Young Artist Behind Sleep Token’s Iconic Masks Shares His Journey

Lani Hernandez-David, a 22-year-old mask maker from south London, has become an integral part of the mysterious identity of rising rock band Sleep Token. From crafting cosplay items as a teenager to making professional-grade stage masks, Lani’s hobby has turned into a defining career move. His unique designs caught the attention of Sleep Token’s drummer via social media, leading to a collaboration that began in 2023. Since then, his creations have been worn by the band at major performances, including their sold-out show at Wembley Arena. Lani, who still holds a second job at a costume shop, now makes masks for other bands too, including President, another masked act set to perform at Download Festival. Despite some criticism of Sleep Token’s aesthetics as gimmicky, Lani argues that the band’s music and visual presentation work hand in hand to enhance their identity. He dreams of one day working for Slipknot, the iconic masked nu-metal band, and hopes to eventually support himself full-time through his craft. As Sleep Token continues to rise, their fusion of genre-bending music and distinctive visual appeal—thanks in part to Lani—marks a new chapter in rock performance culture.