Croydon’s self-proclaimed “dirtbag boyband” and DIY success story, Bears in Trees, have released their infectiously animated and optimistic new single ‘Things That Look Like Mistakes’. The track is the first glance at their brand new album How to Build an Ocean: Instructions, due for release on 26th April via I Sure Hope It Does.
Check out the video for 'Things That Look Like Mistakes' here: https://youtu.be/9lB3KCARMVY
Pre-order/pre-save How to Build and Ocean: Instructions here: https://orcd.co/howtobuildanocean-instructions
Paired with the album teaser is the unveiling of an exciting UK/European co-headline tour with New Jersey indie rockers The Happy Fits.
UK dates are as follows:
Apr 23: Birmingham XOYO
Apr 24: Newcastle Riverside
Apr 26: Glasgow Garage
Apr 27: Manchester Club Academy
Apr 28: Leeds Stylus
Apr 29: Bristol The Fleece
May 01: London KOKO
Tickets are on sale here: https://bearsintrees.com/pages/live
Bears in Trees are aficionados of life. If there’s one thing the four-piece has become synonymous with, it’s wholesome, warm and humorous serotonin-boosting melodies. ‘Things That Look Like Mistakes’ is quintessential Bears in Trees; it is awash with positivity, and acts as an anecdotal ode to the minute but joyful moments that we often brush aside in our hectic human existence. “It’s easy to fall for cynicism, become burnt out searching for answers that aren’t there, or become overwhelmed by existence,” says vocalist/bassist Iain. “This song is about slowing down, stepping back, and reconnecting with the small moments of joy in your life. dancing in your socks with a glass of wine. Going to concerts. Really listening to nature’s stirring. It may not be a permanent solution to feeling a lack of meaning in life, but remembering to embody those moments of peace is important.”
The upcoming album, How to Build an Ocean: Instructions, is a project doused in personal conflict, but simultaneously a love letter to the normal and how beauty can be found in just being. Charged with references to literature, philosophy and film, as well as first hand experiences, the band explore thoughts of what it means to find purpose when everything feels purposeless, all whilst ultimately instructing themselves to find “small joys in the face of cosmic indifference.” Produced by George Perks (Enter Shikari, The Doves, You Me At Six), How to Build an Ocean: Instructions marks an exciting new development for Bears in Trees, being the first album they’ve recorded with the help of consultants outside of the band themselves, having previously relied on drummer George’s expertise, who outside of the band, works as an engineer at Subfrantic Studios.
Tenderness, triumph, and a totally unashamed feeling of enjoying the ride whilst they're on it, How to Build an Ocean: Instructions is their definitive statement. Though no matter how far this record takes them, the most important thing is that they are together and doing what they love. Because when all is said and done, that's the connection that will last a lifetime. "We started the band because we loved hanging out with our friends and wanted to make stupid music together," Iain concludes. "That's always been the reason, and it hasn't changed. All we want to do is make what we do as honest and authentic as possible. That's what it means to be in the Bears in Trees business."
The record started to take its early form as far back as November 2022, when the band were still reeling from the release of their 2021 full-length and everybody else smiled back. That explains why it feels like the most mature and marinated version of Bears in Trees. There was honesty in the songwriting selection process; there’s a different depth than in past offerings. It embraces that Bears in Trees isn't the same as it was at the beginning of their journey, that pressure, debate and dispute are necessary to move forward.
The artwork is a testimonial to the band’s hometown of Croydon, marking places they've existed across their adolescence and into adulthood, such as Lloyd Park, a location reminiscent of turning 18 and being obsessed with Monster Energy, to Floor 13, an abandoned floor in a car park where they used to hang out as kids. "For us, Croydon is all about the history you feel when you're going to work or to the studio every day, and you're getting the same bus you got to school," guitarist Nick ponders. "You're seeing all of these places from your past. We are surrounded by our memories no matter what." They had returned to the town after an extended period on the road, including a support slot in the UK with You Me At Six and a trek across the US. Though appreciative of how their borough had shaped them, it was difficult not to feel like they had taken a step backwards. Watching friends move whilst remaining in the same location they did as teenagers proved challenging to adapt to. From that feeling, came inspiration for the record.
Connoisseurs of the digital age, the band built their reputation themselves from scratch, foregoing the traditional media routes and climbing the social media ropes. They obtained millions of likes on TikTok and engaged with their fanbase proactively on Discord and Patreon, before ever dipping their toes in the music industry support pool. This impressive knowledge of navigating internet culture, paired with their vivacious, comedic charm, and easy listening and bright bops have earned them a passionate and loyal following of ‘sandboxes’ (the allocated fanbase name), saw them sell out London’s Electric Ballroom and play alongside artists such as Pale Waves, NOAHFINNCE, Waterparks, The Maine and Lovejoy, as well as scoring festival slots at Slam Dunk, 2000trees, Community and many more.
Bears in Trees are:
Callum Litchfield – vocals, ukulele, piano (he/him)
Iain Gillespie – vocals, bass guitar (they/them)
Nick Peters – guitar (he/him)
George Berry – drums (he/him)
For more information:
https://bearsintrees.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@bearsintrees
https://www.facebook.com/bearsintrees
https://twitter.com/bearsintrees
https://www.instagram.com/bearsintrees
https://www.youtube.com/c/BearsinTrees
https://discord.com/invite/thesandbox
https://bearsintreesofficial.bandcamp.com
