Orange Spotlight: Sleeping Mountain

Who are Sleeping Mountain?

Sleeping Mountain is immersive, emotionally charged music that blends stoner rock, psychedelia, folk Americana, and doom. Inspired by mysticism, paganism, and folklore, our sound is both heavy and emotionally raw—built on hypnotic riffs, dynamic shifts, and storytelling steeped in metaphor.

For us, it’s not just music—it’s a way to spit out our thoughts, demons, and battles. A way to reflect how we perceive the world, hoping others can see it too and feel what our bodies and minds feel. We are based around London.

Members:

• Aitor Méndez – Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards
• David Saunders – Bass
• Alexis Humanes – Drums

Aitor and I (Alexis) first connected through a Facebook group for musicians. After a lot of back and forth—trying different ideas, musicians, and concepts—we eventually found David. He’s not only an incredible bass player, but also brought a fresh perspective and real creative drive. He helped us shape the project into something more focused, with a clearer vision of how to grow and take professional steps forward. Since then, we’ve been on a constant path of development and discovery.

The name ‘Sleeping Mountain’ holds deep personal meaning for both of us. For Aitor, it honours the resting place of his father—a source of emotional and creative inspiration.

For me (Alexis), it’s a powerful symbol of life’s interconnected paths. My first serious band in Spain was called Cross Echeyde, referencing the same mountain. That project made me realise I wanted to devote my life to music. Though our connections are different, they both root us in the same place—where memory, meaning, and music converge.

The band originally started in 2019 under a different name. After a period of exploration—blending styles, trying out line-ups, and evolving our identity—we finally became Sleeping Mountain at the beginning of 2024. That’s when everything clicked, both creatively and personally. It felt like the real beginning.The band started in 2019 under another name but after few blends and changes we can say that Sleeping Mountain started officially in at the beginning of 2024.

Our music is hypnotic, heavy, emotional, and rich in metaphor. It’s a sound rooted in raw energy, dynamic contrasts, and personal storytelling—music that explores light and shadow, the spiritual and the visceral.

What inspires Sleeping Mountain?

It’s hard to name a favourite band—it constantly changes depending on where we are emotionally or in life.
That’s actually why music is so important to us. It’s like a trusted captain, guiding us through whatever waters we’re in—sometimes calm and clear, sometimes chaotic and stormy. Regardless of genre, music helps us reflect and understand ourselves.

Life itself is our biggest inspiration. Most of the songs on our album reflect everyday battles and small victories. We believe each moment has a soundtrack, and that’s what we’re trying to capture—emotional shifts turned into something meaningful.

Ultimately, we create because it’s who we are. Whether people resonate with it or not, making music is part of our purpose. Hopefully, we’ll leave behind a footprint others can connect with.

What Orange gear is important to Sleeping Mountain?

Aitor: Right now, I’m using a Rockerverb 50 MKII. I love it—it’s loud, but it still keeps this warm, clean tone that I absolutely love. I usually run it with my Fender Telecaster loaded with Bare Knuckle pickups. Most of the time, I use the clean channel and push it with a Pharaoh Fuzz pedal, but lately, I’ve been getting more into the drive channel, too, just to open up more tonal options.

I started using the Rockerverb a while back, and it’s actually my first Orange amp. It just clicked with me straight away—it felt like a perfect match from the start.

David: I use a Orange 115 cab along with a competitors 212 currently as part of my rig. I also use an orange practice amp at home for demoing both guitar and bass.

Future Orange amps?

Aitor: Yeah, there’s definitely some Orange gear I’ve got my eye on for the future. I really want two 4×12 cabs so I can split the signal and create a proper stereo image in the room. I’m currently saving up for those, although I’m also considering going for two 2x12s instead—depending on space and practicality.

There are loads of amps I’d love to try—like the Dual Terror, the Super Crush, and the Gain Baby. I’m really curious to hear how they all feel and sound in different setups.

Something I’d love to see from Orange—if it doesn’t already exist—is an amp with a DI output for easy recording. That would be such a great feature to have built in. Also, a fuzz pedal that’s been specially designed to work perfectly with valve heads would be amazing. I don’t know if there’s one already, but that’s definitely something I’d be excited about.

David: Since we scaled down to a 3 piece, I find myself needing to dial in more mid range frequencies, something as a bass player has been challenging to accept. Recently, I’ve been embracing that and am considering changing my amp out for something tube based. The Orange AD200 is on my list for checking out.

What does Orange mean to you?

Aitor: I associate Orange with rock and loud and heavy music. The first thing that drew me in was their look—they looked amazing. And after trying the Rockerverb, I knew it would be a long-term relationship. I remember seeing bands like Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green, and Led Zeppelin, among others, using Orange, which left a lasting impression.

Orange is a brand with real character and serious attention to detail. I’ve always thought of their amps as being well-built. When I see Orange on stage, I instantly feel like it’s going to be loud, heavy, and powerful.

There’s something about the brand that’s bold and unmistakable. Seeing some of my favourite bands playing Orange definitely inspired me to give it a go myself. What I like most about Orange is that it feels solid, reliable, and full of personality. It’s a brand that stands out not just in tone, but in presence.

David: 2 words, quality and heritage. Quality, when I think about turning up to a venue and on the rare occasion of being presented with Orange equipment to use, I feel less stressed automatically because I know with very little work I’ll be able to dial in the right tone. Heritage: A lot of great music has been made with Orange amps over the last 50 years, albums I listened to from a young age and still enjoy today.

What’s the most memorable Sleeping Mountain moment?

Creating Stoomfest together was a major milestone. It gave our journey more purpose and inspired us to dive deeper into creativity—not just as a band, but as organisers building something meaningful.

We’ve also been through our share of challenges, including line-up changes with people who weren’t fully committed. Now, it feels like family, and that’s something we deeply value. That said, we believe the most memorable moments are still ahead—with our upcoming album and UK tour, we’re ready to create unforgettable experiences.

What’s on the horizon for Sleeping Mountain?

Our next gig is at LCCM, where I (Alexis) study, but the big highlight is our Album Launch on June 20th at Helgi’s. In September, we’re heading out on a UK tour with Wet Cactus to celebrate the new album.

Another important date is 6th July at The Grace, where we’ll close out Stoomfest—the festival we created and now organise annually. That tradition means a lot to us.

Tickets for all shows are available via our Linktree on Instagram or our official website.

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Photo Credits – Sleeping Mountain, Gab Parris and Julián