Boy & Bear Share Double A-Side ‘Roses / Lost Control’
The two tracks are taken from Boy & Bear’s upcoming new album, Tripping Over.
Image Casey Moore
As they ready the release of their sixth studio album Tripping Over Time, Sydney folk pop rockers Boy & Bear have shared the double A-side ‘Rose / Lost Control’.
Both tracks where procuded with Australian-born, LA-based Justin Stanley (Prince, Beck, Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Mark Ronson) and are taken from Tripping Over Time, which is set for release on Friday 12 December (pre-order here), with the band explaining ‘Roses’ is inspired by The Shins and ‘Lost Control’ explores self-reflection with a subtle nod to Tom Petty.
“The concept of ‘Roses’ is pretty simple really. Life is short and death is inevitable but that’s also the greatest motivator for life,” explains vocalist and guitarist Dave Hosking. “Maybe conceptually it’s a little morbid, but the song’s vibe is far from that. We always wanted it to feel reflective and not too weighty. Sometimes pairing heavier concepts with lighter sonics can lead to interesting results and hopefully that’s what the listener gets to experience here. Ultimately, it’s a constant reminder to keep appreciating the joys in life big and small.”
“‘Lost Control’ is in a strange way a love song,” Hosking continues. “I’ve had significant challenges in my life over the past few years and sometimes these personal challenges can start to impede themselves on our intimate relationships. Almost as if they become some polygamous third party that takes over the space. But we’ve managed. The challenges have bonded us closer than ever and I think this song is a homage to that.”
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Tripping Over Time is the band’s second independently released album that explores themes of love, death and self-reflection.
“The record predominantly is about how time changes us,” says Hosking. “we grow up, our priorities shift, our lives move onto new chapters and with this comes new insights but also new challenges. It’s a balancing act of reflecting or even yearning for our youth whilst also embracing life as it inevitably moves forward. So, I think the record's emotional core is really about finding peace in who we are and who we’ve become. It’s about self-growth.
“The album is about embracing life as it is. The songs are played live with real human energy and emotion. While optimistic, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; it’s honest and grounded. Each track carries a bit of tension but avoids a dark or heavy feeling. The album encourages stepping back to appreciate the beauty in the world. It’s a big celebration full of happiness, but with a bittersweet, ‘happy-sad’ energy. The focus is on feeling things emotionally rather than intellectually and staying grounded while looking toward the future. Tripping Over Time is more experimental and ‘trippy’, designed as an escape from reality. The tracks create a journey that listeners want to revisit, evoking memories from past periods of life. It’s a form of escapism, reflecting the nature of life itself. The lyrics are poetic rather than literal, allowing listeners to interpret them in their own way and create personal stories. The record features floating sounds and playful experimentation, showing how working at your own pace can foster creativity.
“It’s about the subtle lessons of life. You often don’t realise you’ve gone through something until you experience it. You’re always learning and stumbling forward, embracing the cyclic nature of life. There’s playfulness in all the crazy moments. The overall feeling is optimistic, nostalgic, and reflective.”
‘Roses / Lost Control’ by Boy & Bear is out now. Listen here. Tripping Over Time arrives Friday 12 December. Pre-order/pre-save here.
