Thursday, March 29, 2012
By Brandon Judeh
What a ride 2011 was for Champion native Alex Kandel and her band, Sleeper Agent.
From releasing its debut album, “Celabrasion,” to being named one of the top new bands by Rolling Stone magazine, it was a year Kandel and her bandmates will not soon forget.
This year promises to be even bigger for Sleeper Agent, which is in the middle of its first headlining tour. The 19-year-old Kandel spoke to The Vindicator on Friday, one day after the band made its television debut on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” Kandel spoke of her love for the Sunrise Inn, hanging out at Eastwood Mall and what to expect this year.
Q. Congratulations on recently being voted the second-best new band by Rolling Stone. How does it feel?
A. It feels great. It was definitely unexpected; it was just one of those crazy things that we had no idea would happen. What made it more incredible was that Cage The Elephant was voted No. 1 — the top two new bands from the same small town of Bowling Green, Ky. How awesome is that?
Q. 2011 was a big year for you guys, and 2012 is shaping up to be even bigger. What can we expect from Sleeper Agent?
A. We have a few big things planned, but right now I can’t comment on what they are, but we are writing new material. Right now we are looking at recording an EP until we have more time to make a record.
Q. Your album “Celabrasion,” with the hit singles “Get it Daddy” and “Get Burned,” has received rave reviews. Did it exceed all expectations?
A. Nothing is ever expected ... but it was crazy how fast it happened.
Q. How have crowds been responding to you guys — specifically when you were opening for Cage the Elephant?
A. Really, it was our first time out on the road and the fans came aboard as we went. They reacted to us pretty well during the Cage tour. We recently played with Weezer on the “Weezer Cruise,” and it was awesome. It was a little different though because most of the fans were die-hard Weezer fans. As we start to play some cities for a second time, we are noticing a huge increase in attendance compared to the first time.
Q. How long did you live in the Warren area?
A. I lived in Champion all of my life up until my freshman year of high school. I still come back on holidays and every chance I can because I get homesick. Whenever the band is touring and plays a nearby show, I stay at my dad’s house, and he lets me borrow the car so I can go hang out with some of my friends.
Q. You mentioned in the past that you love Sunrise Inn. What is your favorite food from there? Where else do you hang out when you are home?
A. I love Sunrise Inn’s gnocchi and greens. It’s not usually on the menu, but if you ask them to make it they will, and it is so amazing. I also love the Mocha House. When I was younger, I wanted to work there so bad. I have two really close friends up here, and we always go and hang out at the Eastwood Mall, go to the movies and eat at Perkin’s late at night.
Q. Do a lot of people that you know here follow your career or even know about it?
A. More and more people are starting to find out about it and follow our career. It’s funny because when I come up here, I hang out with my grandparents a lot, and they are always telling anyone they can. In fact, one time I had a bad cold when I was home, and I went into a pharmacy with my grandma in Champion, and all I wanted to do was get my medicine and go home, but my grandma was telling everyone she could about my career, including the cashier. It was cute.