5 Shocking Revelations About Leo Faulkner's Blacklit Canopy: The Vessel Pre-Sleep Token Project

The mystery surrounding Vessel, the enigmatic frontman of the band Sleep Token, continues to unravel, but the most compelling recent discovery lies in his past. As of December 2025, the music world is still buzzing about the surprising re-emergence of his old acoustic project, Blacklit Canopy, which saw a major—and unexpected—release a year prior. This deep dive into the origins of the man now widely known as Leo George Faulkner offers a fresh, intimate look at the foundational elements of his songwriting, a stark contrast to the genre-bending, heavy sound of Sleep Token today.

The project, which had been dormant for over a decade, suddenly became a central topic of discussion among the Sleep Token faithful following the late 2024 release of new-old material. Fans are now connecting the dots between the ambient, melodic soundscapes of Blacklit Canopy and the lyrical and structural complexities found in modern Sleep Token anthems like those on Take Me Back to Eden.

Leo George Faulkner: Biography and Musical Genesis

Before the mask, the anonymity, and the global phenomenon of Sleep Token, there was a young musician named Leo George Faulkner. His early career provides essential context for the artistic journey that would eventually lead to the creation of 'Vessel' and the worship of 'Sleep.'

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• Full Name: Leo George Faulkner
• Primary Role: Allegedly the identity behind 'Vessel,' the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the band Sleep Token.
• Musical Education: Enrolled at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) in late 2012, where many of his early collaborations and projects began.
• Early Projects:
  • Blacklit Canopy: An acoustic duo formed with Gemma Matthews.
  • Dusk: A solo project that preceded Blacklit Canopy.
  • Monkeyl0rd22: Another early online moniker/project.
• Notable Works (Sleep Token): Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, and the critically acclaimed Take Me Back to Eden (TMBTE).
• Musical Style (Pre-Sleep Token): Primarily focused on ambient, melodic, and moving acoustic music, often featuring intimate and evocative lyrics.

Faulkner's early life was steeped in a creative environment that encouraged artistic expression, laying the groundwork for the complex, emotional depth that characterizes his later work.

1. The Unexpected Re-Emergence of Blacklit Canopy in 2024

The biggest news update regarding the Blacklit Canopy project arrived in 2024, shocking a fanbase that had long considered the project a closed chapter of Vessel's past. After a decade of silence, the duo—comprised of Leo Faulkner and his then-partner, Gemma Matthews—began to release long-lost or re-recorded material, sparking a frenzy of fan theories and discussions.

The catalyst for this renewed interest was the release of "Tall Trees" on December 20, 2024. This track, along with a deluxe version of older material, confirmed that Blacklit Canopy was not just a forgotten footnote but a deliberate piece of Faulkner's musical history now being officially presented to the world. The song "Tall Trees" was provided through the "Blacklit Canopy Official" channel, lending significant credibility to the re-release.

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This re-release campaign was not an isolated event. It was preceded by the release of The Patient Demos (Deluxe) in February 2024, further solidifying the revival of the pre-Sleep Token material. This move is seen by many as a conscious effort to acknowledge the full scope of Leo Faulkner's artistic evolution, allowing listeners to trace the lineage of his signature emotional songwriting.

2. Blacklit Canopy’s Sound: Ambient Melodies and Acoustic Contrast

The music of Blacklit Canopy stands in stark contrast to the crushing riffs and progressive metal of Sleep Token. The duo's style is best described as ambient, melodic, and moving acoustic music. Their early work, such as the EP *First Waves* and songs like "Mud Angel" and "Will," showcases a raw, intimate approach to songwriting.

Formed originally as a school project while Faulkner was attending the Bristol Institute of Modern Music, Blacklit Canopy aimed to create evocative, emotionally resonant pieces. The collaboration between Faulkner and Gemma Matthews, who were dating at the time, resulted in a sound that was deeply personal and rooted in British acoustic traditions.

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This acoustic foundation is precisely what makes the project so fascinating to modern listeners. The vocal delivery, while less theatrical than Vessel's, possesses a similar clarity and emotional vulnerability. Fans often point to the lyrical themes of separation, reflection, and deep personal connection in Blacklit Canopy's songs as the thematic blueprint for the complex narratives that Sleep Token would later explore under the guise of 'Worship.'

3. The Deep Connection to Sleep Token's Lyrical Lore and Easter Eggs

For the dedicated fanbase of Sleep Token, Blacklit Canopy is a treasure trove of 'easter eggs' and thematic connections that deepen the lore of the masked band. The recent re-releases have only intensified this search for meaning, as fans pore over the old lyrics for clues about Vessel's mindset and the origins of his artistic philosophy.

One of the most discussed connections is the potential link between Blacklit Canopy’s intimate, acoustic songs and the more stripped-down, piano-driven tracks found on Sleep Token albums. The emotional core of tracks like "Will" and "Mud Angel" is seen as a direct precursor to the vulnerable moments on Sundowning and Take Me Back to Eden.

The relationship between Leo Faulkner and Gemma Matthews, his musical partner in Blacklit Canopy, is also a key point of discussion. Some fan theories suggest that the themes of toxic relationships, separation, and reflection on a former lover, which are present in the Blacklit Canopy material, may have informed the deeply personal and often painful lyrical content found within Sleep Token's mythology. This biographical context adds a layer of human vulnerability to the otherwise anonymous persona of Vessel.

4. The Role of Gemma Matthews: Blacklit Canopy’s Co-Creator

It is impossible to discuss Blacklit Canopy without highlighting the significant contribution of Gemma Matthews. While Leo Faulkner is the figure who transitioned into the Vessel persona, Matthews was an integral co-creator of the Blacklit Canopy sound. The duo's material, including the re-released tracks, often credits a mixture of Gemma Matthews, Leo George Faulkner, and the 'Blacklit Canopy Official' entity.

Matthews’s role as a vocalist and instrumentalist helped define the project's unique sound, which was characterized by its gentle harmonies and intertwined melodies. The dynamic between the two artists is the very essence of the early Blacklit Canopy tracks, making the project a true partnership rather than a mere solo precursor. The continued discussion of her role is vital for a complete understanding of Faulkner's formative years as a songwriter.

5. The Evolution from 'Dusk' to 'Worship': Tracing the Artistic Lineage

The journey from the solo project 'Dusk' to the globally recognized 'Vessel' is a fascinating case study in artistic evolution. Blacklit Canopy represents the crucial middle ground—a period of collaboration and refinement that moved beyond the initial solo experiments of Dusk and Monkeyl0rd22.

By studying the discography of Blacklit Canopy, fans can trace the development of Faulkner’s vocal control, his distinctive melodic phrasing, and his ability to convey profound emotion with sparse instrumentation. The raw talent evident in these early recordings was eventually channeled into the highly conceptual and polished sound of Sleep Token. The recent official re-releases of this material serve as a bridge, connecting the acoustic singer-songwriter of the early 2010s to the masked figure who now commands massive stages worldwide.

Ultimately, the story of Blacklit Canopy is more than just a footnote in the lore of Sleep Token. It is a vital chapter that reveals the human, vulnerable core of Leo Faulkner, the artist who would become Vessel. The 2024 re-releases of tracks like "Tall Trees" have ensured that this foundational work is now an undeniable part of the Sleep Token narrative, offering a beautiful, ambient counterpoint to the 'Worship' that continues to grow.