Bear Cavalry

Formed in Gosport, Bear Cavalry are a band that don’t simply slot into one genre. Between the four members (or as we learnt mainly Dan!), they use at least seven different instruments in their music.

The band have gained support from Radio One and BBC 6 Music and Skrillex used the band’s acoustic cover of his track ‘Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites’ as part of his behind the scenes video.

With recent shows with Rizzle Kicks, Tubelord and Tall Ships, we were keen to find out more about the Southern English 4-piece.

We spoke to Owen Ballantyne to find out more.

Who are your musical inspirations?

We all listen to different things, but Foals are a band that we all have a common love for.

How would you describe your music for those who have yet discovered the band?

It’s very tentatively rooted to rock, but more often than not meanders through world music, dance and funk. I guess we kind of get bored of one particular direction, so it always has a core of a math rock which links everything together to stop it sounding too much like a mess.

The band use at least seven different instruments to create their sound, can you tell us more about what instruments you use?

We do use a fair few instruments but they are usually dumped on our guitarist Dan, who has to juggle them throughout a song. There is scope for more instruments though, the only thing that is stopping us buying a full timpani set and a gong is the size of our car at the moment and the lack of limbs dan has! We have recently invested in a sampler and it is proving quite handy at the moment, so that should become a regular addition to our menagerie.

You’ve been championed by Radio 1, how does this feel for you?

It’s very surreal really, hearing Edith Bowman say your name does leave a warm feeling in your heart but its a nice boost to know you are kind of doing something right.

Your music was self-recorded in a soundproofed barn, do you feel this added anything different to the experience?

When it comes to recording demos in the barn it’s an interesting time to sort of look back on the song and kind of adapt it from something that is stripped back for live purposes and think of extra layers and stuff. Its kind of an experimentation stage I guess, to figure out what can be improved and what songs to include on a professional release, like ‘Maple Trails‘ (which was recorded in a much bigger and snazzier barn with Tom Woodhead.) I guess doing it yourself differs a lot to when someone else is recording you because you don’t have the time to chill out, play around a lot and get the most out of the song before being professionally recorded.

What’s been your favourite gig you’ve played?

It’s probably Southsea fest last year. There was a really nice crowd there which helped alot. It kind of felt like a milestone for us playing at a festival we really admired and to so many people.

What are your festival plans for this year?

We are confirmed for Blissfields which is a really great festival, we played last year and it was the bomb.

What would be your dream festival?

That’s a tricky one. First off I can’t deal with feeling grubby so it’s got to have some nice showers, some porcelain loos dotted around, a proper launderette and dry cleaning facilities! With that out the way it would be set in a forest where you could sort of explore and find tents. Band wise you would have to have Sigur Ros headlining one night. Imagine being in this forest, stars through the leaves, sitting down in your freshly cleaned tiger onesie and those guys playing glosoli. Dang! that would bring a tear to anyone’s eye.

What are your plans for 2012?

2012 should be a busy one we are hoping. We are currently writing a batch of songs ready for a second EP which if all goes to plan should be out before summer time. We are really looking forward to getting something new out there and see what people think really and plan a tour.

You can find out more about Bear Cavalry via the Band’s Facebook page now!