Tim Hart wants to connect through music more than anything.
Tim Hart, the drummer for Australian folk rock band Boy & Bear, talks about the band's new self titled album on The LunchBox with Stephen 'Steps' Lowe on Today Radio. In the interview, Tim reveals the positives of going independent, how the song writing process changed with this new record, solo work, the surprising audiences he's found while touring internationally, and the benefits of streaming.
The choice to call the new album "Boy & Bear" was obvious when they went independent. Suddenly, the band had a lot more choice and say in the record-making process. They could set their own timeline, decide who they wanted to design their merch, and had a choice in the team that worked with them. They were more Boy & Bear than ever before.
This change did not only occur in the marketing and production with their label, but it also happened internally. The band began writing the album during the COVID lock down, and the space they had allowed them to change how they write. So Tim, the drummer, might have started playing on the keys, sent it to the band, and the band would expand on was already there.
In Tim's solo work he also experimented with writing. He has always helped lead singer and guitarist Dave Hosking with lyrics, but the stories and concepts of songs always belonged to Hosking. Doing solo work and solo shows allows Tim to write his own stories and connect with people through them. The band has always been supportive of his own work.
Tim loves to tour. Performing music live is the best way too connect with people and while studio time is enjoyable, it is the connection Tim loves most. He's found while touring that audiences in Scandinavia, Holland, Germany, and Switzerland have been some of the most supportive audiences. Returning to Sweden after nine years of no tour visits almost felt like "coming home," and the other band members agreed.
He also shares his thoughts on streaming. While Tim admits the landscape is over saturated, streaming platforms remove the "record label gate-keepers," and allow truly great musicians to speak for themselves and develop their own audiences they can connect with.
To listen to the whole conversation, click to find pt. 1 and pt. 2 on RTL Play or listen via the players below.
