Since 2001, Wintersleep have been entertaining crowds with their rock sounds and thought-provoking lyrics. And their latest effort, The Great Detachment, not only gave fans the new material that their fans have been waiting for but also gave people, especially Americans, a song that seemed to fit with the times. While their single, "Amerika," was not necessarily a commentary on the current political climate in their North American neighbors, it seems that a number of their fans have associated it with what's going on right now.

"People seem to be connecting it to Bernie Sanders," singer, guitarist and chief songwriter Paul Murphy tells Myspace.

"It's super cool," drummer Lowell Campbell shares, "but I don't think Paul expected it when he was writing the lyrics that document the times."

Lowell also adds, "Well, you can't really plan the timing. Because it wasn't written for this time, you know, but it just so happens it kind of fits in with what's happening now. It's a pretty dramatic election year and stuff happening down here." 

Regardless of what you feel toward the track, The Great Detachment is a collection of songs that the band made sure they would get right and not rush. From changing record labels to taking time to be with their own families, Wintersleep never wanted to force the new album and with no deadlines on it this time around—they definitely felt freer to create.

"It feels better to take our time with it and make sure it's all sounding good," Paul explained. "You want to make sure your record is good. We just work better without that kind of pressure, I think."

While they were in New York to perform at Rough Trade earlier this month, we caught up with the band and get to know them a little better.

Tim D'eon

Age: 37
Instrument: I play guitar and keyboards.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: I think I have to go with Nirvana. It's how I learned how to play guitar. I just figured it out.
Favorite Track from The Great Detachment: "Metropolis."
Best Show You Ever Played: I just like any time we play the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. It's always great.
Best Show You’ve Ever Seen: I don't want to do it, but I have to say Neil Young in Montreal. It was amazing!
Biggest Canadian Misconception: That we say things like, "aboot."

Mike Bigelow

Age: 33
Instrument: I play bass.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: When I was young, I did have a tape of Harvest by Neil Young. But it wasn't the first tape I bought or anything like that. My mom also used to play Rod Stewart's "If You Want My Body." She used to play that all the time when she was vacuuming in our basement, and she just loved it so much. I didn't want to be like Rod Stewart, but I ended up like the song so much. [Everyone laughs] But I remember that song specifically, and it got me dancing around.
Favorite Track from The Great Detachment: It's going to sound cliche, but I really do like "Amerika." Although I do like "Love Lies" a lot [too]. 
Best Show You Ever Played: One show at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. One of them that we played, but I can't think of one because I love playing there. It's one of my favorite venues. 
Best Show You’ve Ever Seen: Paul and I went to see Neil Young on his birthday in Montreal. I know it was the same answer, but it was pretty amazing. My girlfriend and I saw Steve Reich Massey Hall in Toronto, and he played music with 18 musicians. And that was pretty amazing. It was really, really beautiful. But I still think Neil Young was the best I've seen. 
Biggest Canadian Misconception: It's the politeness thing.

Jon Samuel

Age: 35
Instrument: I play keyboards and some guitar and sing backup vocals.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: Just the whole Nevermind record. Nirvana. Kurt Cobain. Not one specific song on it, but it taught me how to play guitar.
Favorite Track from The Great Detachment: "Shadowless," maybe? I don't know. I like a lot of them. "Shadowless" was the first one when I was like pretty excited to hear the final version of.
Best Show You Ever Played: I think just because of the whole 24-hour period. I would say Pemberton Music Festival. I don't remember what year it was, 2008, something like that.
Best Show You’ve Ever Seen: Neil Young in Halifax, probably in 2011, 2010. Something like that. 
Biggest Canadian Misconception: That we're all polite. [Everyone laughs]

Loel Campbell

Age: 32
Instrument: Drums.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: Boney M. probably.
Favorite Track from The Great Detachment: It varies, I guess, but it's "Who Are You" right now. 
Best Show You Ever Played: One that sticks out in the Beacon Theater here [in New York] a few years ago. That was really fun and really cool to play in that room. 
Best Show You’ve Ever Seen:  Three shows come to mind: There's one venue in Montreal called Metropolis—I've seen Fever Ray there one time, and that was my first introduction to The Knife and Fever Ray—I was blown away. I also got to see one of my favorite drummers play in a band called Refused. That was incredible. I also saw Nick Cave at Metropolis. I don't know. There's something about that room.
Biggest Canadian Misconception: That we all live in igloos I guess. That our houses are made out of ice. That's not true. 

Paul Murphy

Age: 35
Instrument: Guitar and vocals. 
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: It would probably be like Nirvana or The Melvins or one of those.
Favorite Track from The Great Detachment: I think it varies for me, too. I think "Lifting Cure." The lyrics are fun, and the mix is really cool on that record. That's my favorite for now. 
Best Show You Ever Played: We did a tour with Frightened Rabbit in the US, and I think that was probably one of my favorite tours. 
Best Show You’ve Ever Seen: It would probably also be Neil Young in Montreal. I also saw The Books in Montreal. They were cool, too. 
Biggest Canadian Misconception: That healthcare is completely free in Canada. That's a misconception.