Home is where the heart is.
Boy & Bear recorded their debut record Moonfire in Nashville at the renowned Blackbird Studios over a period of six or seven weeks in 2011. The Sydney band found success not only in Australia where their debut reached platinum status, but also attracted the attention of music fans across the water.
The band took a different approach in the writing and recording process for their second record, Harlequin Dreams, returning to Sydney and working on songs over the course of eight months. That hard work has manifested in the form of their sophomore effort, which was released last year and has already garnered critical acclaim.
I recently had the opportunity to ask bassist Dave Symes a few questions through e-mail. The band is currently touring the USA and Canada and quickly selling out venues. Among the sold-out shows includes their upcoming show in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom this Sunday April 6th.
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asapmusicblog.ca: What was the first song in your memory that inspired you to become a musician?
Dave Symes: It wasn’t a definite song but the earliest memories of playing my parents vinyl take me back to Stevie Wonder’s Hotter than July album.
a: There have been a number of musical acts emerging from Australia that are quickly gaining traction – Boy & Bear included. How does it feel to come to North America and be embraced by an international audience?
DS: Australia is a long way away from the northern hemisphere, and to think that we have an audience over here is kind of like a dream. It’s an exciting time for us to have our album released around the world, and to be playing shows in support of that is a special thing. We are getting to play in some well-known venues where so many great bands have played before us!
a: The band has previously spoken on the contrast in the sound(s) of Moonfire and Harlequin Dreams. What was the process like in mapping out a set list for this current tour?
DS: There is a difference in sounds between both albums, however, live – the material complements each other really well. We play songs from both albums.
a: Touring schedules are usually pretty tightly packed. What does the band like to do when there is an opportunity for downtime while on the road?
DS: If it’s during the day, we all like to drink way too much coffee. We have been getting some good advice from an App called “Espresso Map”. If it’s nighttime, we try to find a great place off the beaten track to eat and hit up some local bars. If we have a bit of energy and there is a park or river or something we all like to go for a run, although it has been a bit chilly the past month.
a: The approach to Harlequin Dreams was focused and streamlined. What was the biggest achievement that resulted from the process of creating of the album?
DS: I think as a band we all strive to move forward with every album and learn new things and try new things. On Harlequin Dreams, we wanted to capture the live sprit of the band as much as possible.
a: What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for Harlequin Dreams – created by New Zealand illustrator Vaughan Flanagan?
DS: We brain stormed a bunch of ideas for the artwork, including some of the kinds of figures and animals we thought should get together in the artwork. We then collaborated with Vaughan Flanagan who did an amazing artwork capturing some fantastic characters and a unique world for them to exist in.
a: If there were a single message that you could narrow it down to, what would you want Boy & Bear’s music to convey?
DS: That’s a tough one. We try to write music that tells people stories.
a: What are five songs that you are currently listening to?
DS: It’s an ever changing list – but here is what was played today:
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For more information on Boy & Bear, please head to: http://boyandbear.com.
