Today, an exciting new chapter for beloved indie alternative act Boy & Bear unfurls, with the group powerfully returning armed with a double A-side single and videos, Where Does Life Begin and Vertigo. Launching an ambitious new era via this new material, Boy & Bear balance optimism with introspection, with lead single Where Does Life Begin embracing a yearning for the freedom of youth. And bolstering the Boy & Bear magic today, this double A-side release comes accompanied by the announcement of the band’s biggest headline show to date, set to take the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt by storm this December, joined by special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven.
Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Sydney Opera House Forecourt show are on sale now from https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear
Balancing dreamy indie pop hues on Where Does Life Begin with more upbeat and hopeful vibes via Vertigo, Boy & Bear’s trademark nostalgic, vintage pop sound vividly transforms on their new double A-side, with inspiration for both tracks also steeped in reflection in their own unique respective ways, and anchored in real-life experiences, as vocalist and guitarist Dave Hosking elaborates, “The inspiration for Where Does Life Begin came from my own personal experiences. The song is about yearning for the freedom of youth. Sometimes the passing of time changes us in a way where we can feel like we’ve lost a part of ourselves. I think on some level I miss the naivety I once had about the world. In our 20’s we seem less inhibited and more confident about what’s in front of us, but the realities of life can eventually start to catch up with us. I liked the simplicity of the idea of watching people dancing from afar and feeling like maybe I no longer belonged there”.
“I’m interested in painting a mood with lyrics and melody,” Hosking continues, “not being too specific or literal but leaving room for interpretation, and I feel that Vertigo is a good example of this. That said, Vertigo explores the awkwardness of life and time and change. We grow up, but on some level we can still feel like children – we really don’t know anything at all – but maybe that’s also okay? I really wanted to explore this concept in a light-hearted way. On some level it’s also about embracing these moments in our lives with a sense of humour and openness.”
Starting the journey towards their new material at the tail end of their North American tour late last year, Boy & Bear stayed on for a week in Los Angeles post-tour, collaborating with musician and producer Justin Stanley (Prince, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Beck) at Stella Sound Studios. “We really hit it off with Justin and the new album was born,” says bassist Dave Symes. “Justin then came to Australia in February, and we made the album all together in our newly built studio in Marrickville, Sydney’s Inner West”.
And introducing the first peek into the upcoming new Boy & Bear era today via Where Does Life Begin and Vertigo, the band also worked to conjure equally evocative accompanying official videos for each the tracks, as explained by their creative director Jeremy Koren (Grey Ghost / Ghostie Studios), “”In a sea of inauthenticity we wanted to slap the face of the viewer with nostalgia via a montage of images on images using a variety of 80 – 90’s broadcast cameras and 8mm film and Hi-8. Countryside, eating sandwiches by rivers, playing guitar in a phone booth, dancing on your own with headphones on, stunning surrounds but the grey suits offsets and ground the video. We aim to not be too literal with this one, but give the sense that the group of suited men are on a journey, constantly moving through this endless maze.”
Expertly versed in balancing personal experiences with universal themes, alongside their own trademark blend of vintage pop, alternative elements and folk edges, Boy & Bear channel nostalgia into charming and captivating sonic journeys. Already in command of a staggering level of staying power most artists could only dream of, Boy & Bear took the world by storm via their 2011 debut album Moonfire, snagging five ARIA award wins, including Best Group and Album of the Year, and reaching double-Platinum status. From there, 2013’s Harlequin Dream and 2015’s Limit of Lovefurther stamped Boy & Bear’s stalwart presence on a global scale, with both albums charting at #1, and Harlequin Dream also marking the band’s second studio album to be certified Platinum. Between 2019’s Suck on Light through to their most recent full-length release, 2023’s self-titled, both records reached top 10 in the charts, and Boy & Bear have continued to cultivate a legion of fans across the globe, with over half a billion streams, five consecutive top 10 albums and a horde of unforgettable live performances in their wake.
Renowned for their uniquely compelling live shows, and fresh off the back of selling the most headline tickets of their career globally, Boy & Bear are now set to cement their powerful return in 2025 in a live setting alongside their new material, with their biggest headline show to date set to take place on December 14, performing on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt with special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven.
“It’s very exciting for us!” enthuses Dave Symes. “It will be a special moment to release the new album at this show, and get to play some of the singles from us… We always like to play songs from all of our albums and make a nice journey for our audiences so there will be a good mix of old and new, and hopefully some special guests.”
In the meantime, the ambitious new chapter for Boy & Bear officially launches into the world today, encompassing triumph, movement and optimism along with haunting-yet-cathartic melancholy and introspection via their double A-side, Where Does Life Begin and Vertigo. And, as the band concludes, these new tracks are the beginning of something truly special as the group turn their gaze to a brand new album ahead.
“It feels very exciting. I never get tired of releasing new songs into the wilderness. Of course, there are a few nerves but generally speaking it’s nice to have a new chapter of music out there.”
“In regards to the double A-side, we decided to do it because it allowed us to show some different aspects of the record straight off the bat. We wanted people to get a sense that this record is multilayered and hopefully get excited by that.”
Boy & Bear are also releasing the Double A Side on a very limited edition ‘Double A Side Flame Yellow 7″ Vinyl’ that is available through their website https://www.boyandbear.com
Where Does Life Begin and Vertigo double A-side out today.
Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Sydney Opera House Forecourt show are on sale now from https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear
Stream: WHERE DOES LIFE BEGIN / VERTIGO
Watch: WHERE DOES LIFE BEGIN / VERTIGO
BOY & BEAR – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SUN 14 DEC | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE FORECOURT, SYDNEY NSW
https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear
