Like Bear Drive Interview

Like Bear Releases Debut Single Drive

Melbourne song-writer/engineer Nayomi Pattuwage spent over seven years peeking from around stage curtains and watching over artists with whom she had written and produced new-fashioned music, collecting impressions and purpose for what was soon to become the solo project, Like Bear.

To love one's self is truly a feat, and it's a fear a lot of us need to overcome. Drive points to many of us who subconsciously grab at the world that is exterior to ourselves, and try to fill our insides; to satiate a hunger for purpose, validation and identity.

The brand new single respectfully encourages taking responsibility for yourself. Expressing self-love and independence, Drive nurtures the fear of loneliness, and urges its listeners to recognise negative emotional reactions and self-doubt, and to take the wheel.

Usually a self-produced artist, Pattuwage called-in the works of London-based Producer Dan Villalobos to design drums and synth sounds. The pair have worked together for many years, described as kindred spirits, and Pattuwage felt Drive would be truly amiss without Villalobos' work on her debut release.

"I had completed the verses, and [Melbourne artist] Maxon came in and threw a melody at me within seconds that felt completely strengthening and empowering, and it immediately formed the pre-chorus. The chorus itself fell into my lap, fully realised - I feel like it was definitely one of the many moments musicians live for."

Sometimes emotions can tip the scale and weigh more than your thoughts, and Pattuwage wanted to give voice to rationality: "leave it to accelerate, and all you gotta do is drive". It challenges that fear, and therefore challenges it's listeners to look inside for courage and purpose. "Since writing Drive I've actually used it to inspire and motivate myself. In the past I was very comfortable sitting in the back seat of a bunch of worlds external to my own, but you can't live there forever. Eventually you need to take at look at your own planet and get to building or re-building that foundation."

Drive represents a long process, and one that is ever-changing, expressing that if you at least take the wheel with good intention you will have a fair amount of control over which direction you drive in.

Interview with Nayomi Pattuwage

Question: Can you tell us about your new solo project, Like Bear?

Nayomi Pattuwage: Over the years I had written and produced for other artists, and any personal writing was pretty much thrown into a vault to be released 'someday'. Then, I experienced a really crazy turn of events last year, and my life trajectory just seemed to completely divert in another direction. I realised during this time that the fear of the unknown and potential peer disapproval was sitting heavy on me. I wasn't used to being the one who was vulnerable to feedback - I was just behind-the-scenes; no one cared. Seeing this in myself was huge for me - identifying it seemed to dissolve it. Like Bear is basically the project I've been writing for my whole life, but have never had a firm enough grasp of until now.


Question: What inspired you to go solo?

Nayomi Pattuwage: Like Bear came about when I realised that the reason I hadn't released anything of my own yet was because I was completely terrified. Being scared to share something you think you're proud of is a weird feeling, and I had to do a lot of reflecting and digging to get to a stage where I could truly believe in what I had to offer. Like Bear saved my sanity. Certain people can have ideas and share and implement them into other artists' legacies, but I always seemed to be on a different wavelength, where these ideas were true to me, and not to be imposed on others. It took me a while to see that.


Question: What's the story behind the name, Like Bear?

Nayomi Pattuwage: Funnily enough I thought of it when I was walking my dog. I like playing with symbolism, and I like for there to be real meaning and purpose in most things I do. As a term of endearment, I call my dog Bear, and I tend to place Bear after people's names who mean a lot to me, and it basically represents some form of love or gratitude I feel for them. I wanted something like this, something like bear.


Question: What was the main inspiration behind the track, Drive?

Nayomi Pattuwage: In all honesty, 'Drive' just fell out. Unconscious writing of most of the lyrics led me to discover what it was about after the fact. Ironically, it was during a time where I was fighting with myself about getting this 'music thing' finally happening. I feel like I can't reference a direct, conscious inspiration for 'Drive', but my life at the time clearly reflects the need to be lifted, and pushed.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Nayomi Pattuwage: The joy. The feeling you get when it is forming into exactly what it is meant to be. I think this is the driving force for my writing. Sometimes it comes from a melody or a hook, and other times it comes from the way a couple of lyrical phrases round up. I'm still learning to write religiously, whether 'inspired' at the time or not, but the second I feel that, I'm hooked for the day.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Nayomi Pattuwage: I'm definitely someone who has a few classics on high rotation, Prince, always. In terms of more contemporary artists, I like putting on Troye Sivan, Bleachers, Matt Corby and more recently Anderson .Paak. I generally play things until I can't bear to listen to it any longer - I get pretty obsessed.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Nayomi Pattuwage: A typical day is pretty full of variety. I work a bunch of different jobs in different fields to keep things interesting. If I'm not working, I like to get out of the city - take a day trip. I'm pretty obsessed with film photography at the moment, so I'm looking for any opportunity to play with a camera. Otherwise, I try and be good to myself; maybe exercise, cook something new, or challenge myself to remember to drink water… Then, I really like to end the day with a good session of meditation and reflecting.

Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Nayomi Pattuwage: I truly believe I have met some of the most beautiful humans on the planet, who have supported my music even before there was a Like Bear. I think the best part of everything, is that by releasing something I can finally show the respect and thanks to all of those people, for every ounce of love they have shown me over the years. It has been really overwhelming, and I am crazily grateful.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Nayomi Pattuwage: @soundslikebear
Facebook.com/soundslikebear
www.soundslikebear.com


Question: What's next for Like Bear?

Nayomi Pattuwage: I just want to keep releasing things, through whatever medium. I love art and creating things, and now that I have 'Drive' up, I'm going to use it to push myself to consistently follow up. I've got a couple of songs I am aiming to get finished by the end of the year, so we'll see what happens there!


Interview by Brooke Hunter