Leslie Bear, performing under the professional name “Long Beard” had released her 2nd album “Means To Me” in September 2019, which make indie-rock / pop fans around the world recognize that Long Beard is promising SSW. Her dreamy sound, simple instruments set, and clear voice resonate with the people who listen to her music.
In Indie rock / pop scene, there are a lot of musician popping up and being acknowledged as the center figures there, such as Jay Som, Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, Clario, Japanese Breakfast. Each musician has their own distinctive sound feature in their production, and Long Bear is not exception.
She had released her 1st album called “Sleepwalker” in 2015, which already had a dreamy and shoegaze-oriented elements there. However, she made a decision to pursue her career as computer scientist, which is her major in the university. Because she decided to devote herself to doing so, she had to stop composing songs and performing as Long Bear. After a course of a few years’ experience of working as full-time employee, she got her passionate back to be a musician and start making music again. Then finally, she had released “Means To Me”.
What is distinguishing from other SSW is not only the sound-making that gives the feeling like floating in the air in the dream to ones who listen to the Long Bear’s songs, but also its introspective lyrics that let ones go deeply into their inner feeling.
In order to get into Long Beard’s world of sound, Sleepyhead Blog sent an email to get an opportunity to have an interview with her and she willingly accepted my offer for the interview through emails.
In the interview, Long Beard answered my question, what the professional name “Long Beard” derives from, and what inspirations and stories are behind “Means To Me” as well as musical roots which brought her to composing songs.
The lonely sounds are probably more reflective of how I actually feel a lot of the time and I am usually most comfortable making music when I feel alone.
— You are performing and releasing your works under the name “Long Beard”. Where did the name come from?
Long Beard : I came up with the name when I started writing these songs and playing basement shows in my college town. It represents a wizard character that serves also as a storyteller for my songs.
— Your 2nd album “Means To Me” was released last year. What brought you to pick up “Means To Me” as the album title out of rest of 9 songs?
Long Beard : It was difficult for me to decide on a name for the album, but after thinking on it for a while, I decided to name it after the song “Means To Me” since it was one of the first songs I wrote from the album and I realized it best represents what the album is about- exploring the meaning of different themes in my life.
— Your songs get me feel like I am solitary person and put myself in the room alone to face myself in a dream, which is the biggest reason I love your sound. What inspired you to create dreamy yet lonely sounds and lyrics in “Means To Me”?
Long Beard : Thank you so much! I have always been drawn to dreamy sounds, and it’s always felt most natural for me to make music that sounds that way. Maybe it’s a reflection of how I want to feel. The lonely sounds are probably more reflective of how I actually feel a lot of the time and I am usually most comfortable making music when I feel alone.
Stability represented as a home.
— In the album, the notion of “Home” is featured both in an actual and metaphorical way. What drove you to express the notion of “Home” in the album?
Long Beard : I was moving around a lot to different homes/apartments when I wrote the album and was going through a lot of life changes with my career/jobs as well as personal relationships and friendships. I guess that led me to want a sense of stability and thought about what that could look like. Stability represented as a home.
— Could you tell me what kind of songs you were listening to in a production process of “Means To Me”?
Long Beard : I was listening to a bunch of different types of music, most that don’t sound anything like my music, but I remember really liking the production in The Blue Nile’s album “Hats” as well as Talk Talk’s “Laughing Stock” for their production value. Those albums made me feel a certain way, maybe a sense of comfort among feelings of uncertainty.
— I am curious about your musical roots that got you into composing songs. What kind of songs did you listen to when you are child or like teenager?
Long Beard : When I was a teenager, I was mostly listening to emo music, and then started listening to post-rock, folk, indie and ambient music more. I also listened to a lot of dream pop and shoegaze which I think influences the textures in my own music.
It made me realize how passionate I was about being a musician and that I should pursue it even though it’s a difficult career that comes with many sacrifices.
— I heard that Michelle Zauner from Japanese Breakfast invited you as a bassist to her tour with Slow Dive. How would you say what you acquired from the experience? And How is the experience giving you an influence?
Long Beard : Yes, that was such a great tour and experience for me- one I’ll never forget! At the time, I stopped playing shows with Long Beard and was working full time at an office job, so being able to play music again with these amazing bands was really inspiring for me and made me really happy. It made me realize how passionate I was about being a musician and that I should pursue it even though it’s a difficult career that comes with many sacrifices.
— Could you share your recent favorite music with me?
Long Beard : I’ve been listening to Unwound’s album “Repetition” lately as well as the new Soccer Mommy album.
— You are going to go on to tour with Anna Burch, who is one of my favorite SSW. Did she invite you to the tour? What are you expecting for this tour?
*When I sent my question list to Leslie, it was before the outbreak of COVID-19.
Long Beard : I was really excited for this tour with Anna, but unfortunately it’s been cancelled due to health concerns surrounding Covid-19. We are hoping we can reschedule it sometime in the summer, but it’s hard to tell what will happen right now.
