BEARS: FriendlyBear Releases Debut EP
Photo courtesy of FriendlyBear’s Bandcamp page
With a sound reminiscent to the rockers of yesteryear, the FriendlyBear is ready to forge their own path with their debut EP, “BEARS”. Released just two months ago, the work encapsulates the garage and punk influence of the likes of Nirvana and Alice in Chains, yet the sound is fresh. “ It leaves you with a nostalgic feeling, but also seems relatable to modern times”, the band shared.
FriendlyBear was the culmination of Guy Jedidiah's (lead vocals, guitar) teenage dream to play onstage with a band. Teaming up with friends Megan Speer (drums, backing vocals) and Adam Bones (bass, backing vocals), what began as a birthday performance for Jedidah’s 40th birthday to 120 attendees two years ago has now spiraled into a much more permanent venture.
“BEARS” opens with an immediate punch of riffs, Jedidah’s voice wondering on the lead track “Underground” how long a toxic situation can continue without some form of release. The pondering continues into the chorus with shouts to wake up. “Underground is the first song we ever finished, and it was written about the need to break through a pile of seemingly insurmountable helplessness”, they stated.
The songwriting credits fall on Jedidah, who derives his inspiration from surrounding himself in environments that evoke the emotions he is trying to channel. “Underground” was created using this technique, thinking heavily about the feeling behind the words before putting them onto paper. He shared, “Songwriting feels like a magic spell sometimes, and it is not an exact science for me.”
Perhaps the greatest feat of FriendlyBear is the blending of their vocals; there is a strength in numbers, and the joining of Bones and Speer along with Jedidah creates a full, chant-like sound that is evident particularly in the second track on the EP, “Love Bluff”. The song, a respite from darker chords (despite maintenance of a broken-love storyline), leans on catchy chord progressions and a pre-chorus that calls out a lover’s hesitation. This lighter sound is followed up by equally heavy tracks “Haunted House”, “Red Eye”, and “Physical Therapy”. The power in instrumentals is consistent throughout.
According to Jedidiah, “Haunted House” began with the refrain, “Being with you is like being in a haunted house.” “I wanted to convey the concept of an absent lover as a ghost”, he shared. “It took time to feel out a spooky yet powerful sound, which I feel that the main chord progression conveys.”
With such a promising body of work, FriendlyBear was excited to share their music with an EP release show that was cancelled by the uncertainty of COVID-19. The separation of Bones, Jedidah, and Speer was inevitable due to the stay-at-home order placed over Los Angeles, so a live-stream show became even more difficult to produce. Bones and Speer fortunately live together, and are able to produce content with covers for fans. A “Happy Hour” themed stream was organized by the band on Instagram Live, where they played trivia with their audience and distributed merchandise. Social media is essential in allowing them to keep contact with supporters.
The band stated, “The lack of in-person energy is difficult, but we all have to play with the cards we are dealt.” In terms of the success of the EP, FriendlyBear remains optimistic. When morale is low, music is often what brings us together. “It is uplifting during tough times, and can help to achieve a sense of normalcy, when most other things seem like they are soul crushing.”
”BEARS” is available on Spotify and Bandcamp.
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