Bear the Astronot makes music that matters. If someone were to be raised in an experiment in science and the human psyche it would be him. Step 01: Take a young American kid, who like most American kids knows little about his ancestry except that he’s mostly Irish, and have him grow up in The Grand Canyon National Park and on various Native-American reservations. Step 02: Have this child’s hippy parents name him Running-Bear. Step 03: Have this child consumed by music, encompassed by the fresh and newly born sounds of hip-hop, drenched in funk, 60’s and 70’s rock, raised by the dreaded icons of Reggae. Step 04: Mix in a dab of Electronic and Spoken Word. Step 05: Step back, and see what it sounds like!!

The sound you hear will be a window into the past and a freight train straight into the future. It will echo deep and wrenching emotions, yet settle into positive ideas, wit and sarcasm. It will reflect the raging political tides of the world around us, and the ever-changing voice of modern music. You will be able to make out the bubbling energy of Underground and Indie music, while still catching contagious melodies and a moving undertone of popular music sensibility. Shhh, listen….Now you know what Bear the Astronot sounds like.

Bear is an experienced MC, producer, studio engineer, and audio technician. He is a graduate of the revered Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, and has studied Music Theory, Music History, and Music Business at several colleges and universities. The Astronot spent 8 years as a professional Disc Jockey, and uses what he learned as a DJ to better his production skills. The knowledge he has gained over the years allowed him to Produce, Perform, Write, Record, and Mix every song on his first solo album entitled “Cricket Songs.” “I am a big fan of Singer Songwriters, and respect the craft of songwriting tremendously. I wanted to try and make a hip-hop album that was also a Singer-Songwriter album. Why not?”

Bear the Astronot concocts downtempo electronic, sample filled jazzy record benders, and entrancing energetic dance tracks under his side project “Turntable Kachina”. “The complaint I get most often is that all my music is so different. I take it as a compliment.” Bear has played many instruments over the years, and been involved in many bands, groups, and crews including Eklektraphonik, Nehesh, Dj Bear, Afterbirth, Knob Twisters and many others. “Music doesn’t have boundaries, yet I have created so many boundaries around myself to be able to make it.”

Bear as a youth was always strongly influenced by the more revolutionary figures in music. Public Enemy, KRS-One, Bob Marley, John Lennon, Rage Against the Machine, and many others have all molded his firmly political music. “Musicians have an extremely important voice in politics, and have the distinct ability to change opinions and educate their listeners. I would like to think that my music may in some ways call others to action, and maybe be a small igniter helping to fuel revolution.” The Astronot makes it a point to explore all aspects of the human experience. “Politics are important, but Love, Pain, Struggle, Joy, Companionship, Anger, these are the things that we all share. I hope people with different political views can still enjoy my non-political music.

The human experience, emotions shared, well written and delivered, all of these things explain Bear the Astronot’s music. “I’m the artist, but I still work a day job, I still can barely make the rent, I still live the struggle. I hope people who listen can hear that, and take solace in it.” The Astronot makes music for pleasure, music for release, music for contemplation, but most of all THE ASTRONOT MAKES MUSIC FOR YOU. HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.


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