Two Bears North

TWO BEARS NORTH UND JORDAN KLASSEN IM CAFÉ GLOCKSEE
Konzert Kanada Power im Café Glocksee: Jordan Klassen und Two Bears North kommen nach Hannover
BEGINN
Dienstag, 19. Mai 2015
um 20:00 Uhr
ENDE
Mittwoch, 20. Mai 2015
um 01:00 Uhr
LOCATION
Café Glocksee, Glockseestraße 35, 30169 Hannover
Die kanadische Indie-Pop-Band "Two Bears North" spielen am 19.05. zusammen mit Jordan Klassen im Café Glocksee!



TWO BEARS NORTH

Kann Indie mädchenhaft und gleichzeitig rockig sein? Die beiden Frontfrauen Sophie und Melissa schaffen diesen Sprung meisterlich. Liebevolle Melodien, die direkt ins Ohr gehen, dazu garagiger Rocksound, der das Bein bewegt und die Laune hebt. Sie holten noch Schlagzeuger Nich dazu und nahmen gemeinsam ihr Debütalbum "Comeocean" auf, das sie nun hocherfreut in Deutschland präsentieren

Was nützen die vielen Worte...hier die Musik:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie2vFyx1xTE&spfreload=10 - Observer

EDMONTON BANDS CROWD EUROPE’S STAGES THIS MONTH

BY SANDRA SPEROUNES, EDMONTON JOURNAL MAY 18, 2015
April showers bring ... May shows in Europe?

No fewer than eight of Edmonton’s brightest musical acts are now in the Old World — playing gigs in Germany, recording tunes in Sweden, meeting label executives in France. Acts such as soul-pop vocalist Ann Vriend and folk-rockers Scenic Route To Alaska.

Why Europe? Because ... EUROPE. Oh, and there’s a lot less paperwork needed to tour the European Union than the U.S.

We asked some of our local performers to tell us about their itineraries:

The pop-rockers, featuring Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker, are playing 12 shows in seven German cities, including Hannover, Essen, Berlin and Hamburg, where the band’s label, DevilDuck Records, is based.

Purpose: “Releasing our album, Comeocean! Playing with other bands (Jordan Klassen, The Dead South, Sea Wolf).”

Can’t wait to visit: “Berlin has such a rich history (and a great party scene) so we’re looking forward to spending time there,” writes Sophie.

Can’t wait to play: “We get to play About Songs festival put on by our label at Kunst (in Hamburg), which we hear is a great venue. Looking forward to seeing other label mates perform that night.”

Language skills: “Poor at best!” - The Edmonton Journal

:urbanissimo! - Magazin: About Songs Festival und Two Bears North

Der Moderator und freie Journalist André Itjes zieht seine Kreise zwischen Konzerten, Klubs und Kinos, um Veranstaltungen und neue Musik aufzuspüren. Diesmal mit einem Spezial zum About Songs Festival am Sonntag, 24. Mai 2015 im Knust. Dazu ist der Veranstalter Jörg Tresp live im Studio und hat auch gleich eine der auftretenden Bands aus Kanada mitgebracht: Two Bears North, das sind Sophie Heppell und Melissa Walker, die sieben Jahre an ihrem ganz eigenen Sound gefeilt haben und auf ihrem Album "Comeocean" die Sehnsucht nach dem Meer und den Ausbruch aus den momentanen Begebenheiten (come ocean), und die inneren Unruhen eines neurotischen Gemüts (commotion) thematisch aufgreifen. Mit Heppells Sinn für Melodien, Walkers unvergleichbarer Groove und dazu der Kreativität eines Nich Davies an den Drums möchte die Band nun auch Europa für sich einnehmen. - Tide Radio

TWO BEARS NORTH
COMEOCEAN RELEASE KONZERT
KONZERT
SCHON GEWESEN
15.05. 20:00
HANSEPLATTE
Neuer Kamp 32
20357 Hamburg

Sophie Heppells Sinn für Melodien und Melissa Walkers Gespür für Grooves ergänzen sich zur charmanten kanadischen Indie-Einheit Two Bears North. Jüngst bringt Nich Davies an den Drums ein weiteres Plus in die Band. Da wippt sogar ein jeder brummiger Bär mit den Füßen mit.

Der Titel ihres heute in Europa erscheinendem Albums "Comeocean" ist ein Wortspiel aus "Commotion" (innere Unruhen eines Menschen) und "Ocean" (Meer - sinndbildlich für Sehnsüchte). So ist "das gesamte Album ein ausgedehnter Dialog zwischen Kopf und Herz". Obwohl die besungenen Themen teilweise ernst sind, versprühen Two Bears North mit ihrer Mädchenhaften Art gute Laune.

Wenn ihr diese Ausgeglichenheit und die Leichtfüßigkeit der Band live erleben wollt, dann ab mit euch in die Hanseplatte! Two Bears North feiern dort heute ihr Album-Release mit einem Live-Konzert.

PS: wenn es heute Abend nicht passt, achtet auf weitere Shows, die Two Bears North im Rahmen ihrer Deutschlandtour geben, wie z.B. während des About Songs Festivals - Dreitagewoche

CD: Two Bears North - Comeocean
Zwei reizende Damen aus Kanada, die in ihren heimischen Gefilden schon ordentlich für Furore und Aufmerksamkeit gesorgt haben, machen sich auf, auch in deutschen Landen ihre Musik zu Gehör zu bringen. „Two Bears North“ nennen sich Sophie Heppell und Melissa Walker, und präsentieren ihr zweites Werk „Comeocean“, dessen Titel ein Wortspiel aus „Come Ocean“ und „Commotion“ ist und gleichzeitig eine ideale Base bietet, die zehn Songs thematisch zu bündeln. Denn trotz aller Leichtfüßigkeit und guter Laune, die der Sound versprüht, versteckt sich doch in den Texten viel Ernsthaftes, Wahres, manchmal auch Unnachgiebiges und Rohes. Heppel und Walker bezeichnen die Texte als andauernden Dialog zwischen Kopf und Herz – eine zumeist bittersüße Angelegenheit, bei der sich Texte und Melodien wunderbar ergänzen. (ds) - Schwulissimo

WHO NAMED THE BAND: Bipolar Two Bears North
Posted on April 29, 2015By Mike RossEntertainment, Front Slider, life, Music

Two Bears North GigCity EdmontonTwo Bears North is neither two bears, nor are they two.

They are a celebrated Edmonton folk trio. The name comes from singer-bassist Melissa Walker’s father, who suffers from bipolar disorder. He remarked to his daughter one day, “I’m feeling a little two bears north today,” two meaning bi and bears north referring to polar. Melissa seized on the phrase and promised her dad that Two Bears North would be the name of her next band. Dad didn’t have a problem with it.

“He laughed. He’s pretty silly, he’s kind of a clown,” she says, while urging fans not to read too much into the manic-depressive angle. “I guess we never realized that this band would be as fortunate as it’s been, and been together as long as we have, even though it hasn’t been that long.”

Two Bears North GigCity EdmontonSeven years. Walker and her singer-songwriting partner Sophie Heppell actually had the name before they had the band, before they wrote a single song. So here we see a rare case of the band name having a possible effect on the music – because they started with a blank slate, nothing to go on but a band named for a mental illness. It can’t be coincidence that the singers came up with material like Bi-Polar Princess and This Idle Mind, both from their award-winning 2013 concept album Comeocean – as in “commotion.” It’s a running theme.

Asked if she goes through bouts of feeling “two bears north” like her dad, Walker replies, “I think in a way we all do, sometimes. I think with my dad, it’s just that he’s been bipolar for so long without being diagnosed, so I think that’s been a struggle his whole life. Not being treated imposes a much bigger challenge than having the disorder itself. People just think you’re crazy or weird. It was hard for my family.”

But you deal with it, you move on, and sometimes a band name is just a band name. It sounded good at the time, it stuck and it’s too late to change it now. Singer-guitarist Sophie Heppell says she prefers to interpret the name to reflect the creative chemistry she enjoys with her partner. The two met as members of various local jazz bands, playing cabarets and corporate functions, and hit it off. The trio is completed by drummer Nich Davies.

“Not to make light of the disorder, but that was the whole concept of our band: Mine and Melissa’s sort of opposing forces becoming one entity,” Heppell says. “I’m so melody-driven and she is so rhythm and groove, and while we don’t exactly have battles, it’s a joining of these two voices.”

Two Bears North GigCity EdmontonPlaying Friday at the Mercury Room for the Get the Hell Out Of Here single release, Two Bears North is on its way to Germany after Canadian Music Week shows in Toronto next week. Their melancholy – yet groovy! – music has obviously struck a nerve not just at home, and are part of a contingent of Western Canadian indie bands signed to Germany’s DevilDuck Records (also representing Saskatoon’s Rah Rah and Edmonton’s own The Provincial Archive). The label rereleased Comeocean in Europe and included the new Get the Hell out of Here to make an even 10 tracks. Those Germans, so exacting, seem to love the band: “Freude, schöner Götterfunken!” their label bio opens on the DevilDuck website, translated to: “Joy, beautiful spark of the Gods!” Close enough for rock ‘n’ roll.

Two Bears North has already recorded a follow-up album, working title: Monsters and Dandelions, being planned for release next January. Heppell says this one is more chronicle than concept, but the running theme continues: “It’s a journey exploring the deeper depths of inner turmoil. The beginning starts out positive, then a steep downward descent, but then by the end you’ve overcome these obstacles, and the end track is called Let the Air Clear, which is alluded to at the beginning of the album – like a movie that plays the last scene first and then you get told how that came to be.” - GigCity

Two Bears North go Deutsch
April 29, 2015 Josh Marcellin Music No comments
Issue: #1018: The Suburban Motel Series

Can you say Zwei Bärs Norden? Local indie band Two Bears North has landed a German record deal, along with a 12-day Deutschland tour and a slot at the About Songs Festival in Hamburg.

The animals in Two Bears North include singer and guitar player Sophie Heppell, bass player Melissa Walker and Nich Davies on drums. The girls have been working on the band for seven years, using a push-pull dynamic between Heppell’s love of melody and Walker’s earthy sense of groove, and they added Davies’ drumming a couple of years ago to make it a trio.

The band’s most recent record, 2013’s Comeocean, sounds very much like a West Coast album with ocean vibes, rolling bass lines and sunny harmonies. Not surprising, considering Heppell and Walker are BC transplants—Heppell from Gibsons (home of the Beachcombers) and Walker spent time in Kamloops and the greater Vancouver area.

“I think the yearning for the ocean you hear is us yearning for self-growth and improvement,” Heppell explains, sipping a green iced chai in a Garneau cafe. “And when we think of where we want to escape to, it’s the ocean. We don’t feel we want to escape to Saskatchewan.”

Two Bears North scored the deal with Hamburg’s DevilDuck Records after the band played a music showcase in Calgary last fall. Since signing, the label is re-releasing Comeocean with the new single “Get The Hell Out Of Here.” And the band played two unofficial showcases at this year’s SXSW.

The band is currently working on its second album, with a tentative release date of January 2016.

“The new album will definitely showcase our more rocky side … it’s a little gutsier, less safe,” Heppell says. “I’ve developed my guitar tone: on the first record I used only one tone, a clean tone. On this album, I experimented more with pedals and some overdrive. Really, we’re trying to get the energy of the live show on this record.”

Before they head to Germany, Two Bears North will be touring east through Canada before a slot at Canadian Music Week in Toronto.

“This definitely feels like a big step,” Heppell says.

Fri, May 1 (7 pm)
With We Were Friends, the Royal Foundry
Mercury Room, $10 - Vue Weekly

New horizons for Alberta indie artists Septembryo and Two Bears North
by JEFFREY BURNS on APRIL 28, 2015
Post image for New horizons for Alberta indie artists Septembryo and Two Bears North
TWO BEARS NORTH embark on Euro-release + Tour, while SEPTEMBRYO launches New Album & Graphic Novel |
Revisitng the debut album Comeocean from TWO BEARS NORTH conjures up memories of my 2013 Review and Q&A sesh with the band’s songwriting duo of Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker, wherein I described the music as tight, punchy, pop-rock replete with melodic hooks, intricate rhythmns, and some inexplicable quality that makes it all so utterly charming, not unlike 90s female driven indie bands MAUD (Calgary) and JALE (Halifax), but with added panache rounding out the rock edges.

I went on to extoll the work ethic and creative virtues of this Edmonton-based trio (which includes drummer Nich Davies), whose debut LP Comeocean I consider to be a welcome innovation injection to the pop-music jugular, and it appears that their unwavering confidence in the music’s integrity along with extensive touring has really paid off. As one of only five regional bands selected to participate in the 2014 Alberta Music Breakout West showcase, their performance was witnessed by the head of Devilduck Records (based in Hamburg, Germany) who subsequently brought them on board for the re-release of Comeocean overseas, with European tours to follow.


COMEOCEAN


To compliment the momentous occasion, the group has recorded a bonus track for their 2013 LP’s euro-release titled “Get The Hell Out Of Here”. It was unveiled April 15th as a single here in Canada and serves as the centerpiece for their Get The Hell Out Of Here Single Release & Tour Kick Off taking place May 1st in Edmonton, preceded by shows in Calgary April 29th and Red Deer April 30th. Following their Alberta send-off, the well primed trio will whisk their unique brand of indie-pop songcraft into Toronto’s Canadian Music Week where they’ll showcase for a second consecutive year, and from there the magnetism of their sophisticated and disarming pop/rock is sure to have uber appeal, winning over audiences across yet another ocean.

For more insight on Two Bears North, read the December 2013 Feature Article w/ Q&A sesh …




Comeocean Album Stream

Links for Two Bears North:
Twitter | Facebook | Website

* * * * * - Rokline Magazine

Two Bears North belt out an early summer roar + ‘Get the Hell Out of Here’ track premiere


Thursday 23rd, April 2015 / 16:33 in • Alberta, • Rockpile, CITY, MUSIC


By Willow Grier

Two-Bears-NorthBeatRoute is proud to premiere “Get the Hell Out of Here” by Edmonton trio Two Bears North. The song is a summertime anthem that fits well with the album’s “themes of going back to the ocean, and returning to where we came from.” The band will officially release the song on May 1 in Edmonton at The Mercury Room; you can stream it here until the show!



CALGARY — Two Bears North have been busy bees…or bears in this case. The Edmonton trio consisting of Sophie Heppell, Melissa Walker and Nich Davies have a number of musical projects under their belts and even a history of working with one another. What sets this project apart though, is the amount of humble, eager perspective that is powering its growth. Heppell learned to play guitar for the project (having previously played saxophone and violin) and stepped into the role of lead vocalist for the first time. Walker began contributing vocals, and collectively, the group has learned to create a distinct and lively sound that they can call their own.

“Since we are not that experienced with some of the roles, what we are trying to do with this band is to grow as musicians and have fun doing it. We enjoy working with each other, and as a three-piece there is a lot of room for us to play out,” describes Walker.

Their debut album Comeocean (pronounced “commotion”) is a sprightly, coastal reflection, filled with energetic percussion, complex basslines and sincere vocals. Since its release, Two Bears North have been busy with shows and showcases, including SXSW and an Alberta Music Showcase that scored them a distribution deal in Germany. In honour of the album being released overseas, they have decided to release “Get The Hell Out Of Here” as a bonus track.

The song is a summertime anthem that fits well with the album’s “themes of going back to the ocean, and returning to where we came from.”

Walker describes the track originating from the instinctual put-on-the-brakes moment of realizing someone you are interested in is quite likely insane. After having the chorus of Iron Maiden’s “Run To The Hills” play in her head in such a moment, walker brought the idea to Heppell, and the song was born.

“I guess it’s inspired by Iron Maiden? Or maybe just crazy people,” jokes Walker. While the song was written about escaping a toxic situation, it plays more as escaping the city for an ocean bound voyage and will pleasantly whisk listeners away to winding coastal highways, with sun glistening on the water and blue skies above. Be sure to listen for it during their upcoming shows.

Catch Two Bears North with The Ashley Hundred and Fox Who Slept The Day Away at Broken City on April 29th. They play Red Deer at Bo’s on April 30 with The Dear Kills and in Edmonton on May 1 for the official single releases at the Mercury Room with We Were Friends and The Royal Foundry. - Beatroute Magazine

TWO BEARS NORTH – “BIPOLAR PRINCESS”
two bears north
(20.04.2015) Exporte aus Übersee auf dem Vormarsch! Die letzten zwei Titel der Woche wurden von Australien und Kanada bestimmt. Daran wird sich auch diese Woche vorerst nichts ändern. Two Bears North zeigen mit "Bipolar Princess", wo die importierte Stimmgabel hängt.
Musik aus Übersee hat uns was voraus! Letzte Woche waren es die Australier von Tame Impala, davor die Kanadier von Heart Streets und nun Two Bears North. In Kanada wurde ihr Album “Comeocean” nämlich schon im Dezember 2013 veröffentlicht und konnte schon einige Auszeichnungen einheimsen.

Allerdings befindet sich auf der europäischen Version des Albums ein Song mehr als auf der amerikanischen. So gleicht sich unser Nachholbedarf ein wenig aus.

Gegründet wurde Two Bears North vor sieben Jahren von Sophie Heppell und Melissa Walker. Später stieß noch Drummer Nich Davies dazu. “Bipolar Princess” ist nicht nur der Opener von “Comeocean”, sondern zeigt auch den roten Faden, der sich durch das Album spinnt. Die Gratwanderung zwischen Kopf- und Herzentscheidungen, zwischen Verstand und Gefühl.

So trifft es auch der Albumname genau auf den Punkt. “Comeocean” ist ein Wortspiel aus “come ocean” und “commotion”. Ersteres beschreibt die Sehnsucht nach dem Meer und nach Aufbruch, während Zweiteres gleichbedeutend mit der inneren Unruhe eines neurotischen Gemüts.

Die sparsame Bassline Walker’s und die gefühlvolle Stimme von Heppell verbinden sich mit vor Kreativität strotzenden Drums. So entsteht ein Song, der irgendwo zwischen Gut und Böse pendelt und die Ambivalenz, die der Songname verspricht, eindrucksvoll wiederspiegelt.



Artist: Two Bears North

Title: Bipolar Princess

Album: Comeocean (VÖ May 15, 2015) - Lohro

Two Bears North – Label News, Tour And New Single / Mercury Room Gig
by NEW MUSIC MICHAEL on APRIL 13 2015
Two Bears North - New Single Label And Tour

So one of my favourite local bands these days is Two Bears North, this tight, indie summer-pop act that features Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker, and now Nich Davies on drums. I named their debut full-length as the best Edmonton had to offer back in 2013 whilst writing for Gig City. And Sophie emailed me not long ago with some incredible news for the band.

They’ve been signed to DevilDuck Records out of Hamburg, Germany (The Provincial Archive, Rah Rah), and they’re going to re-release “Comeocean”. They also recorded a Euro edition bonus track – “Get the Hell Out Of Here” – for the release that will also be available as a single in Canada, that includes a cello of all things. You can stream it below.

There’s a tour kick-off show coming up at the Mercury Room, along with another of my current favourite local acts, We Were Friends (who I’m pretty sure I saw last week at the Juan Aldrete pedal workshop), and Royal Foundry. Said gig takes place May 1st, doors at 7pm, here’s the ticket link.

The day after the Mercury Room gig the band will fly to Ontario and Quebec for a handful of shows, including a showcase at CMW, and then to Germany from there for a couple of weeks of shows. Have a great trip guys!



Tour Itinerary

Apr 29 – Calgary AB at Broken City
Apr 30 – Red Deer AB at Bo’s
May 01 – Edmonton AB at Mercury Room TICKETS
May 03 – Montreal QC at Quai Des Brumes
May 04 – London ON at McCabes
May 05 – Ottawa ON at Avant Garde
May 06 – Toronto ON for Canadian Music Week (Cameron House)
May 07 – Toronto ON at Central
May 15 – Hamburg Germany at Hanseplatte
May 17 – Hamburg Germany at About Songs And Books
May 19 – Hannover Germany at Café Glocksee
May 22 – Magdeburg Germany at Moritzhof/Scheune
May 24 – Hamburg Germany for About Songs Festival
May 25 – Hamburg Germany for DevilDuck BBQ
May 26 – Leipzing Germany at Waermehalle Sued
Jun 06 – Edmonton AB at Edmonton Pride Festival
Aug 21 – Fort St James BC for Music On the Mountain Festival - NEW MUSIC MICHAEL

About Songs Festival 2015 – Bandvorstellung: Two Bears North
27. März 2015 um 15:05 von Saskia Böttjer | about blog | Kein Kommentar
In Vorfreude auf unser About Songs Festival am 24. Mai im Hamburger Knust, stellen wir Euch ab heute wöchentlich die teilnehmenden Bands genauer vor. Gemäß unserer Festival-Philosophie liegt es uns am Herzen, neue guten Bands live vorzustellen und nicht nur den Headlinern eine Plattform zu geben. Deswegen beginnen wir mit dem lieblichen Kanada-Trio Two Bears North.
Two Bears North mögen Euch zu diesem Zeitpunkt vielleicht noch unbekannt sein, aber wir sind uns sicher, dass Ihr euch ganz bald in das kanadische Indie-Poptrio mit seinen lebensfrohen und eingängigen verlieben werdet. Eine Woche vor dem Festival, am 15. Mai veröffentlichen Sophie, Melissa und Nich ihr erstes Album hierzulande. „Comeocean“ wird es heißen und trägt nicht nur das Meer im Titel und auf dem Cover, sondern auch im Herzen.
Denn obwohl die drei aus Edmonton, die Hauptstadt der kanadischen Provinz Alberta, stammen, das unseren tristen deutschen Klimaverhältnissen sehr ähnlich ist, klingen ihre Songs so sommerlich unbeschwert und fröhlich, wie eben ein Tag am Meer.
Das schafft Gitarristin Sophies unbefangener und mädchenhafter Gesang, der ihre Alltagsgeschichten in melodiösen Pastellfarben erleuchten. Bassistin Melissa bringt den Groove und die Zweitstimme dazu, Schlagzeuger Nich den Upbeat – Songs, die einem nicht mehr aus dem Kopf gehen und ein Mitsummen unumgänglich machen.
Deswegen werden sie den idealen Einstieg in unseren Festivalabend bieten, das Two Bears North in der Kanada-Bar im Knust eröffnen werden. Die gute Laune und Wohlfühlstimmung verbreitet diese Band sowohl mit ihren Songs, als auch mit viel liebenswertem Charisma. Ihre liebevollen Melodien und garagiger Rocksound dürften Eure Mundwinkel heben. Ein Vorgeschmack liefert ihre aktuelle Single „Bipolar Princess“. In das komplette Album „Comeocean“ könnt Ihr außerdem auf ihrer Homepage reinhören. - About Songs

Edmonton band Two Bears North is just wrapping up a few “odds and ends” for their next album.

The group, singer and guitarist Sophie Heppell, Melissa Walker on bass and backup vocals and new drummer Nich Davies, has been recording since the beginning of January, and the resulting tunes will be heard when the band comes to The Root: Community Emporium on March 6.

“It’s definitely a little bit more on the rockier side,” said Heppell of the new material. “There are definitely some very folky songs on the first record, whereas on this album there’s more diving into different guitar tones and we have some bass with a pick and it’s a rockier feel.”

Two Bears North’s music has a distinct, imaginative personality. Their sound mixes propulsive pop with elements of psychedelia and progressive rock. Unexpected instrumentation, counter-melodies, time-signature changes and codas keep the songs interesting, always moving from one idea to the next.

The group’s debut album, 2013’s Comeocean, was nominated for six Edmonton Music Awards in 2014, winning the award for People’s Choice. On that record the instruments were recorded separately, on a “part-by-part” basis. Heppell says the new album, which was cut live in the studio, has more of a collaborative vibe.

“For the first album I always use a garden analogy: I would plant the seeds and then Melissa would water the garden and then (our old drummer) would weed the garden,” she said. “For this record I use the analogy of baking a cake: Melissa and I would discuss what kind of cake we wanted to make, and maybe I would go to the grocery store by myself and pick out ingredients but then we would bake it together and bring in Nich to do all the icing and decorating and arranging.”

This album also features guest musicians, including two vocalists, as well as trumpet, trombone and cello players. The new album is also more conceptually ambitions than the last. They’re thinking of naming it “Let the Air Clear.”

“The intro to the album is part of the last song (on the album),” Heppell said. “The intro talks about letting the air clear and then the rest of the songs explain what happened in this tumultuous story. At the end the big explosions happen and you’re waiting for the air to clear again. So it’s like a movie when you see the ending first and you tell the story of how you got there.”

Another option is to call the record “Monsters and Dandelions,” after two of the songs. Heppell says the dandelion represents the optimistic, adventurous voyager, while the monsters relate to the presence of evil.

“I was worried that this next album was a bit more on the darker, heavier side but people seem to still find positivity in the darker themes,” she said.

“It’s the oldest theme: dark and light consisting as one, together.” - Lloydminster Source

When guitarist Sophie Heppell and bass player Melissa Walker came together to form Two Bears North, Heppell didn’t really play guitar, and Walker didn’t really play the upright bass.

The two were respected Edmonton musicians—they’d been in a number of bands together since meeting seven years ago—and they wanted more creative control over their music. Proficiency in the instruments didn’t really seem like an issue.

Heppell was already writing some killer songs, she just couldn’t quite play them yet. This meant that the group actually did things a little backwards: they recorded their first album in April 2013, and didn’t play a live show until June.

“I think our musical sense outweighed our ability to actually execute it,” Heppell said with a giggle.

“I had these ideas for songs, and stuff like that, but I couldn’t actually play them—which I think it’s a positive thing to write above your ability level, but when your ability level is zero it’s not necessarily that impressive.”

She still remembers their first live show in their current form: Walker had ditched the idea of upright bass, moving to electric, and they had brought in Nich Davie on the drums.

It was a sold-out show at Edmonton’s Wunderbar, and to her surprise, Heppell was feeling really nervous.

“It was such an interesting feeling to be so nervous, because I’ve played shows in bands for years,” she said, still sounding genuinely bewildered.

But this was her first time fronting a group, and having to talk to and engage the crowd. Heppell said that while Wunderbar is great for the local music scene, it isn’t exactly known for its stellar sound, and she and the band still joke about how she turned into the “Wicked Witch of the West” on stage that night.

“I could just hear this kind of growling, nervous sound, and [I remember] just the shock of thinking, ‘oh my gosh that’s me: that’s coming out of my mouth.’”

After a few more shows, however, she and the group got a lot more comfortable. It was Heppell’s desire for a strong work ethic that lead her and Walker to start Two Bears North, and she applied that to learning guitar, improving dramatically in a short time.

She admitted that she’s still no virtuoso, but now she’s more than competent. And that lack of complete technical expertise in the early days forced her to rethink how she writes songs, as she searched for ways to execute the sounds she wanted.

“I sort of hunt more for sounds, other than what the go-to chord would be, and I find that very fun and freeing, and it gives us sort of a more unique sound,” she said.

So far that’s been working for Two Bears North. This year they picked up a slew of nominations at the Edmonton Music Awards, and even won the People’s Choice Award. In January they will head back to the studio to record a follow-up to their debut record Comeocean.

“It feels really good to be in control of your own dreams,” Heppell said. - Fitzhugh

Edmonton indie rock trio Two Bears North return to Lethbridge to play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Sept. 27.
While their music may sound upbeat and cheerful, there are some very dark undertones to it, which is reflected in their brand new video for “Bipolar Princess.”

“ Bipolar Princess looks into mental disorders. It seems like a fun road trip, but it has a really dark ending which is what the song is about,” said guitarist/ vocalist vocalist Sophie Heppell, one third of the trio which also includes bassist / vocalist Melissa Walker and drummer / vocalist Nich Davies.

They shot the video with their friend Andrea Clark and her company AndreaClarkKcreative.
“ We set a dark tone. We wanted to get people's reaction,” she said.
They were last in Lethbridge in February and are still supporting their most recent CD ComeOcean, which was released last December.

“ We’ll be playing songs from ComeOcean plus older songs and some new songs,” she said.
“ It’s a sort of in the style of Tegan and Sara, Metric and Mother Mother but much more raw and eclectic,” she described the trio's sound.

They have been touring steadily since their last Lethbridge visit. They are going to the Breakout West conference in Winnipeg in October and did a tour with Megan Nash.

“ We’re touring with other bands, so we’ve got this big 15 passenger van. So we get to play for their fan base and it just helps lighten the load,” she said.

“ We’re also preparing for the next CD which we want to release by summer next year,” she said. They are excited to return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
“ We‘re super excited to be back there,” she said.

—by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor - LA Beat

Two Bears North is a West Coast born girl duo of Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker, who now are based out of Edmonton. They are a groovy pop duo with cheeky, clever lyrics and funky jams that are simple enough to pick up and sing along but complex enough to give it that jazzy feel. If you’re a fan of Le Tigre or old Hey Ocean!, this is the band for you! They write loads of hooks into each song, making them fun and memorable. Give their album Comeocean a listen while it’s still summer, it has that lazy beach vibe that goes oh-so-well with bike rides, patio drinks, and music festivals. - Vancouver Music Review

Once you’re done with that set of distractions, let me offer up another set via some song downloads and streams. Don’t miss tracks from Colony House, Dad Rocks!, The Gromble, One Finger Riot, Oyinda and Wave Sleep Wave. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream cuts from Cut Copy, Esben and the Witch, Free Time, Generationals, Land Observations, Slow Magic and more!


Bad Suns – We Move Like the Ocean (Sebastian Carter Remix)

Colony House – Silhouettes

Crookers – Get Excited (ft. STS)

Dad Rocks! – Body Mass Index

East Edwards – Drive

The Gromble – Don’t Stand A Chance

ISTILLFEELIT – Beyond Us

One Finger Riot – The Sea

Oyinda – Rush of You

Pional – It’s All Over (John Talabot’s Stormbreak Refix)

Two Bears North – Comeocean

Wave Sleep Wave – Pico - Faronheit

Reminiscent of early Tegan and Sara, the 9-song album contrasts that sense of yearning with an exploration of inner turmoil. With upright and electric bass, vocal harmonies, electric guitar, synth, glockenspiel, violin, trumpet, drums and various percussion, the upbeat tracks contrast with deeply personal and emotional topics for a fun and fascinating journey.


Visit Two Bears North on their Website, Facebook,Twitter, BandCamp, Instagram and Youtube.

I have tried many brands of products and this is definitely the best I have used. How to buy viagra on line! Our Online Canadian Pharmacy is also accredited by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA).
Visit Enter The Shell on Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and write us a review on Itunes.

Enjoy and if you can, let me know what you think! Turrtle [at] EnterTheShell.com - Enter The Shell

Edmonton Examiner: Music Video Review
May 25th, 2014

Edmonton Indie Rock Band Two Bears North dives into bipolarism with honesty and insight in new video

Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker are in their ‘third-time lucky band’ having spent the last six years playing with various groups and people.
This time, Two Bears North has stuck for the Americana/indie/pop/rock group from Edmonton.

The name, a play on the word bipolar (two meaning bi, and polar being a reference to polar bears) shows an intimate relationship with the disorder. And it comes as no surprise that they tackle it bluntly in their new video Bipolar Princess.

In the video, which is directed by Andrea Clark, a woman (played by Walker) begins a road trip by leaving her medication on her bed. Heppell then picks her up as the car trip of discovery begins.

“That was the intention, this is a positive journey, on how far a friend would to go help a friend,” said Heppell. “There is also the underlying theme of the Wizard of Oz.”

Elements of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion are all portrayed; each character representing a level of coping and change. Heppel’s character is that of a Dorothy type, who in the end guides Walker to her watery terminus.

“We wanted to do something artistic,” she said. “To make people feel uncomfortable, but in an emotional way. It is interesting to make people feel a more uncomfortable emotion than let’s say happy or the more face-value emotions.”

Two Bears’ devotion to their work has recently gone beyond the artistic as they recently spent some time at the Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Learning what they can about the biz, the Two Bears are back in Edmonton to apply what they gleaned.

“We realized that we are at the point where we are looking to build a team, that is what we learned from Toronto. We are doing all we can by ourselves but are looking for some help. Hopefully, to get to that next level.”

More information on shows as well as the video for Bipolar Princess can be found on www.twobearsnorth.com

Trent Wilkie- Edmonton Examiner - Edmonton Examiner

Meridian Booster- Two Bears North Heads East
May 20th, 2014

Edmonton Band Two Bears North Heading East To Lloydminster

Coming off their well-received debut album, the band Two Bears North is stopping in Lloydminster for the second time.
Created by singers Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker, The Edmonton-based band will be performing at The Root on Friday, May 23. Heppell and Walker had previously performed as part of six-piece ensemble bands, but they decided to go out on their own seeing as they worked well together on the business side of things.
The addition of drummer Nich Davies, who had played with them before, resulted in a good combination with the three of them sharing the same goals for their work.
“The three of us are definitely sort of the same level of hard working and actually just enjoy being around each other so it’s going pretty well,” Heppell said.
After its release in December 2013, their debut album Comeocean won the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Edmonton Music Awards, and received five EMA nominations including Album of the Year. Heppell was pleased with the album’s recognition and sees the People’s Choice Award as a good way for Two Bears North to stand out from the many other bands that are out there.
When they began working on the project they had no idea what the end result would be, all they knew was that they wanted to play together on something they would feel proud of.
“We call it old Teegan and Sarah, like before they went super pop,” Heppell said. “It’s sort of quirky pop rock, definitely the live show is a little bit rawer and more sort of indie rock whereas the album is quite a little more gentle than the live show.”
Given the warm reception to Comeocean, there was a bit of pressure on the band when it came time to start working on the next album and whether or not lightning could strike twice. However things are moving along nicely and a sophomore album is definitely in Two Bear North’s future.
“I definitely was feeling nervous about writing another album and that pressure of living up to the success of the first one, but we’re probably 75 per cent done writing the next album and I definitely feel like we’re onto bigger and better things like a more refined sound and more focus as to sort of what we’re going for,” Heppell said.
When they will be playing on Friday Two Bears North will be sharing the stage with Saskatchewan singer-songwriter Megan Nash. Tickets for their performance at The Root are $10 each.

Simon Arseneau - The Meridian Booster - The Meridian Booster

Edmonton Music Awards announces nominees Folk-pop duo Two Bears North leads pack
February 5th, 2014



EDMONTON - Less than a day after picking up a Juno nod, Chloe Albert is adding more nominations to her name.

The folk-rock singer-songwriter is up for four Edmonton Music Awards — including Album of the Year for Dream Catcher, Female Artist of the Year and People’s Choice.

Another Juno nominee, country artist Brett Kissel, is nominated for five EMAs, including Single of the Year for Started With a Song, Male Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.

But this year’s front-runner is folk-pop duo Two Bears North with six nods, including Album of the Year for Comeocean, Group of the Year, and Female Artist of the Year. Two Bears North consists of Melissa Walker and Sophie Heppell.

The fourth annual Edmonton Music Awards will be handed out Sunday, April 13 at Royal Alberta Museum Theatre. Tickets will be available at yeglive.ca in the coming weeks.

Organizer Danny Fournier says 142 artists submitted entries. Eighty-eight songs were considered for Song of the Year — only five made the cut: 100 Mile House’s Last Call, Brett Kissel’s Started With A Song, Bryan Finlay’s Tonight Is Alright, Tupelo Honey’s Halo, and Two Bears North’s Comeocean.

Other multiple nominees include 100 Mile House (four), singer-songwriter Ben Sures (four), pop vocalist Bryan Finlay (four), Rend (four), Erica Viegas (three), and Holden Daniels/My Sister Ocean (three). - Edmonton Journal

Music Preview: Two Bears North among cream of the crop


December 19th, 2013

It’s a banner weekend for live music fans in the city, as a pair of extraordinary albums are being released, with parties to celebrate both of them. And celebrate we should, as both are among the cream of the crop of releases this year by Edmonton artists, in what has undoubtedly been an incredible year for albums by local bands.

The first offering is from Two Bears North, which will release their new album “Comeocean” on Friday night as part of a bill at The Artery (9 pm $13) that also includes local favourites The Provincial Archive. Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker have assembled a sound that is a brilliant shining combination of Hollerado, Neko Case, and Matt and Kim. Their indie-pop album makes one reminisce about being oceanside, or poolside, delightfully sipping on one of those drinks with an umbrella in it. You know the kind. The Provincial Archive comes into the evening with a dedicated indie folk following. Frontman Craig Schram and the rest of the multi-instrumentalist members released a stellar debut in 2008, and have since followed it up with 2010’s “Maybe We Could Be Holy”. The band recently returned from a lengthy European tour, and there’s word that a third album is in the offing, so expect significant amounts of new material. - Gigcity

Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker are both Edmonton-based musicians who originally hail from the West Coast. The two have played together in various musical projects over the course of the past half-dozen years or so, and on December 20th, they'll be putting out Comeocean -- which is the debut album for their joint original project, Two Bears North.

The band describes Comeocean as the "unification of a yearning for the ocean and the commotion of an obsessive and neurotic mind. Two West Coast women finding each other in the prairies and bearing the North together; on a journey to figure out the complexities of the human psyche."

Sophie and Melissa, along with drummer Nich Davies, have played various different instruments with a huge array of Alberta artists over the past few years -- Jeff Stuart & the Hearts, Scott Cook, 100 Mile House, Collen Brown, Dead Red Pine, Alex Vissia, Third Branch and the Consonance, to name a few. The release of Comeocean, though, represents the fruition of a long labour of love for Two Bears North; the nine-song debut sees an official launch with an event on Friday, December 20th in the band's hometown of Edmonton. The show takes place at the Artery, as part of a bill that also includes fellow Edmontonian group, The Provincial Archive.

In anticipation of the momentous event, the band came down to CKUA for a visit to the Lunch Box program -- spinning some music from the record, chatting with host Grant Stovel, and starting it all off with a live performance. With Sophie on electric guitar and lead vocals, Melissa on bass guitar and harmony vocals, and Nich on a scaled-down drum kit and background vocals, they performed two songs live in-studio -- they played the album cut "Front Seat", and they started off the tandem set with the album's title track.

Take a listen to Two Bears North's visit to CKUA studios, starting with a live in-studio performance, and including an interview and music from the debut album, Comeocean: - CKUA

Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker have forged their own unique blend of indie pop/rock as TWO BEARSNORTH. Our Q&A Sesh .. |

Listening to the debut album Comeocean from TWO BEARS NORTH conjures up memories of other
female driven indie bands such as Calgary’s MAUD and Halifax’s JALE. Tight, punchy, pop-rock replete
with melodic hooks, intricate rhythms, and some inexplicable/intangible quality that makes it all so
utterly charming, and in this case some extra panache rounding out the rock edges. Besides the obvious
guitar, bass & drums combo, TBN employ a variety of other instruments that include upright bass, synth,
glockenspiel, violin, trumpet, and an array of percussion tools, integral to the music’s exploratory tone
and worldly texture, and not unlike some early songs from West Coast contemporary HEY OCEAN.

The fresh, youthful vibe to the music initially belies the complexity, craft, and experience that’s woven
into it. In fact, six years of recording and touring in other bands has likely served them well as the brick
and mortar for building up to the pair’s musical vision that is Comeocean. The honesty of the songs and
the intimacy created with each unfolding track is bound to elicit an appreciation for their unique blend of
disarming pop/rock, a signature sound they can be proud of.

The band’s official Album Release takes place December 20th, so in advance of that we bring you our Q &
A Session with Sophie and Melissa, 2/3′s of the Edmonton-based indie trio TWO BEARS NORTH. [So Keep
Reading ...]

The Interview

ROKLINE: First off, congrats on a stellar debut album which I haven’t been able to stop playing for the
last week. Lots of great musical hooks and a very west-coasty vibe. So how do west coast indie musicians
wind up in Edmonton and how did you meet ? Does it feel like kismet now ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: We met at Grant MacEwan here in Edmonton and began playing in bands together
in 2008. Both of us came to Edmonton with the intention of definitely not staying here permanently, but
with such a supportive, talented, and diverse music community it’s made it very hard to want to leave.
Sure the weather sucks, but its just makes so much sense to use Edmonton as a home base.

We’ve worked really hard on our working relationship for the past six years. Our common goals,
passions, and interests have kept us together.

Melissa’s strengths are usually where I fall short, and vice-versa. Kismet maybe as we are definitely lucky
to have found each other. We had to learn new instruments (myself on guitar and Melissa on harmony
vocals) in order to have this band as, let’s be serious, who wants to hear just sax and bass?

We’ve kept each other motivated and inspired and continue to be challenged and grow together.

ROKLINE: We know you’re actually a trio, so who’s the third member of TWO BEARS NORTH ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: Two Bears North began as a concept the two of us came up with after years of
playing together in other bands. We began as a duo but then quickly realized that we needed drums to
achieve the overall sound we were going for. Sarah McGreer was our original drummer who wrote and
recorded all the drum parts on the album. Sarah was a huge part of our sound but now we have gone our
separate ways. Recently we started playing with Nich Davies on drums who we feel so lucky to have. We
had the pleasure of playing with him in another band and are super excited to be writing and performing
with him again. He is like-minded creatively and shares the same goals and work ethic as us.

ROKLINE: So despite the youthful vibe of the songs and the fact that this is your debut album, you’re
both seasoned pros who’ve actually spent several years touring and recording with other bands. How
crucial was that experience in becoming Two Bears North ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: The years we spent working in other projects was essential for the creation of Two
Bears North. We gained so much knowledge of what to do – and what not to do- we gained experience
and confidence and created networks and relationships that can carry over to this band. The youthful
vibe comes from the fact that this is our very own band that we’re just so excited and passionate about.
And, as said early, had to pick up new instruments to make it want we wanted it to be. It is easy to
become jaded- we spent three years in the hardest working band you’ve never heard of- but it’s so
important to stay humble and to stay focused and driven. And Two Bears North finally feels like we’ve got
the right formula to really have the leg room to do something great.

ROKLINE: So you’ve opened for notable Vancouver band HEY OCEAN .. Some obvious parallels there.
West-coast, oceans, jazzy alt-pop style … especially on your song ‘Fishes’. When, where & how did that
happen, and what are some other memorable shows thus far ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: We opened for Hey Ocean while in another band together but I’d say there are
definitely crossovers in our styles. With both of us originally growing up on the West Coast we have that
deep tie to the ocean and sometimes struggle with being in the prairies. When the concept for
Comeocean was evolving (Comeocean is a unification of a yearning for the ocean and the commotion of
an obsessive and neurotic mind) we were both planning to move back to Vancouver, but, as stated
earlier, the community here makes it very hard to want to leave!

A memorable show for Two Bears though would have to be our first official show that we played this
summer at Wunderbar. It was the album release for our rocker friends Labradoodle along with Black
Thunder from Regina. All of our friends knew we’d been working so hard on this band- we’d recorded
our whole album by then- but we hadn’t played a show yet. It felt pretty great and pretty special for our
first show to be totally sold out with so many supportive and friendly faces in the crowd.

ROKLINE: Here comes the stock question: What artists influenced you, have informed your songwriting,
and inspire you today ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: Artists that influence us are other three piece bands like Nirvana- who manage to
have such a big full sound while still being a three piece- Bill Laswell who is groundbreaking with his use
of bass effects, as well as female fronted indie pop bands like Tegan and Sara (earlier albums), Metric,
and Sidney York. We’re also so inspired by so many local musicians we get to see or share the stage with.
All the people from the house concert venue The Root Cellar. They’re so supportive of independent music
and are really trying to do something special with their concerts and their recording productions that
they run as well. So Alex Vissia and Nich Davies, are behind that. Alex has done so much with her own
music as well as being part of other groups and Nich plays with us and a great up and coming band Revenge of the Trees.

ROKLINE: If I had to pick a favourite track from the album today it would probably be ‘Hold On’. It has a
very alluring melody, and I like the contrast between the song’s upbeat rhythm and lyrics depicting
someone in the throes of an emotional crisis. All these elements work well together in capturing the tone
of someone struggling to keep it together. But that’s just my take on it … So what was the impetus for that song ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: Well Hold On has the common theme that love makes you crazy. I think most of us
have experienced that feeling. That’s when you have to be especially thankful for the friends that tell it
like it is and tell you that you’re absolutely insane and have lost it. Hold On was actually written before
the peak of the insanity phase though, which proves that sometimes things can come out in a song
before you really realize it yourself. That music can be so insightful and intuitive even if you yourself are
insane and clueless. Plus there is always art in struggle so it’s maybe okay to lose your mind a bit from time to time!

ROKLINE: Are there any local heroes or artists in the Independent Music Community you’d like to
mention or give a shout out to ?

TWO BEARS NORTH: Some Local Heroes would be The Root Cellar Crew, Rod from DV8, and All the folks
at Acoustic Music Shop. We’d also like to mention other artists that we are so privileged to play with,
such as Jenie Thai, 100 Mile House, Mary Lee Bird, Elliot Thomas, and Scott Cook.

ROKLINE: Finally, an open question … is there anything you’d like to tell people reading this, such
as What do you have planned when the album is released ? Anything at all you’d like to mention.

TWO BEARS NORTH: We’ll be recording three new songs at the end of January with Peter Stone from
The Bird-Shop to enable us to shop around for help with our next album- grants, labels, producers etc.
And we’ve applied for many Canadian music festivals so hopefully some of those will be centre points for
summer tour dates. With other bands we’ve done the long across Canada tours but for this band we want
to focus on starting locally then branching out slowly from there to really try to build a strong fan base.

NOTE: The Official Album Release party for Comeocean is December 20th at THE ARTERY in Edmonton
where they’ll share the stage with PROVINCIAL ARCHIVE. Click here for the Facebook Event ! - Rokline Magazine

1. Two Bears North – Comeocean

Another pick reminiscent of summer indie-pop, this duo of Sophie Heppell and Melissa Walker presents nine tracks that evoke the frolicking amongst the waves or basking in a glowing sun, and yet presents just enough of a Canadiana feel to make this album perfectly suited for listening at any time of the year, in any climate. Add in some subtle synth textures, a little lo-fi sound, and you’ve got a phenomenal record. The best this glorious city had to offer this year, in fact. If you only have time for one track, check out “Hold On”. - Gigcity.ca

“My weaknesses seem to be Melissa’s strengths and vice versa,” says Sophie Heppell of her musical partnership with bandmate Melissa Walker. “I’m very melody-oriented and she’s very rhythmically
oriented, so it’s pretty complementary how we work together.”
The duo have worked and toured together in bands such as pop-jazz six-piece the Consonance and
reggae group Third Branch, and have spent the past six years concocting the sonic formula that became
its latest endeavour, Two Bears North—rounded out by Nich Davies on drums.

“We both had to learn new things for this band to work because in other projects I’ve played fiddle and
saxophone and that’s not really a lead instrument,” adds Heppell, noting she and Walker have
consistently worked well together on the business side of music, so a new project together seemed like a
natural progression. “I had to learn guitar, and then I wanted Melissa to sing harmonies, so she basically
had to learn to sing.”

The result for Two Bears North—a play on the word bipolar in the sense of two personalities melding into
one unit—is a pop-rock sound filled with catchy beats accented by thoughtful lyrics. Heppell and
Walker’s work, which reveals an influence from Metric and early Tegan and Sara, has resulted in the duo’s
nine-song debut Comeocean.

“It’s a cross between a yearning for the ocean—Melissa and I are both from the west coast—so it’s sort of
a blend of wanting the ocean mixed with the commotion that goes on in sort of a neurotic, obsessive
head space,” Heppell explains, noting the introspective track “Hold On” as an example of this often
conflicting internal dialogue. “I think it’s a pretty common theme for your head to be thinking one thing
and your heart to be feeling another … a way to keep yourself sane is to express yourself in the lyrics and
figure out what on earth is going on in your head.”

Fri, Dec 20 (8:30 pm)
With the Provincial Archive
Artery, $13 (advance), $15 (door) - Vue Weekly

I had the opportunity to listen to the debut full-length album from local act Two Bears North this week. And I must say I was exceptionally impressed. A great little indie-summer-pop effort, with nine tracks of effervescent, rollicking fun, with subtle tinges of synth and garage thrown in for good effect.

The groovealicious set of songs is perhaps best described as a blended smoothie consisting of Hollerado, Cub, and Matt & Kim fruit, then sipped poolside on a lengthy vacation with not a care in the world. Sophie Heppell's vocals remind one of Neko Case, seemingly at infinite ease with the rest of the world, an innocent simplicity that lends to the duo's majestic command of songwriting. Melissa Walker is the other half of the Two Bears North duo, both of whom come to us by way of another stellar indie combination, The Consonance, and reggae act Third Branch. The pair has also worked with Scott Cook (who my wife loved so much when we saw him open for Brandi Carlile that she purchased an album for herself, and for her father- I wonder if they're in the credits of either), 100 Mile House, Jeff Stuart and the Hearts, and Colleen Brown (I wonder if I've seen either of them with her live).

My favorite track may be "Hold On", a shimmering summer track that evokes the feel of surf cascading across a white sand beach and rocks, and the utterly delightfully sung chorus of "losing my grip" will probably remain in your head for hours and hours. Perhaps days and days. And the surf noise at the end of "Fishes" is just perfect. I probably would've finished with that track for its effect personally, but I defer to the duo's extraordinary musical talent in knowing how they wanted the album to play out. "Bipolar Princess" is another standout, where Sophie's vocals and Melissa's bass grooves blend perfectly into a roiling sandstorm of bliss, with unequivocal changes of pace in vocals leading the way through some quirky subject matter.

The album "Comeocean" is scheduled to be released in December. Watch for it, and definitely head out and see them live if you get a chance, it looks like they're starting to schedule more gigs in anticipating of the release.

-New Music Michael (Best Music Blog in Vue Weekly's Best Of Edmonton 2013) - New Music Michael