Biography

The forces of nature in conjunction with your basic "process of elimination" philosophy have brought together five musicians in hopes of accomplishing something timeless; or maybe there was just nowhere left to go but up. In any event, while sifting through the ashes of passing projects, we find these diamonds in the rough with more than enough sensibility to know what to do with something beautiful when it’s handed to them.

Jarrod took the remnants of certain faded endeavors and assembled a self-proclaimed “super-group” with former band-mates and friends with whom he’d acquired a special chemistry. The “Sleeps Till Dusk” band consists of Erik Maluchnik (the Holy Fire, Shadiamond LaFreedom, the Devilphone) and his wall of sound guitar stylings, Bryan Brozowski (the Hand-Me-Downs, Bad Faces Clan) and his slick and unique bass wielding, Matt Stahl (countless Detroit blues, rock and jazz projects) and his steady and playful jazz/rock drumming and Jeff Moats and his atmosphere. Together they provide the perfect compliment and contrast to the smoky, rusty-romantic aura of Jarrod’s songwriting and delivery. Some would say it’s a divine marriage of past and present.

Since he can remember, Jarrod has been writing and performing music. Taking notes from heroes such as Tom Waits and Nick Drake he came up through the local coffee-house scene. He has since broadened his vision to include the more experimental and resonant sound that we hear today.

Jarrod Champion has, to date, recorded two e.p.’s and two full length albums. The most recent of the full lengths is his first endeavor with “Sleeps Till Dusk” and has received rave reviews and support from 88.7 FM (89X Detroit and Canada), WRIF Detroit, WHFR (University of Michigan), WDET (NPR), Riff 2 (HD, satellite subsidiary of WRIF) and over 100 different online radio stations and podcasts around the world. Jarrod and crew have frequented the local hot-spots, participated in many music festivals (including The Hamtramck Labor Day Fest, the Detroit Taste-fest, Detroit Sounds and Spirits, and others) as well as the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. They have shared the stage with acts such as Mike Watt and the Secondmen, Twinemen, Idlewild, John Ralston, Cary Brothers and others. They have also been nominated for a 2007 Riff2 music award for "BEST INDIE-ROCK BAND" and featured in Detroit circulars such as Real Detroit Weekly, the Main Street Press, the Metro Times, the Madonna Herald, national circulars such as Playback STL and numerous e-zines such as Detroit Buzz, Indie-Pro and Indie In-Tune. They are currently in the studio recording the follow-up to their self-titled debut and can be found playing throughout the Midwest.