Hailed as ‘the heroes British rock needs right now’ by the Huffington Post, Hunter & The Bear have supported Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Simple Minds on tour, and they’ve had plays on BBC Radio 6 and 2 as well as spots on big stages at Reading & Leeds, T in the Park, Hard Rock Calling too.
Brought up on a heavy diet of rock bands like Led Zep, Sabbath and Pink Floyd, they’re equally inspired by modern bands like Biffy Clyro, War On Drugs and Royal Blood and this latest track showcases their sound and influences perfectly. The band have now released their new single Paper Heart, the title song of their debut album out on 12th May. They have also announced a number of shows which you can see at the bottom of the page.
We caught up with the band’s lead singer Will as he talked about their latest single, upcoming album and more!
So how has the new single ‘Paper Heart’ gone down with fans so far?
We were really excited to get this one out there and see what people felt about it. The feedback from fans has been amazing so far. It’s always a scary moment releasing a new track but it’s been such a nice process during this debut album campaign. We have epic fans.
Tell us a little about the song.
Without wanting to give too much away, Paper Heart is a song is about vulnerability and loss. It’s about being taken for granted and feeling unstable. Those are things that we’ve all felt in our lives at some point, and it was that sense of fragility that really interested us. It felt totally natural to write about those feelings and experiences and could have easily been three times as long!
Can you tell us about your upcoming debut album?
When we started playing and writing we never thought that we’d get to a stage where we could release a proper album that people were actually interested in. It’s a dream to be here and we can’t wait to see how it goes down. We’re really proud of every song on there and feel that it showcases what we’re all about. It’s an album written about people, be that ourselves, our friends or people we’ve met along the way. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about and it’s about those deep secrets and feelings within all of us.
What venue are you most looking forward to be playing on the tour in May and June?
That’s a tough one! We’re hitting so many amazing cities up and down the UK and we’re looking to be on fire every time we hit the stage to really leave our mark on every venue we play. London will be pretty special as we live down here now so are keen to light up the city that night. On top of that, Newcastle is where we went to university so we can’t wait to get back up to the Toon and check out some of the old haunts. Love the Geordies. Glasgow will be an amazing night. It’s Jimmy’s hometown show and they really know how to party!
If you could work with any band on new music, who would it be and why?
I think it’d have to be Biffy Clyro. They’re one of our favourites and I reckon that’d be a pretty formidable sound! They’re great at taking a song away from the standard formula and that’s something we really admire and would like to emulate.
What has been your proudest moment to date?
We’ve been so lucky to have some amazing moments at this early stage but for me it has to be supporting Eric Clapton on his Arena Tour. It was a huge step up for us and one that brought us on in a huge way. To have the backing of a rock god like that is a great confidence boost! Stepping out on the first night was pretty scary but we soon got used to the big crowds and massive sound. Something never to be forgotten. Hopefully we’ll be back in the arenas playing our own shows some day!
How much do your fans mean to you guys?
They’ve been so ridiculously supportive of us from the off. We’re so lucky to have such an engaged fanbase that get right behind us at every opportunity. The music is for them and we can’t thank them enough. Also, to all future fans… Come join the party!
Catch the band live:
11 May: Electric Circus, Edinburgh, UK
12 May: The Tolbooth, Stirling, UK
13 May: ABC 2, Glasgow, UK
18 May: The Ironworks, Inverness, UK
19 May: Village Hall, Ullapool, UK
20 May: An Lanntair, Stornoway, UK
25 May: The Tunnels, Aberdeen, UK
26 May: The British Legion, Shetland, UK
14 Jun: Borderline, London, UK
15 Jun: Patterns, Brighton, UK
16 Jun: Academy 2, Oxford, UK
17 Jun: Institute 3, Birmingham, UK
18 Jun: Cluny, Newcastle, UK
20 Jun: Deaf Institute, Manchester, UK
21 Jun: Lending Rooms, Leeds, UK