Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Bear.
Hi Joel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m an artist, songwriter, and producer from Orange County California, by way of Los Angeles. I was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and grew up there in an old schoolhouse that my parents renovated. I grew up with a love of the woods, spending my time exploring and building forts in the forest behind my home. When I was ten, my family slowly moved across the country in a camper, eventually landing in San Jacinto, California. This was a very informative part of my life living in several states, which allowed me to meet different types of people and see all the beauty that America has to offer. Once we moved to California, I spent much of my time skating, making art, and writing music. When I was 16, I started my own media production company and have been working in the creative industry ever since. I’ve always had a passion for combining music and art in a story-driven way, taking inspiration from my hero’s like Kanye, Bob Dylan, and Phil Collins.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working in music requires the ability to wear many hats and develop a variety of skill sets, especially if you want to be independent. It’s been a challenge accomplishing that, launching this project in the ever-changing landscape that is Covid-19. I think it’s an incredible time to be a music artist because we’re now able to be so much more hands-on with our ideas. If you produce your own music, you can put out a single every two weeks, you can design your own merch, you can explore new ways of engaging with fans through live streams and NFT’s. It’s truly a wild time to be an artist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the artist, songwriter, and producer all wrapped in one. I’ve become known for creating big cinematic synth sounds with driving drums and anthemic hooks. It’s music you can get in your car and jam to. Over the past ten years, I’ve worked in all aspects of the creative process. I’ve been in bands and had solo music projects. I’ve worked as a photographer, stylist, director, art director, fashion director, and creative director in music. It has allowed me to be intimately involved with so much of the music business. I feel so lucky to have tried so many things and now they’re all skills in my artist tool belt. At the end of the day, we all want stories, we all want songs to speak to us, to inspire us, and to captivate us. That’s my passion. I want to use all that I’ve learned to align music, stories, and art in a way that connects people to people.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I think when we look back, we will see that Covid has been a major creative reset. It has allowed so many people the chance to experiment with new things, to go to different places, to evaluate their passions and life direction. People have started to break the mold, and you’re seeing a surge in new artists and even some unexpected new content from established artists. For me, it was a moment to see my dreams, hone my skills, and step back out ready to share my art with the world. I’m truly so excited for all that’s ahead.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joelbear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelbear/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC70aCrOrFumxxb9qnqSxMMQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/joel_bear
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4l32VDifP2u3Jbd2onRq69?si=qa9nOEYfSuu1CJXSk73msw
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