Bears in Trees are an indie band from London who infuse ukuleles with catchy lyrics. This creates an upbeat sound that’ll have you grinning from ear to ear and dancing around your bedroom. Earlier this year they released a single, ‘Good Rhymes for Bad Times’, taken from their excellent album Just Five More Minutes. The track encapsulates the band’s carefree attitude with sugar-sweet harmonies, enabling for a fun listen.
The ukulele helps Bears in Trees stand out. When blended with trumpets, a slightly reggae-influenced guitar and blissful drums, it’s a mixture that puts the listener in a positive and relaxed mindset. Their sound is boosted by the clean production, maximising the instruments’ impact. This is evident in the final chorus where everything meshes together wonderfully, showing off the band’s energetic chemistry.
The lyrics have a relatable feeling of angst and anxiety, along with some stunning poetic wordplay (“It’s disillusion and confusion, this illusion of me / through this seclusion and neurons delusion, I’ve come to this conclusion that I can never fully be”). It’s a perfect contrast to the optimistic instrumentation, making for an intriguing take on indie rock. ‘Good Rhymes for Bad Times’ is an example of a band creating their own sound, demonstrating that Bears in Trees are ones to watch in the future.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos