From London’s alternative music scene emerges Sleep Stage, a powerful new voice in emotional rock music that embraces both melody and intensity. His debut album, Warning: Toxic, was released on July 4, 2025, delivering raw emotion through heavy guitar work and deeply personal lyrics. The album features standout tracks including “Sick of Love Songs,” “Love At First Bite,” and “Death in Those Arms,” exploring the complex territory between love and obsession, where relationships become both addictive and destructive.
Sleep Stage’s sound draws inspiration from the theatrical elements of Muse, the atmospheric heaviness of Deftones, and the rebellious spirit of Queens of the Stone Age. His music goes beyond simple rock songs to offer listeners a form of emotional release and connection. The album has already gained over 1,100 plays on Spotify, resonating with audiences who understand the complicated nature of difficult relationships.
Warning: Toxic examines what happens when love becomes unhealthy, when affection turns into habit, and when the boundaries between caring and self-destruction become unclear. The record speaks to anyone who has found themselves staying in situations that no longer serve them, making it both personally challenging and surprisingly relatable.
We spoke with Sleep Stage about his approach to songwriting, the recording process behind Warning: Toxic, and his perspective on creating music that addresses the more complicated aspects of human connection and emotional experience.
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Congratulations on releasing “Warning: Toxic”—how are you feeling now that it’s finally out?I’m feel absolutely buzzing! It’s crazy to imagine songs that started off in my bedroom would end up where I am now.
“Warning: Toxic” is such a striking title. What does it mean to you personally?I was really struggling with a name to be honest. I was wondering if I should pick a song title but my friend Aian did the art, which was meant to look like a corrupted cigarette packet, and a lot of the songs came from toxic moments in my life (whether one’s I’d incurred or experienced) and so ‘Warning: Toxic’ felt like it matched both aesthetically and in terms of how I felt writing and recording these tracks.
What inspired this ALBUM —was there a specific moment, relationship, or emotion behind it?This album was a collection of moments, relationships and emotions for me. I wanted it to feel like a rollercoaster, or more accurately a downwards spiral. Each song reflects this idea that we oftentimes treat people like vices, and I really wanted to capture that bittersweet feeling
Can you walk us through the story or message behind the lyrics?I started the album without a theme but as the songs came together it became clearer and clearer that it’s about the relationships we have with ourselves and others, and how they can become like vices we rely on and beg to have, even if it’s detrimental to our physical or mental health.
How does “Warning: Toxic” fit into your broader musical journey or themes you often explore?I like the idea of comparing things in weird ways, and that album really fits into that message. It’s as powerful and annoyingly catchy as I love to convey whilst being oddly dark and deep. I love to hide double entendres and different interpretations so everyone can have a different journey with my music which this album is full of
What was the writing and recording process like for this ALBUM?It was great. The two producers I worked with (Cam and Akin) are some of the loveliest, and most talented people. and I cannot begin to describe the fun we had with it. Being in the studio we’d just laugh and try things out whilst also having this clear direction and idea. It was like a mad scientist’s lab, where we’d experiment, have fun and yet have this clear direction and I couldn’t be happier for that atmosphere.
Did anything unexpected happen during the making of this ALBUM?I got the chance to play the synth like Mr Bean from the Olympic opening ceremony, which made us erupt with laughter.
Were there any sounds, instruments, or production techniques you experimented with this time? Definitely, I remember chatting with Akin about adding chopping vocals and some more dancey drums on one of my songs and although he originally laughed given his usually heavy production-style, we tried it and loved it. We also used fun little vocal clips, samples and synth sounds which I’d never tried before and it really managed to fit the vibe of the songs.
Are there any visuals (music video, cover art, etc.) that help tell the story of the song?The album art really sells it for me. As I say, my friend Aian, helped deliver on this idea we both had, something alluring but ultimately dangerous. I’m also hoping to release some visual content so look out for that.
How important is visual storytelling to you when releasing music like this?I think visual storytelling is a massive part but a hard part of being an independent artist. There are so many weird ideas that I’ve love to match my music to, and I hope I get the opportunity (so look out for that).
What can fans expect next from Sleep Stage—more music, shows, or surprises?I don’t want to give too much away but I might be collaborating with some artists soon. I might also have some news about music videos and a couple fun shows but it’s slightly too early to tell, so keep an eye out.
How do you hope “Warning: Toxic” makes listeners feel?I hope it makes them feel understood and powerful. Whether it’s the bad*ss riffs and stomping melodies or the words I speak. I want it to resonate with people, putting those toxic moments in life we inevitably face into some cathartic heavy music.
What do you think you’ve learned about yourself while creating this ALBUM?I think it’s really helped me become more critical of myself and the songs I write. Equally, I felt like I became much more introspective and self-reflective, whether musically or personally. Collaboration with, and trusting others, was also something I was unfamiliar with musically but I couldn’t have been more grateful to have made an album with such talented people.
I really got to come out of my shell and just throw things at the songs, and hear other people’s thoughts on how to make them more interesting, which I never would have without that amazing fun and trusting atmosphere
If “Warning: Toxic” had to be described in one word (besides “toxic”), what would it be?Gritty
