ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: SEAN LONG.

Name: Sean Long
Band: While She Sleeps
Links: https://www.facebook.com/whileshesleeps/

Best music-related memory?
I think this was when we first entered a real recording studio and watched our little jams as kids slowly turn into the kind of songs we could have only dreamed of creating. I think, just the feeling of “wow, I think we actually sound good”, haha.

First band you were ever in?
Maximum Volume with Azz, our bassist. We wrote two songs, I think. One was called “Sunny Breeze”.

How come you ended up doing this type of music. Is there a specific album or event that steered you on this path?
I was quite the normal kid before i met Mat, our guitarist. I loved playing football that much so I used to wax my boots and football. I met Mat in secondary school and he looked completely different to me. He had bangles all up his arms and weird big hoodies on etc. I once asked him “what do you want to be when you grow up” and he replied “a thrasher”. I had no idea what this was. We became friends very quickly and I got completely fascinated with this new side of life I had never seen before. He got me into Slipknot pretty quick and I have been hooked on the dark side ever since.

When did While She Sleeps start moving into the the digital world of recording and songwriting?
A little after we left school. I remember stealing our music department’s brand new Boss I think it was a 15-track recorder. I stole it during my last school exam, then bolted home. I feel bad, but just listen to our songs now… So I’ve been recording ideas for nearly twelve years but got into the digital world around ten years ago.

How has Toontrack helped in that process?
The thing is, when writing and recording there was always this mystery for me of how to get it to sound “real”, like all the other bands I loved. What was that secret ingredient… The closer you got the more excited you got. Then I found about about Toontrack, kindly introduced to me by Jona Weinhoflen and Tom Searle. Writing just doubled in excitement and progress as I finally had a lot of the “secret” ingredients I didn’t have access to at the time. Like REAL drums and tones. This made me more enthusiastic about writing which then in turn helped me write great songs.

What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you in stage or the studio?
Tuning a guitar for nearly two days for one riff.

What’s your favorite part of Superior Drummer 3?
My favorite part about it is the ability to externalize all the drums to separate tracks after you have already achieved a mix of the drums you like through the Superior Drummer 3 Mixer. Then you get full control of mixing an unbelievably good sounding kit. Also, just knowing that it’s all real is great, like, bouncing maybe just the room sounds just for a slow tom section. The potential is endless.

What are the future plans for While She Sleeps?
Blow people’s minds at every turn.

WHILE SHE SLEEPS.

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Drum grooves and EZkeys MIDI – all inspired by fusion music!

SEAMLESS: MY SUPERIOR DRUMMER 2 WORKFLOW.

In-depth video tutorial on Superior Drummer 2 by Seamless.

SUPERIOR DRUMMER 2: TIPS, TRICKS & INSPIRATION.

Here’s a YouTube playlist of some useful videos!

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DRUMCEPTION: BEAU BURCHELL.

Saosin guitarist Beau Burchell delivers an epic piece of music over Mario’s drum track.

THE METAL MONTH CUSTOMER JUKEBOX COLLECTION.

Listen to all five editions of this year’s Metal Month Customer Jukebox, right here!

BIG ROCK DRUMS EZX JAM.

Longtime Toontrack user Alan Sacha Laskow wrote this custom piece for Metal Month!

ARTWORK TIMELAPSE.

Watch the Metal Bass Beasts EZmix Pack cover develop from idea to finished art!

DRUMCEPTION: CHRIS BRODERICK.

Listen to Chris Broderick’s insane riffing and lead work over Mario’s drums.

DRUMCEPTION: RIVERS OF NIHIL.

Big, ambient and haunting – listen to how the guys from Rivers of Nihil interpreted Mario’s drum track!

FLUFF – MARK LEWIS DEMO.

Fluff from Riffs, Beards & Gear tries out the Mark Lewis Metal Tones EZmix Pack.

GEAR GODS: THREE MIXES.

Trey demos three different mixing using the EZmix Packs released during Metal Month 2016.

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