The MTV VMAs have revealed their top five nominees for their music video of the year and we feel, frankly, that this is a rather lacklustre set of videos. Outside of the Alessia Cara video having a strong message in it the rest are pretty bland and unexciting!
Be The Bear is a one-woman
industry – a fiercely independent female artist and producer, writing and
recording her own songs in her commercial studio in Gothenburg, home to her own
record label Loud Attic Records. We got the chance to speak to Christina Wehage
about her delightful new single ‘Erupt’, starting firstly by asking her to
describe the song.
It’s
kind of an alternate pop track with a lot of emotion and a full string
orchestra!
What was it like to be
involved with that 60-piece orchestra?
I
think that is one of my favourite moments so far in my life. It was absolutely
amazing hearing [it]. I’d heard the song playing with MIDI when I’d written it
but when you hear it live with the strings it’s so different and better. It was
really, really cool.
Lyrically is there a story
behind the track?
With
most of my lyrics they just come to me. There’s definitely a lot of back-story
with it, with what inspires me, like reoccurring dreams that I’ve had, and
things like that. It’s just about being honest with yourself and facing your
fears, and challenging yourself, which is a big theme for me.
The video is available to
watch online. It’s a really magical video. What was it like to create it?
It
was amazing! We had so much fun. There was actually about eighteen people behind
the scenes in the film crew for the video, building all the sets and the bear,
and all the caves and everything. There was jumping around in a green screen
room, which is actually really difficult to do! We were actually in a house
just outside Stockholm which was actually going to be ripped down the next day.
It [now] no longer exists. We spent a lot of time recording that video and
there was a lot of people involved, with a lot of my friends and some really
talented people, so it was so much fun. [And] it’s just the beginning. There’s
going to be several videos for the next few songs I’m releasing, and they’re
going to tell a story; they all go together.
Have you recorded those
videos yet?
No,
it’s on-going. We’re doing number two now.
And the song was also in a
big advertising campaign?
It
was featured in a big Volvo commercial and had quite a lot of attention
internationally, so that was really cool!
Your alias comes from your
fear of bears. Has adopting that helped you come to terms with that phobia?
Yeah,
it’s symbolic for just [general] fears. I just feel like everything that is
scary, it’s just so inspiring to go there and actually challenge yourself and
try new things that you’ve never done, and you didn’t think that you could do.
That’s what I wanted to do with my music; to just always push that little bit
harder and do something that I’ve never before and explore [it]. That’s what ‘Be
The Bear’ is about. I used to have nightmares about bears; that was a big
thing. I don’t know why it was specifically about bears. I used to dream a lot
about them every night, and the same type of dream, being chased by a bear
through a wooden house which was falling to pieces. So very dramatic, like the
video!
Do you have any live gigs
coming up?
At
the moment we’re just looking at acoustic sessions for the next couple of
months but we don’t have anything booked for the summer just yet.
Do you like performing your
songs acoustically?
Oh
yes, definitely, it’s really fun. It just becomes something different entirely.
There’s going to be stripped down version [of Erupt] coming that’s something
very special.
Do you have any EP or album
plans?
There’s
definitely an album in the pipeline but I don’t have a date for it yet. The
next few singles that are coming out are the main focus at the moment so we’re
just completely focussing on that and the live set-up.
Finally, what are your big
ambitions for the rest of the year?
I
want to play live as much as possible and hit the festivals as well as soon as
I can as that’s the most fun! I’m really looking forward to [playing live].
Another ten songs you must hear! Be The Bear - Erupt
'Erupt' is a beautifully sung, atmospheric song with a soaring cinematic style and a calming production. It sounds more like a song suited for a cold winter night than the middle of summer, but it's a joyous listen whatever the weather. (7.5/10) Dagny - Wearing Nothing
Dagny continues to be one of the most interesting new artists around. Her latest, 'Wearing Nothing', takes a catchy beat and a cool catchy chorus to create a fun poppy summer anthem. (7/10) Imelda May - The Girl I Used To Be
Mentions of chips and buttered bread make this at times like an anthem for Yorkshire, but outside of that this is a smooth and gentle ballad with some touching personal lyrics and a great central heart that wins out against the stripped-back production. (7/10) Kila - Raise The Road Taken from their live album 'Alive', this a capella number is a funky, foot-tapping folky number that latterly introduces hints of an instrument into the mix. Cool. (6.5/10) LeAnn Rimes - LovE is LovE is LovE
The chorus may not have taken long to write but this a summery, catchy, radio-friendly track. It's offensive but it's fun enough. (6.5/10) Martine McCutcheon - Say I'm Not Alone
Coming out of the woodwork after many years away, Martine returns with this fun little poppy number. Like Rimes' number it's not a huge departure but it's a good radio-friendly pop ditty. (7/10)
Nick Byrne - Birch Tree Taken from his 'Through The Tall Grass' EP, 'Birch Tree' is a gentle, smooth folky number with some beautifully composed imagery and a relaxing chill-out vibe. Neat. (7/10) Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - I Gotta Praise
The lead single from their upcoming third album this song may follow their established formula but when it's as perky, catchy and foot-tapping as this you can't help be press the replay button with a smile on your face. (7.5/10)
Shania Twain - Life's About To Get Good
After a decade away, Shania Twain returns with this catchy uplifting pop tune. Throwing her country roots completely away and relying a little too much on autotune, this lacks the spark and sound of her big period but it's positive and poppy enough to keep you interested. (6/10)
Wolf Alice - Yuk Foo
It might be quite sweary and very, very angry but there's something appealing about the stress-relieving grungy frustration of the record both lyrically, musically and through the production. (6.5/10)
