Bears In Bushes, ‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’

TEXT ONLY VERSION

On February 12, 2024, Bears in Bushes introduced that they’d be heading to Hyde Park to premiere their new observe, ‘Scorching Chocolate’, for any followers who wished to listen to it in simply 24 hours. So, on a really moist and wet February 13, the band and 50 of these followers assembled within the centre of considered one of London’s largest out of doors areas, listened to music, realized a choreographed dance routine and smiled collectively. On the one hand, the occasion was a stunning little manner of displaying off the second single from their new album ‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’, their most joyously considerate and existentially huge work to this point. But, then again, it was a measure of how impulsive, passionate, and prepared their neighborhood is to be part of one thing extra. To drop every part and be there to create a long-lasting reminiscence.

In some ways, that is what the entire Bears in Bushes journey has been about. What began out as 4 mates hanging out and making issues they loved has remodeled right into a world the place all people is welcome to be no matter they need. An area the place silliness is as inspired as important thought on why the world is the best way it’s, it’s greater than something the band might have ever hoped for, however one thing they’re so grateful exists. It’s a spot the place simply being is inspired, and that’s the place ‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’ is available in.

Born out of seeing the world and experiencing every part earlier than returning residence and feeling like you’re again the place you began, it’s a document that strives to really feel safe throughout the on a regular basis. A reminder of how the little issues in life are the issues that outline us probably the most. The place the place you grew up might change, however the issues it taught you’ll by no means fade. Of the way it feels to search out that means in every part however be okay with not at all times discovering the reply you have been searching for.

“I believe that we’ve got learnt a lot during the last two years since our final document,” guitarist Callum Lichfield admits. “Not nearly the right way to be in a band and the right way to collaborate, but additionally about what music we like and the right way to experiment with different sounds and concepts. This album seems like all of that without delay. It’s Bears in Bushes, so far as we will take it.”

To delve into each side of this fantastically poignant and effortlessly rousing work, Rock Sound sat down with Callum, guitarist Nick Peters, bassist Iain Gillespie, and drummer George Berry, and dug in on the deep finish.

THE SOUND

When requested to sum up what it’s they have been attempting to attain sonically with ‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’, one phrase continues to crop up for the band.

Iconic.

It’s a time period dropped at the desk through producer George Perks, who strived to get the band to consider the weather that take a music from good to timeless. Although for a lot of, the thought of singing really feel iconic might include added bells and whistles, right here it got here extra within the type of belief in one another.

“I really feel like we discover our confidence in what each member brings to the desk,” Nick explains. “Like, in case you take ‘Issues That Look Like Errors’, it goes from a pop music to an emo music breakdown, then again to a pop music. The 2 elements solely work collectively as a result of we’ve got elements of the band which might be impressed by each. You simply need to belief that every facet is doing the very best they will to mould the 2 collectively, and all of us have that belief. On the subject of a music, there needs to be sincerity in it. If we weren’t honest while writing it, then we wouldn’t do it.”

“It’s all about not shying away from the music,” Iain provides. “We should always see each music for what it’s and be assured that it is going to be stable. Then, we began to do much more outrageous stuff as a result of we needed to do what the music requested us to do.”

That’s how you find yourself with the likes of the attractive balladry of ‘All You Get Is Confetti’ rubbing shoulders with the contemplative songwriting of ‘Tai Chi With My Dad’. It’s how the twee pianos of ‘Henry Says’ conflict completely with the poignant euphoria of ‘We Don’t Communicate Anymore’. It’s a melting pot of inspiration while by no means straying too removed from the infectious pop core that has carried the band via each considered one of their adventures.

In striving for these crossover quirks, they don’t seem to be solely managing to create an environment that may solely be related to them but additionally ensuring that they’re nonetheless having enjoyable. Although the stress might have elevated because the Bears in Tree title has pricked up increasingly ears, the pursuit of constructing one thing that feels enjoyable for them will at all times be on the forefront.

“Doing the core factor that works is ok, however it could get boring,” George interjects. “That’s not thrilling for us. There’s nothing particular in that for us. So, it’s a case of taking one little factor and making it loopy. Making one thing entertaining for us, as a result of if it’s entertaining to us, then another person someplace on the planet will discover it entertaining as properly.”

THE COLLABORATORS

That is the primary document that Bears in Bushes has had an exterior producer within the combine, and so they have been fairly cautious of that truth to start with. Not simply because George has a first-class honours in skilled music manufacturing and has dealt with all their earlier output with care and precision, but additionally as a result of welcoming another person into their very private world comes with its dangers.

Nonetheless, they knew that they had nothing to fret about when it got here to George Perks. Moderately than choosing aside their foundations and rebuilding in a manner that made sense to him, he supplied methods to raise them. The identical may very well be stated for Jason Perry, producer and vocalist of the legendary A, who the band co-wrote with for a number of tracks. Aiding them in making certain they weren’t standing in their very own manner, the pair have been extra understanding and empathetic than the quintet might have ever hoped for.

“There’s at all times a fear that it gained’t go as we thought it could,” Nick explains. “We have been so hesitant to let anyone else into the band as a result of it has been our child for thus lengthy. We expect folks gained’t get it the identical manner we do, however each GP and Jason completely bought it the best way we hoped.”

“It was a case of elevating what was already there,” Callum quips. “Giving us permission to do what we’ve got at all times wished to do and belief that it really works.”

Although these collaborations signalled a brand new manner of doing issues, there was nonetheless house for familiarity. That got here within the type of Joe Matthews, or Trumpet Joe, as he’s affectionately identified who performs, erm, trumpet on the document. From going to high school with Nick and Iain to enjoying classical music alongside Callum and being on each Bears in Bushes launch to this point, he’s just like the band’s unofficial fifth member. Contemplating that the album speaks of hometown comforts and the chums who assist make us who we’re, having Trumpet Joe within the ranks as soon as extra served as a method of retaining issues grounded as properly.

“It wouldn’t be a Bears in Bushes album with out Trumpet Joe,” George laughs. “We try to increase on what we’ve got finished beforehand, and that comes with bringing in folks like GP and Jason. However you may’t simply try this by itself. You continue to must have that groundwork in place. You continue to want to sit down in that room collectively, struggling to put in writing songs, with Trumpet Joe. That’s how we’ve got at all times finished it.”

THE LYRICS

‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’ is a document that thematically sits in a curious spot within the lives of Bears in Bushes. So much was flying via their minds, particularly for Nick and Iain, who care for the lyrical output, as they tried to determine what it was they wished to signify.

Stepping out into the world as full-blown real-life adults, however with the occasions of their early life nonetheless recent of their recollections and actions, it’s a place that so many people discover ourselves in asking questions on what the fuck we’re even imagined to be doing. What’s the function of all of this? Are we heading in the right direction, or are we going backwards? Are we who we need to be? Who’re we past Bears in Bushes, and what would we be like if all of this ended tomorrow? Although probably the most essential query at all times ended up being, does any of that actually matter?

In stripping away the nonsense, the band have been capable of give attention to the issues that make life what it’s. Burning on one finish of the candle, you may have the sound of birdsong because the darkish transforms into daybreak, the sensation of dancing like no one is watching and the enjoyment that comes with doing stuff you had solely ever dreamt of along with your finest mates. Burning on the opposite is the nervousness of getting sufficient cash to pay on your funeral, operating out of cost in your cellphone if you don’t know which bus route you might want to get residence, and being too proud to textual content again somebody that you simply actually know it’s best to. The ebb and move of life, all present in excellent concord and serving to you realise that each up and down makes you who you’re.

“I used to be attempting to work out what I wished this album to be earlier than I had even written something down,” Iain laughs. “It was solely once we relaxed into it and took off the stress that we as 4 folks making music have been capable of specific this true human expertise.”

“It was good to remind ourselves of what issues,” George provides. “I don’t assume that writing about one thing huge occurring is consultant of life basically. Change and progress don’t occur in an enormous eureka second. They occur over time via tiny little mundane issues that happen for months and months.”

This give attention to the day-to-day additionally stems again to that communal feeling the band has developed alongside its followers. Although talking about private incidents, there’s a common aura to the emotions from these tracks: Defining your self inside your personal limits, discovering peace in simply being, and realising not each second needs to be The Second. Inside this, Bears in Bushes know that they turn out to be one with their viewers; the hole between the stage and the group is much less of a barrier and extra of a bridge.

“A lot of the retrospection of our songs comes from our followers and the way they’ve interpreted them,” Nick smiles. “As a lot as I can imply one particular factor, as soon as a music is out and it turns into a public physique of labor, it comes from them as an alternative of us. The explanations they need to tattoo it on their physique or make artwork based mostly round it. I’m comfortable I can put a music out so folks can discover that means. I’m even happier that one line can imply ten various things to so many individuals.”

THE TITLE AND ARTWORK

‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’ comes from considered one of a handful of items of literature which have impressed its philosophical and sociological themes. That’s ‘Flights’ by Olga Tokarczuk, which Nick had learn and liked, a collection of fictionalised vignettes written about folks the creator sat and watched make their manner via airports. This concept {that a} collection of little issues can come collectively to signify one thing greater bleeds into the very fact the document is made up of the identical little issues. It’s a case of every considered one of them being as intrinsic to your being because the final.

“Once I first heard it as a title, I didn’t know what the guide was about,” Iain explains. “All I heard was, ‘How To Construct An Ocean: Directions’ and with this challenge being about attempting to assemble an id, a way of self that’s advanced and multi-facetted and each chaotically grand and likewise mundane and easy, it was excellent. You’re an ocean, and you’re constructing your self, and I really like that. Then, after I heard the precise story, it fitted much more completely.”

The identical kind of connections could be discovered throughout the art work, too. Created by passionate map fanatic Mike Corridor, it’s a conventional portrait of Croydon with little elements of Bears in Bushes plastered throughout it. As a lot a set of landmarks as it’s a love letter to the place the place they arrive from, it’s an ideal solution to tie collectively and hammer residence the sentiment that every part you’re is every part to you.

“Croydon is returning to residence,” Iain continues. “It’s returning to your historical past, your total progress as a human being. It’s exemplified in someplace that’s only a place however turns into way more than only a place. It’s all the recollections, all of the trauma, and all the enjoyment instilled into one house.”

THE FUTURE

Although this album helps Bears in Bushes to take the subsequent step up the ladder in the direction of superstardom, beginning with an enormous UK and European tour, the actual reward from this course of is the mindset it has allowed them to develop. Greater than something, it has cemented the truth that all they should make Bears in Bushes, no matter they need it to be, is one another. As lengthy they’ve that, be that storming the stage at Alexandra Palace or having a espresso on Park Lane, no one can inform them what they will and might’t be.

“Believing within the 4 folks proper right here shall be so vital as we glance ahead,” Iain concludes. “We now have had a lot occur in attempting to get this album created. In the end, this band is us 4, and nothing else issues so long as we’re collectively.”

“We all know, and we would like what’s finest for Bears in Bushes greater than anybody else will ever know,” George provides, with the remainder of the band nodding in whole settlement.

“And we are going to at all times discover a manner just because we love doing this.”