It’s all "Tea” in the end.
ApolloSleeps a.ka. Reed McDonald
Local musician Reed McDonald (formerly known as RMJ) releases brand new single ‘Jasmine Tea’ under new artist name, ApolloSleeps.
Reed McDonald, aka ApolloSleeps, has created another sonically stunning, folk-rock-forward tune, ‘Jasmine Tea’, available now on all streaming platforms. ‘Jasmine Tea’ shares the message that things don’t always work out, but can become an interesting story in the end. “Jasmine Tea is a song about finding yourself and shaping who you want to be through the people you meet and relationships you’ve had. Whether good or bad, these experiences shape us more than we could ever think,” says McDonald. “I sorta think of it as life being a café, and I share a cup of ‘Jasmine Tea’ with those people.”
The lyrics of ‘Jasmine Tea’ are full of clever dual meanings, with an ending centered on perseverance, that you can lose it all and still reinvent yourself, the perfect track to release as ApolloSleeps’ first official single under the new name.
With beautiful soft vocal harmonies, ear candy guitar, and alt-country riffs, ‘Jasmine Tea’ builds into a full-production, easy-listening song that wraps you in its peaceful atmosphere. The lyrics balance bitterness and letting go, offering a relatable message of the human experience. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s all tea in the end,” ApolloSleeps shared via social media. ‘Jasmine Tea’ features Reed McDonald as the main artist, vocalist, lyricist, and composer, with accompaniment by Todd Huckabone, who provides backing vocals and production.
Listen to ‘Jasmine Tea’ now:Spotify
Reed consistently delivers a sense of optimism and healing through his music, drawing influence from artists like Dallas Green. With several singles released to date, including our favourite ‘Parapets and Petty Theft’, Reed hints at future plans through subtle details like matching album art across recent singles ‘Jasmine Tea’ and earlier works ‘Blue Skies’, as well as the rebrand to “ApolloSleeps,” inspired by lyrics from an unreleased upcoming track. Reed’s direction and motivation seem very clear, and with this momentum, we’re hopeful more music is right around the bend.
ApolloSleeps - Jasmine Tea Album Art
We highly recommend checking out ApolloSleeps if you’re a fan of folk-rock artists like City & Colour
If you’re in the Ottawa or Brockville area, make sure to catch Reed McDonald, aka ApolloSleeps, next time he rolls through town. His next appearance is Thursday, March 26th at Fat Les on King in downtown Brockville from 5–8 PM.
“Come on down to Fat Les on King tomorrow night: Thursday, March 26th! I’ll be there playing some tunes from 5-8pm! Come on out, have some good eats and listen to some good music! Hope to see you there!”
Make sure to follow Reed for upcoming releases and performance via Instagram or Facebook.
