Boy & Bear Share New Single and Emotional Video for “Strange World”

Australian chart-topping and ARIA-award winning act Boy & Bear will be releasing their new self-titled album on May 26th and today they bring you their latest single “Strange World” accompanied by a powerful music video directed by Finegan Sampson. “Strange World” delves into the universal emotion of struggling to operate in a world where nothing seems fair, however we move forward and enjoy what we can with propulsion and determination.

First listening to ‘Strange World’ evoked a mixture of emotions. For me, it was a helplessness that grew into a hopeful ecstasy by the end of the song. My mind instantly drifted to the context of an aged care facility. Since the guys wrote the song during the Covid pandemic, I thought that a story following a senior who escapes from their nursing home aligns with both the lyrics and the feeling of the song. The story itself came from a personal place. My grandfather has been battling cancer for the last couple of years and is now becoming fearful of losing his independence, so I think the themes of the narrative organically grew from that. Like he is now, the video is about enjoying life's moments that pass and the freedom that comes with them. This one is for Poppa. – Finegan Sampson (Director)

‘Strange World’ was written just as Covid hit. Jon and I were working on an idea and it was during this period that Covid came and wiped out our Australian tour. After a previous forced break due to illness kept us from touring for a long time, it seemed that finally we were going to be able to get back to what we loved and then it all got canned. It was at this moment where the lyrics for 'Strange World' just started flowing out. I particularly love this song, it might even be my favourite on the album. I love the moment the drums hit and it feels like we’re really moving, as if the intensity of the rhythm section symbolising a sense determination and propulsion. Even though it was a tough moment, we were going to push through. – Dave Hosking (Boy & Bear)

Following four ARIA top-10 charted albums, including two #1 LPs, Harlequin Dream and Limit of Love, and the ARIA double platinum LP Moonfire – it is with high anticipation that the indie band gear up for their new LP. Boy & Bear will celebrate the release at the end of May in Australia with two very special and intimate evening events – Monday May 29th at Sydney’s Lansdowne Hotel and Tuesday, May 30th at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club. The evenings will feature Boy & Bear discussing their career journey, taking questions from the audience, and playing some of their new and most defining songs acoustically.

The band’s fifth self-titled album arrives following a jubilant return to music, with their singles “State Of Flight,” “Just To Be Kind,” “Apex,” and “Silver Moon” as well as an extensive national and regional tour, a European and UK tour, and a 10-year anniversary celebration of Moonfire. The band were most recently nominated for Reader’s Choice at the Rolling Stone Awards 2023.

Touring in Australia and New Zealand will continue with a plan to expand into the UK, EU, and US soon.