❅ solstitium

Anyone else get a little confused here like there's a lot of stuff fandom seems to have a concensus on online but coming over here from the band's youtube/audios before engaging with it the "canon lore" vs fanon seems so different? I feel like yeah it's fun sometimes, but so much of the interpretations I've seen- especially lately- feel very boxed in as if beholden to a shared idea that doesn't seem grounded in the performances, and it gets taken too seriously and often goes way too far

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Unless im misunderstanding something, i dont think people saying iii and ivy are "just touring members" is "hate". I think its saying that objectively speaking the "true band" is vessel and ii in the sense they create the vision, and the rest of the members help bring the vision to life in a live setting. Theyre all important and beloved pieces of the whole that is sleep token. Lots of bands have this dynamic, and a lot of them are able to be as good bands as they are because everyone has their set role to focus on and its easier to make a solid project if you limit the people working on it (less fighting, the vision is more cohesive, etc). Regardless of whether or not iii and ivy are involved in the writing and recording process, they are still official members of sleep token. Personally, aside from maybe some guest features on studio recordings, i lean on hoping it continues to just be vessel and ii in the studio with everyone else doing the live shows. Thats not hate, thats saying the dynamic they have is beautiful and effective and i dont want the artistic vision to fall apart due to infighting and also at its core sleep token is vessels baby first and foremost. Their dynamic as is doesnt make it any less of a beautiful artistic family, its clear as day that they all love each very much and i love to see how close they clearly are. Theyre not just workmates, theyre friends. I think, in large part, things are getting misconstrued in what people mean when they talk about iii and ivys roles

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