Charging his way through the modern music scene is the ukulele-fronted folk project turned alternative-rock powerhouse, A Sleeping Bear, now releasing his big debut EP, Daydream Land.
Formed in 2017, A Sleeping Bear gradually experimented with various sounds and stylings over the years, leading him to a new outlook on writing and creative expression. Now pushing the limits of alternative rock, A Sleeping Bear recently released his debut EP, Daydream Land, discussing themes of the human experience, the high and low points, and finding the beauty of living in every moment.
The project kicks off with the larger-than-life introductory track, "Take The Chicken Door," which opens with static for the first 30 seconds, leading us to what sounds like a disgruntled phone call. And then, before we know it, A Sleeping Bear hits us over the head with ultra-powerful guitar riffs and his animated, intense vocal performance reminiscent of our favorite punk bands of the 90s. It's a killer opener that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the project.
On track number two, "A Song For Us," A Sleeping Bear leans into his alternative prowess and channels even greater emotion for this soulful tune. A Sleeping Bear has no problem grabbing the listener's attention with his powerful stylings that blend perfectly with the cinematic instrumentals. This song feels like an homage to a unique relationship's strengths and weaknesses, promising to work it out and weather the storm.
Landing on the third track, "A Constant Reminder," A Sleeping Bear ups the vibe with lively instrumentals and his uplifting yet emotional performance, discussing themes of loving something that's not there. While exclaiming that he's in love with a ghost, ready to spend his days being haunted, A Sleeping Bear transitions into this hazy breakdown on the bridge to round out the emotion. Yet, the influential outro picks it back up, and we're left bopping our heads to the song's irresistible rhythm.
Reaching the second half of the EP with track number four, "Where I Want To Be," A Sleeping Bear sinks deeper into introspection while the soothing instrumentals melt through the speakers. This beautiful song, packed with sweet melodies and warm harmonies, might be our favorite on the EP. It perfectly represents A Sleeping Bear's emotional vulnerability that genuinely resonates with any listener, helping them out of misery and into serenity. The powerful message paired with the soul-soothing instrumentals make this song top-tier.
A Sleeping Bear keeps the energy high for track five, "Space Age Love Song," kicking over our speakers with riveting alternative-rock instrumentals and a raw punk undertone. The theme of undying, celestial love runs heavy in this song, as A Sleeping Bear expresses the realization that he's falling in love, and yes, it might feel good this time around. The chilling indie-rock instrumentals bring the message home loud and clear: love can be downright terrifying and make you cry, but it might just be worth the pain.
Jumping into the EP's sixth and final track, "The Nightmare of Losing You," the song softly opens with fuzz reminiscent of the ocean waves, gradually leading toward A Sleeping Bear's stunning electric guitar picking and tender vocals. While expressing the dark thoughts lingering in his mind of losing a lover he can't 'bear' to live without, A Sleeping Bear leads us to the beautiful hook, packed with emotional harmonies, soft guitar, and a cinematic atmosphere like no other. It's the perfect outro track to an EP that discusses a broad range of human experiences, ending on a deeply relatable, passionate note.
Overall, A Sleeping Bear is making his mark on the alternative music space, and his debut EP, Daydream Land, is leading the charge. Get to know the artist's new sound and find the EP on all digital streaming platforms.
Welcome to BUZZ, A Sleeping Bear, and congratulations on your wonderful new release, "Daydream Land." When did you start writing songs for this project, and what inspired you?
The Songs for Daydream Land started forming around late 2022. Covid was the driving force that got me back into writing after my uke demo, but I used it as an outlet- a diary or journal. I have been playing and writing for most of my life, and being able to put my thoughts and worries down in that form just seemed natural and less tedious. I wanted to make it more poetic rather than scribbling down a bunch of stresses that I would never read back. I wanted to show others we have more in common than they think.
How would you describe your sound today, like what you've brought to the table in Daydream Land?
When I released my Uke demo, it was to show my admiration for the atmosphere and relationships that folk music can bring. As I've gotten older, my style of music has also aged, but I grew up heavily in the hardcore scene. The basement shows halls. The atmosphere in those settings is electrifying. I have always been inspired by the energy that sound brings. I wanted to bring together the two atmospheres I admire so much because of the common theme of togetherness. What came out of this is a mishmash of both. I can't tell you what genre of music Daydream Land should be labeled, but if I had to describe it, it closely resembles post-rock. I miss going to shows when each band was of a different genre. You don't see that too often anymore. I hoped to produce a sound where A Sleeping Bear would fit well in multiple genres, and I did that well.
What was the most challenging part about creating Daydream Land? Were there any tough, emotional moments along the way?
The main hurdle I went through early on was, "What is my sound? What am I going for?". Initially, I kept trying to put myself in a specific box. And when dealing with one's self and emotions, it isn't fair to label yourself a certain way. No one can describe themselves that way. Everyone has their own complex emotions and stresses. At this point, I said screw it, I'm going to write what I want. Things started coming naturally after I stopped trying to put a label on my sound. Once I relieved that stress, the writing process became a very enjoyable adventure.
Which song from Daydream Land is your personal favorite and why? What makes the song stand out to you?
If I base my favorite on what story I am telling in that song, it is impossible to come up with a favorite. The lyrics are very personal, and each shows a vulnerability of myself that, in a lot of cases, could be deemed hard to let out for everyone to hear. But this is who I am. These songs represent different pieces of my personality. It isn't easy to pinpoint which part of your personality is your favorite. You could quickly figure out what your favorite physical aspect is. It is something that everyone is aware of, including myself. Based on that idea, "Where I Want To Be" would be my favorite physically. I think the song's composition helps tell the story—melodic and beautiful, with a build-up of excitement and a powerful ending.
What do you hope listeners experience when listening to Daydream Land? What do you want them to feel and take away from it?
I want listeners to relate to what I am trying to say. I want to be able to find common ground among them and myself. To realize that they are not so different from everyone else. There is always common ground between everyone. It doesn't matter what part of their lives they could be in. Each song is emotional, and finding a healthy outlet for letting go of that feeling is essential. We are all out here trying to travel through this absolute shit show. I want to find a place where everyone can come together to be themselves and be proud of who they are and where they've been.