The Sleepy Jackson

Fronted by vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Luke Steele together with a rotating lineup of additional players, the Sleepy Jackson originated in Perth, Western Australia. Their recordings blended electro-pop, alt-country, and expansive pop reminiscent of George Harrison. As the child of blues singer Rick Steele, Luke Steele spent his early years surrounded by music yet deliberately steered his own work away from his father’s style. He assembled the group in 1999, choosing its name in reference to a one-time narcoleptic drummer, then proceeded to compose and track material. The EPs Let Your Love Be Love and Caffeine in the Morning Sun appeared in 2002, exposing Australian listeners to Steele’s wide-ranging approach. That same year the band issued its eight-song Sleepy Jackson EP, marking its introduction to U.K. audiences. In 2003 the full-length album Lovers arrived via Astralwerks, constituting the act’s American debut, while the Good Dancers EP followed later the same year. After completing two U.S. tours that autumn, the Sleepy Jackson returned home and earned ARIA nominations—Australia’s equivalent of the Grammy—for Album of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best New Artist Album, and Best New Artist Single.