My current and latest obsession is an anonymous band called Sleep Token.

They’re not a niche band by any means, and it’s not a secret that women like me fall into the cult-like following (the likes of which has not been seen since the early days of tumbler.com) over their lyrics and imagery. But that’s all besides the point.

The reason I’m here today is to talk about fantasy, once more, and how vital it is in art, expression, and self-development, through the lens of Sleep Token.

Right foot in the roses, left foot on a landmine
I’m not gonna be there tripping on the grapevine

This masked band have tried to protect their identities since their development, and as a very new fan, I came to the party knowing this was all done in vain. People are people, and they’re always going to mess things up, as we have seen with this particular doxxing and many other cases like it.

Despite the fact that a simple search of their videos (or an innocent Pinterest search for ‘Sleep Token Aesthetic’) will lead you to the real human faces behind this band, the anominity remains one of the most vital aspects of the fandom, and it’s a major reason why I’m so interested/obsessed with their Offerings.

See, I’m a major supporter and advocate for fantasy. I’ve spoken about it on this blog a few times, albeit less eloquently than I’d like, but in my opinion, fantasy is one of the most valuable aspects of a full and creative life.

Having the space and opportunity to use your imagination, to fill in the blanks for yourself, is integral to human development and self-expression.

A band like Sleep Token is the perfect embodiment of fantasy and a way to experience art in a new way.

Backed up into corners, bitter in the lens
I’m sick of tryna hide it every time thеy take mine

However, the more I try to look into the band, to learn more about the lore, their lyrics, or symbolism, I am faced with the reality that behind these masks lie [incredibly talented and creative] humans.

Just some blokes, living their imperfect, messy lives like the rest of us.

This is not said to diminish the incredible work they do or the breathtaking lyrics expressed by Vessel across all four albums. Instead, it’s a way to demonstrate how people can bring you back down to earth harshly, despite you wanting to stay among the clouds.

While there is a time and a place for being pulled back down to earth, I want to use this blog post to say, let me have my fantasy.

Leave me in my dreamworld, allow me to have this freedom and creativity without bringing in your harsh realities.

Can I get a mirror side-stage?
Looking sideways at my own visage, gettin’ worse

Some people need a sense of reality to fully experience something, or are just too curious to move past it, but keep that information to yourselves. Let those of us who (in this case) respect the art, appreciate the unique sentiment of anonymity in a public space and want to be fully immersed be blind to the reality of things, for once.

Sleep Token is simply an allegory here. As this is something I am spending a lot of my time on, I can’t help but draw comparisons to many other areas of life. Sleep Token is just one of the ways I’m expressing this fantasy (ie, going in blind, taking things as they are and enjoying costuming), but there are many other areas of my life and general art consumption where the same rules apply.

A band is not the be-all and end-all of my need for fantasy. They are simply a way to demonstrate how illiterate people have become and how much more fun things can be if we let artists, writers, singers, show us only the basics and leave us to figure out the rest on our own.

Every time they try to shout my real name just to get a rise from me
Acting like I’m never stressed out by the hearsay

A masked band may be my specific example here, but I know you’ve seen it for yourself.

Whether it’s the way children’s names are revealed, private documents are unleashed, secret names or identities are published on social media like mere gossip, I think it’s easy to agree that the world could benefit from more respect for secrecy in the creative field. (please note, I’m talking about in the arts and arts alone #releasethefiles).

At the end of the day, people don’t owe you shit. Sorry to be frank, but that’s the top and bottom of it. People, even artists or public figures, do not owe you an explanation or even an introduction if they don’t want to give it. They can, and should be able to, just put their art (their Offferings, if you will) out there and let us enjoy them or critic them as we wish. It’s quite frankly entitled of you to think otherwise.

Walk beside me till you feel nothin’ as well

So, what do you do with the blanks left behind? Get creative and fill it in for yourself.

While Sleep Token may be the perfect example of this, there are so many more, everyday ways that fantasy can come into your world.

Art is of course the best way for this, and it can spawn more imagination, creativity and play in your life – especially that which doesn’t give you all the answers. That which gives you space for fantasy.

Do we not have more than enough of reality these days? Are we not already cornered by bad news, dark tales, and a fucking frightening existence day after day?

Jesus H Roosevelt Christ (IYKYK) let people live in delusion for a short while as they read a book or listen to an album. We need it now more than ever.

Let us sink into an unknown story, let us fall in love with characters, lyrics, and stories.

Let us experience this new way of expressing ourselves, as told by a masked stranger, if we fancy it.

I guess that’s what I get for tryna hide in the limelight
Guess that’s what I get for having 20/20 hindsight

Sleep Token is my current form of escapism, and a way for me to understand, express, and process emotions I didn’t know I had. But that comes solely through the fact that it’s a fantasy.

The masked band and protected lead Vessel are a way for me to safely understand these things about myself. It’s a fun way for me to explore not only a new genre of music, but a new way of expressing myself and how to tell stories effectively.

I understand the intrigue behind unmasking, whether literal or physical. Trust me, I do. After all, I studied journalism a million years ago because I’m such a nosy person and thought I might as well make a career out of it! But time has moved on, I’ve changed as a person, and I’m more protective of my fantasies than I ever was.

Too young to get bitter over it all
Too old to retaliate like before
Too blessed to be caught ungrateful, I know

Sleep Token may be the current iteration of my dreamworld, but they certainly won’t be the last. I’m sure we’ll be having this conversation on privacy, protection and fantasy again soon, with a whole new subject in mind.

For now, let me implore you to leave some things alone. Let people have their dreams, let things be sacred, and leave well enough alone (in safe, creative fields)

We all have bigger problems to be dealing with, after all.

Speak soon,

Rachael

Image: https://www.etsy.com/uk/market/sleep_token_vessel_mask

Lyrics: Caramel