Straw Bear
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So how did the album get its name? Ian explains: 
The album was recorded out in the Fens at Bluebarn Studios and masterfully engineered by Chris Taylor. Chris has a good ear and was honest with us about how he felt the record was developing. I doubt that without Chris, the album could have been as good as we feel it is. The studio itself is situated on Black Bank Road, so we borrowed the name. It was a great experience being out there. There’s something about the relaxed atmosphere and tranquillity of the place that feeds the creative process. We all love the environment and benefit from the time and space we’re awarded at Blue Barn. We were often recording well into the early hours and made camp there on occasion
Ian said of Straw bear’s song writing process:
I always start the song and we finish it together as a band. I think this is a fairly common approach. We have a great drummer in Pas Struthers and he will create drum parts for the songs, as will Catie (Wicks) with guitar and bass parts, and of course Chris and Tom too. We all have input with regard to the development of the songs. When I first started writing, there was just Chris and I involved, pretty much as an acoustic duo, but after Tom joined us, then Pas and Catie, the songs moved on regarding their feel and became something new, as would be expected when you add fresh ingredients
Far from being repetitive, the songs deal with all manner of subjects, some serious and some outright bizarre. Probably this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise considering the band has two journalists within its fold. Both Tom Shipp and Ian Ray are writers and met while trainee newspaper reporters. Ian now works for a children’s charity and is currently working on a children’s book on behalf of the cause. He is a creative writer too and this is evident in his lyrics. Ian said:
The track off Black Bank called ‘Urban Fox’ was written about two foxes having sex outside of my home and keeping me awake at night, this led to my wife accusing me of a lack of sincerity
he laughs. The song is also written from the point of view of the two urban protagonists.
The album Black Bank is available on the OIlbug Records label, another Fenland-based company, and is available via Straw Bear’s various online sites listed at the end of this article. Tom Shipp says of the release:
We did it right this time around. When we released our first album called Victims Of The Engineers, we didn’t really have a plan for how to put it out there. This time we used our previous experience to promote the album and get it heard by as many people as possible. The exposure the album has received has boosted sales and got us better gigs, which is very good news. It won’t make us rich, but we are grateful to be selling albums online and at gigs
Coming back to the subject of influences and Straw Bear’s direction in the future, Ian said:
We all like our day jobs, so we’re not about to give everything up and throw ourselves into the Rock’n’Roll lifestyle. The main objective is to get our material out to more and more people, so that people keep coming to our gigs and become familiar with the music and with who and what we are. Gigging is very important to us and it’s certainly why I do what I do. I’d like to think that we could have a musical career something along the lines of bands like British Sea Power and Shearwater
Among other media sources which have been helping the band along and giving them the proverbial leg-up, has been the popular and respected blogger Joe Sparrow of ‘A New Band A Day‘. ANBAD voted Straw Bear the #2 band of 2012 and said: “In a world where Mumford and Sons steamroller all before them with their one-trick faux-subtlety, Straw Bear deserve – and I use that word carefully – to be big. Surely the world is not such a cruel place to shower Mumford with cash and fame and ignore something as lovely as this? Excellent.”
The celebrated R2 Rock’n’Reel magazine also raved about the band in a recent review of the album. Reviewer John Crosby said: “ It would be easy to say their music is part alternative country, part indie folk, reminiscent at times of such American bands as Midlake and at others of early Elektra 60’s rock sounds. However everything here- the quirky, insightful and intelligent lyrics, lovely relaxed playing, the melodies and sly vocals – indicates a singular talent”. Along with these words came a five star rating for the Black Bank album itself.
Following and building on success is a good test for an artist. Having the ability to produce work at a level that engages the public over a period of time is often the mark of greatness. All artists need to catch a break if they wish to rise above obscurity and the recent single “Kitty” appears to have been the right stepping stone for Straw Bear, but how many more Kitty’s are in the litter? Talking to Ian you get the impression there are many. “I’ve already written enough material for the next album, but we have to have time to make the most of the current release,” he said.
The success of the next single we put out and the corresponding exposure for the album, Black Bank, will be directly related to how much planning and effort we can afford to put behind it. I’m all for putting as much material out there as we can, but we’ve learned that without the right approach, timing and drive, there’s little point or reward. Time will tell if the critics and public like it, but these days we are a little more organised, which at least gives the material a better chance of being heard
Straw Bear’s plans for the summer 2013 include gigs at several well-known national venues and appearances at numerous festivals, including Meadowlands Festival, Stortford Music Festival and possibly The Willow Festival, depending on commitments.
It would be nice to think that the cream always rises to the top, but sadly in the case of the music industry and the arts in general, commercial interests often spoil the day, but as it has been said before us, if there is any justice out there at all, Straw Bear should have a long and bright future ahead of them.
To find out more about Straw Bear and to follow their progress visit
www.facebook.com/strawbearmusic
Follow Straw Bear on Twitter @strawbearmusic
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