VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC
revolutionary new album
“ONWARDS TO ZION”
out now
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Praise for VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC
“Flexing all his ambient muscles, Bettison fills the track with a simultaneous sense of beauty and heartbreak, taking the listener through the emotional journey of losing a dear friend.” – Wonderland Magazine
“Depicting a raw and emotional tale of losing someone close to you, ‘Summer ’09’ brings forth a beautiful soundscape between the haunting vocals, ambient pads and sombre guitars that ensure the thick layer of fog that’s injected into the mix encapsulates every little inch.” – Acid Stag
“Every element of the track (Bad Dream) is perfectly woven together in a unified and unassuming way, demonstrating Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s professional finesse. This song seriously has more layers than a Queenslander in a snowstorm.” – Good Intent
“The track (Summer ’09) shares the absolute cut-throat feeling of losing a friend, it’s nostalgic, it’s tragic, and it’s a finely honed, beautiful track. The vocals on this track emote so much, they’re sad and soft, but there’s moments where strength comes through when he recounts memories.” – CrushCop
“Heavenly and harmonious layers are woven together in a cohesive and unassuming fashion, often united by a steadying though subtle pulse heard on nearly every song.” – Billboard
“Calling his music ‘ethereal’ is not nearly enough. With the amount of energy and emotion that’s exuded from his efforts, we need more intense adjectives to describe his sound, and, to be honest, there’s never going to be enough to accurately and justifiably detail what he creates.” – Hilly Dilly
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Australian musician Vancouver Sleep Clinic has released his much-anticipated album “Onwards to Zion” today. This latest instalment of infectious, dreamy melodies from soulful genius Tim Bettinson, captures melancholy and sentimentality in their rawest forms.
“Onwards to Zion” unfolds with the chameleonic musicality first revealed on his 2017 full-length debut “Revival” – completely revamping the sound to capture a distinctly collagic sonic palette that encompasses everything from ethereal atmospherics to psychedelic synth tones to hazy samples of ’60s jazz-pop records.
Aussie fans will have the chance to hear these new tracks live throughout November, on Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s upcoming tour.
Sydney – Tuesday 5th November @ The Factory Theatre
Melbourne – Wednesday 6th November @ Corner Hotel
Brisbane – Thursday 7th November @ The Triffid
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Bettinson reflected on the concept of his album, saying, “The album is very much coming from a place of love. I’d love for it to leave people feeling re-energized, and ready to just keep pressing on in their own lives.”
Much of the album was written on a $100 nylon guitar bought at one of Bali’s only music stores, which at times gives it a distinctly different sound from his past works.
Bettinson explained the evolution; “I’d started getting used to making three-and-half-minute songs with a beat and a hook—but the thing is that I don’t really come from making beats. I used to busk, I used to be that guy who went to parties with an acoustic guitar: that’s where I came from. The whole direction of this album changed for me once I realised I wanted to put the focus back on guitar again.”
The first single of 2019 and opening track on the album, “Bad Dream” – released in July this year – was accompanied by a beautiful music video, infused with the signature moody production and ethereal vocals that have garnered Vancouver Sleep Clinic their success so far.
As director, Max Galassi, states, “’Bad Dream’” conveys a journey into the unknown – playing with ideas from the subconscious; symbols and images that we only experience in our dreams. All this, under the pretence of a strange ‘Sleep Clinic’.”
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The follow-up single after “Bad Dream”, “Summer ‘09”, is an intensely earnest approach, combining Tim Bettinson’s signature nimble vocals with loving acoustic caresses. “Summer ‘09” was written in entirety one beautiful afternoon, about the tragic passing of a close friend to Tim. The heartbreak of losing someone is palpable in both the song and the music video, which conveys the story behind the song with an immersive collection of hazy, nostalgic shots that draw the viewer completely into its world.
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His acoustic-guitar-laced track “Fever” marked the third single released in the lead-up to the album, and imbues a spirit of perseverance amongst listeners with its mellow yet uplifting ambience.
“Fever is the last song I wrote for Onwards to Zion and the final single to come out,” said Tim Bettinson, “The timing felt special because Fever really embodies the theme of perseverance from across the album and is written for the amazing people in my life that have inspired me and continue to help me press on in this journey.”
Listen to “Fever” here.
“Onwards to Zion” is available to stream on all platforms now.
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“Onwards To Zion”
Track Listing
1. Bad Dream
2. Lovina Beach (sunrise)
3. Summer ’09
4. Into The Sun
5. Shooting Stars
6. Fever
7. Villa Luna (midnight)
8. Ghost Town
9. ZION
10. Yosemite
11. Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love
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Follow VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC
Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram
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AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
