This post originally introduced the pseudonym Crou, which I quickly abandoned, given the name already had multiple artist profiles on streaming services, and I realized a lot of people rely on voice commands to play music in the car and at home. “Crou” made that difficult.

My usual approach angles don’t seem to apply here. This is something new. This is Sleeping Animal.

I think I’m going to script a conversation, à la NPR. Bear with me. Here goes:

What is Sleeping Animal?

Well, Sleeping Animal was a name I landed on a while ago, because I thought it sounded warm, contented, and vulnerable. It’s something I want be a placeholder for a side project that isn’t fully defined. It’s also apropos of not including environmental sound, as if the animals were all sleeping.

You just spun off Listening Spot, right?

Yes, and I actually used those words, even though they’re giving gimmicky energy. Listening Spot and Sleeping Animal, and some of the others that have come before could have been projects released under the name Chad Crouch, but I’m already pushing it when it comes to having a “right-sized” release catalog.

Is there anything different about the music?

Yes. There are no field recordings with Sleeping Animal. There is more room for more instruments and layers in the arrangements. And, there is, for now, a hint of vocals… Otherwise, pretty similar, really.

Anything else?

Hmm… I’ve really been enjoying old photographic images; glass plate negatives, sepia-toned silver gelatin prints; that kind of thing. Might be a visual direction for the project. It is for this release!

The debut release Coots by Sleeping Animal is available on all music streaming sites (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Tidal, etc.) Friday, February 28th.

Earlier this week: Reflecting on some formative listens.

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