Breaking bands: Boy and Bear

26 April 2010

by Nathan Jolly

Some bands choose to deny their influences, laying claim to inventing whole new realms of sound and exciting new genres, while steadfastly refusing any suggestion they may have been influenced by anything that came before them. Boy and Bear is not such a band. Name checking the Fleet Foxes as their main influence, it is clear from their tight harmonies and pastoral sound that the band have spent a lot time since 2008 absorbing the Seattle group’s debut album.
 
After submitting their vocal-drenched recordings online, triple j promptly Unearthed the group with Richard Kingsmill, in particular, giving the tune Mexican Mavis a perfect five, and calling it “brilliant”.
 
If the musical unity at play in the band’s sound seems forged over a long period of time, then it comes as a surprise to learn that, up until the start of 2009, Boy and Bear weren’t even a group. The four vocalists, Dave Hosking, Killian Gavin, Tim Hart and Jake Tarasenko were scattered amongst three separate groups, with Hosking doing the rounds as a solo artist. In the process of playing together, they become close friends and realised this new music was too artistically strong to be ignored. Hosking uploaded a track named The Storm to Unearthed, before inviting the other three to join Boy and Bear.

It didn’t take long before others outside triple j were showing interest. Universal Music soon signed the band and Select Music also jumped on board, illustrating the commercial prospects others quite clearly see in the band’s sound.

However, in an interview the band did with triple j, they made it clear that they were not one trick ponies, and that their Fleet Foxes-esque sound was merely a jumping off point.
 
“Everyone was really able to bring different musical perspectives to the project, and I think that pushes the tracks further,” explained Hosking. “We love the idea of not being predictable. We want to surprise people with our songs, keep them interesting whilst still keeping to the chugging melodic vibe we love  so much!”
 
Boy and Bear were invited to play a series of shows in the UK with songbird Laura Marling, a fitting match considering the delicate nature of her songwriting. With an EP just out through Universal, and a national run of dates with Lisa Mitchell throughout May, (the biggest live undertaking the band will have done to date) it won’t be long before this band are selling out their own headline tours. Get in now, as few bands show this much promise this early in their careers. 2010 will be a huge year for Boy and Bear, and we can’t wait to watch as it all unfolds.

Send your releases to Nathan Jolly:
Attn: Nathan Jolly
153 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037
nathan@themusicnetwork.com.au