LISTEN TO AND SHARE “DON’T WANNA BE EUROPEAN” HERE
PERFORMANCES WITH CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON AND ANGEL OLSEN BEGIN FEB 23
“from the realm of low key bedroom pop to a strobe lit dancefloor - The FADER
"blends melodies reminiscent of artists like Sade with the playful sounds of artists like Deerhoof and Dirty Projectors." - Pigeons and Planes
“A real standard of musicality and musicianship” - Zane Lowe (Beats1)
“carefree and expansive experimental pop… we need music like this more than ever.”
- Stereogum (Best Songs Of The Week)
“a pulsing revelation of deconstructed dream pop...Bernice is stretching and molding the shape of pop music to come by turning melodies into 3D soundscapes.” - CBC Music
PHOTO CREDIT: Claire Harvie // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Bernice, the Toronto-based project of vocalist / songwriter Robin Dann, shares the new single “Don't Wanna Be European”. "[The song] is written from the perspective of a bear,” says Dann. “Sitting up in a tree somewhere, she sees that she's about to be shot down, and both wonders why her life can't be spared, and also tries to accept her fate.”
Written at the Banff Centre while working with Grammy Award-winning producer Shawn Everett (Lucius, Alabama Shakes), Dann elaborates, “I wrote the song after a cub had to be removed from campus the day I arrived. We layered a melodyne'd version of my voice as a man underneath my own and also braided in some very slowed-down Vaporwave tracks from YouTube weather channel videos. I think both help to describe the woozy confusion that the bear feels.”
Bernice also announced a show with Angel Olsen and Charlotte Day Wilson on February 23 for Red Bull Sound Select's 3 Days in Miami. Bernice and Charlotte Day Wilson will also perform in Toronto during Canadian Music Week this April.
LISTEN AND SHARE “DON’T WANNA BE EUROPEAN” HERE
Born to a musical family, the daughter of a symphony harpist and the former Toronto Symphony Orchestra's principal violist, and a graduate of Goldsmiths' MA in Music, Dann's background, formal training, and experimental sensibilities developed into Bernice’s sparse arrangements and pop-minded songwriting, often following curious and unexpected paths.
Bernice’s members and collaborators including longtime Owen Pallett collaborator Thom Gill (keyboard/sampler) as well as Colin Fisher (guitar), Daniel Fortin (bass), Philippe Melanson (drums), and Felicity Williams (supporting vocals). All are professional musicians from Toronto's music community and members of Owen Pallett, DIANA, John Southworth, Bahamas, Martha Wainwright, The Barr Brothers, and many others.
Bernice have been performing actively since late 2010 and have released one full-length album (what was that, 2011), an EP (when I know how to climb, 2013), and a “cassingle” in 2015, all released independently. Bernice’s single “St Lucia”, released in November of 2016, received praise from Zane Lowe, Stereogum, and The Fader. The band’s upcoming album is co-produced by Grammy Award-winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, Lucius) and Matt Smith (Owen Pallett).
WATCH AND SHARE “ST. LUCIA” HERE
BERNICE PERFORMANCE DATES
2/23 - Miami, FL - The Hangar (Red Bull Sound Select's 3 Days In Miami) *
4/19 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club (Canadian Music Week) ^ - SOLD OUT
4/20 - Toronto , ON - The Mod Club (Canadian Music Week) ^
* w/ Angel Olsen, Charlotte Day Wilson
^ w/ Charlotte Day Wilson