There’s nothing like a move back home to trigger waves of nostalgia. That’s what Leslie Bear, the songwriter behind Long Beard, discovered after a career change brought her back to her former New Jersey stomping grounds. With her friends moved on from her hometown, she found herself feeling like she was standing still and more reflective on her past than ever. This couldn’t help but be translated into her music.
Four years after her debut Sleepwalker, Bear is set to return with the pensive Means to Me on Sept. 13. The album’s title track exudes the contemplative nature of the record, with sweeping vocals and hazy, reversed guitars. The song plays like a memory just out of reach, drifting in and out of view as you struggle to hold on to an anecdote or any piece to keep you tied to the past.
Finding good new music can be a full time job, so let KEXP help! In Our Headphones brings you five song recommendations every Monday, straight from KEXP’s DJs and Music Directors. Join hosts Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili on this never-ending journey of music discovery.
Host Emily Fox and KEXP’s editorial team talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.
