Broken Bear

WHO?
Broken Bear are a female fronted DIY duo described as alt-rock, indie, shoe-gaze, garage rock, grunge… Think along the lines of Nirvana, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac and The Cranberries. Regularly featured on radio including on 6Music, BBC Introducing (Surrey & Sussex), New Music Saturday and Premium Blend Radio.

WHAT DO THE BAND MEMBERS DO?
Laura on lead vocals, guitars and drums. Paul on bass, synths, drums and BVs.

INFLUENCES?
Nirvana, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, John Lennon, Kinks, Half Moon Run, Alanis Morrisette, The Cranberries.

BACK STORY?
Formed from the ashes of a band that gigged extensively for around a decade at venues and festivals across the UK including Barfly in Camden, O2 Academy Islington, Guilfest and Haddowfest and supporting bands such as Catfish & The Bottlemen, Razorlight and Toploader.

LATEST RELEASE?
The Void EP is due for general release on Good Friday (15th April 2022) but is available exclusively now at our Bandcamp page. All recorded DIY stylee at home (as usual!). The EP is another political rant fest.

THE VOID EP – TRACK BY TRACK?
The Void – Racky guitar driven track crashing into huge heavy choruses and commenting on the hopelessness of expressing individualistic opinions.

Toxic Positivity – Moody, brooding verses with underlying filthy distorted bassline. Lyrically, highlights the toxically positive catchphrases which constantly drip into our ears.

Endless Sleep – A melancholy waltzy track underpinned with acoustic guitar. Inspired by an article on resignation syndrome which detailed a psychiatric disorder of children and teens (often in war zones) in which they fall into a deep sleep from which none of them have woken.

Delusional – An experimental song with Indian influences which twists and turns in unexpected ways. Think “Tomorrow Never Knows”… but not! Lyrically lashing out at the brainwashed who struggle to think beyond a headline.

REVIEWS?

Vinyl Chapters – “Alt-rock duo Broken Bear bring a grungy, muddy, desolate tone to the forefront that’s difficult not to get lost in.”

Fresh on the Net – “They don’t make ’em like this anymore… apparently, they do.” “Rage-filled and powerful without sounding angry at any point. In itself that takes talent and eloquence.”

Neil March at Trust The Doc – “Fresh sounding stripped down version of Indie- Shoegaze. A reminder that great writing does not always require a full conventional band line-up. Breath of fresh air. Broken Bear keep popping up on my radar courtesy of their consistency as a band delivering inventive, slightly intense Alt Pop. The alto range female vocal is strong, dynamic and hits certain emotional pinch points in a lovely but unsettling way.”

Mike at New Music Saturday – re Bleach It: “Fucking brilliant song – stripped back super garage grunge.”