Mama Bear
Photo by Francesca DeStefano
Brooklyn has brought us a couple of bears – Victoria and Dale – whose sugary, honey-lickingly sweet music makes me feel like crawling through a bee hive then dancing in the sunshine with my best friends. You might get the impression it’s sickly – and you’d be right. But we quite like it.
Hi Mama Bear, do you know the story of Goldilocks? Is that what you are named after? What happened to Papa Bear?
Yes! Of course we know the story of the blonde kleptomaniac. But no, that is not what we are referencing. The name comes from an endearing, somewhat bossy nickname. As for Papa Bear, he’s a dead beat.
With such a cute name, do you sometimes have a hard time persuading people that you are a serious band?
Ahh…naaahhh.
How long have you been going for? Why did you decide to get together?
We’d been dreaming of putting together a little bear family for quite some time, but we didn’t come to fruition until early 2009. As for why we got together, accidents happen.
Photo by Jeremy Cook
What is the scene like in Brooklyn for your type of music? Do you have friends in bands playing a similar sound, or are you paving a way for yourselves on your own?
We feel that the scene for “our type of music”, is relatively small. Most people are trying to give that quirky, enigmatic sound—and we’re that too, but more in our personalities and live shows rather than our music.
What songs are your favourite to go out dancing to at the moment? Do you think these songs have influenced you?
At the moment Mama Bear (Vivi) is in love, love, love with Lady Gaga. She tried to make the band cover one of her latest singles but that didn’t go over too well.
What occasion do you make your music for? Dancing? Making love? Funerals? Having a bath?
Our music is definitely for making new dance moves as well as making out and making up. AND EATING GLUTTONOUSLY.
Photo by Francesca DeStefano
Have you ever played/been to the UK? If so, where did you go and what did you think of it?
It’s hard for bears to travel overseas, we’re usually on uni-cycles. We have yet to be so fortunate to play in the UK. But when we do, hopefully it wont be so hard to get everyone out of hibernation.
Posh Spice a.k.a Victoria Beckham has a child named after Brooklyn – which New York borough would you name your child after?
Hrrmm. I don’t know if we’re too keen on naming any of our baby bears after a borough—although, Queenie Bear would be an adorable name.
Love the art work… very simple but effective – whose idea was it? Do you think the rest of your releases will follow this pattern?
The artwork was google’s idea. We didn’t really have anything planned for these tracks, but we both have an affinity for patterns; gingham, plaid, polka dots, you name it. As long as it reminds us of picnics.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
Our friend Scott just bought a Schwinn Beach cruiser online, on which he plans to ride around the mean streets of Brooklyn. There was a Gay Bear joke mixed in there somewhere. Oh, we’re also watching Canadian Bacon at the moment.
Have you ever eaten a Yorkshire pudding? If so, did you enjoy it?
We only eat fried chicken.
You have a bear mask on your Myspace – do you ever wear them on stage? I hope so… but does it affect your abilities?
The bear mask on our Myspace is reserved for the actual Mama of Mama Bear—Vivi. We’ve been debating whether or not to wear these half masks so that everyone can still breathe while performing. Passing out is cool, but just not during a show.
Any other hobbies besides music, do you guys drink? Swim? Wrestle?
We love to cook big dinners together. We have a den (read: loft) where all of the bears hang out, get wasted and have dance parties. It’s heaven.
And finally, do you prefer Top Gun or Maid In Manhattan?
Maid in Manhattan. Duh. Do we get a jar of h(m)oney now?
http://myspace.com/ohmamabear
http://mamabear.bandcamp.com
