to be a musician was record a great record and tour on it. I don’t think this is the key to financial success or anything, but it is the key to happiness if your reason for being is playing music, and you want to devote your life to that project. I love making music and touring, and I’ve interpreted what he said as basically just being happy in the moment, taking joy in the act of being a musician without really caring about where the whole thing is leading, not doing it for some future idea of success. On the other hand, the most cynical advice I ever received (that still seems true to me today, and is perhaps more pragmatic) is that the music scene really does operate based on people doing favors for their friends. It all comes down to who you know, and if you can become friends with the right people, this matters way more than your work ethic or your talent.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Jeppson’s Malört.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Austin?
Austin remains a great place for heavy music, and the scene is very supportive. There are people of all ages and backgrounds in our music scene, many who have been a part of it for decades, and on the other hand, there is still new blood. There are the same problems here that are facing the music scenes in every part of the country, however: the venues are getting squeezed out of downtown; there are plenty of fans who only come out for large touring acts and never investigate the excellent local talent; everything is getting too expensive and people don’t have the same amount of disposable income as before. But, I’ve learned in my years of touring that everyone complains about their scene, everyone has the same problems. Relative to that, Austin is doing pretty well.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We’re playing shows throughout Texas in May to celebrate the release of our new album, then hitting the West Coast in June for a three week tour. In July, we’ll head over to Asheville for Doomed & Stoned fest. We’ve yet to announce our plans for later in the fall, but we’re drawing up plans for another run, perhaps on the East Coast.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We’re determined that the third album will be a masterpiece, and we wish to take the band on some international tours in the coming years.
How can people best support your band?
Stream our music on Spotify, share our music with your friends, leave a comment or a review. And if you have some spare cash, buying our music from us directly at Bandcamp wouldn’t hurt either.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Support your local bands! Discover music in your scene, and support your scene by showing up in person, having a beer with the band, making friends with other fans, and being a part of a community.
Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well