Today, June 20th, 2025, London-born, Bristol-based composer Message To Bears, the alias of Jerome Alexander, has unleashed his latest single, ‘River Calls’, through Lost Birds Records. This track is the last preview before his upcoming album, Tired Eyes, Waking Hearts, hits shelves on July 18th. With over 200 million streams under his belt, Message To Bears is no stranger to crafting emotive soundscapes that fuse ambient, folk, post-rock, and electronic vibes. His resume boasts gigs supporting Nils Frahm at Oxford’s Holywell Music Room and Olafur Arnalds at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, plus a standout set at Green Man Festival alongside heavyweights like Mumford and Sons, Flaming Lips, and Beirut. He’s earned spins from BBC Radio 6’s Guy Garvey, Tom Robinson, and Nitin Sawhney, and scored nods from outlets like Vulture, Stereogum, and CLASH Magazine. His music’s cinematic edge has also landed in Netflix shows like Virgin River and the iconic game Life is Strange, cementing his spot in the ambient folk and modern classical worlds.
‘River Calls’ weaves a hypnotic mix of ambient folk and orchestral layers, kicking off with a sparse guitar pluck that gives way to a ghostly choral hum—like a whisper drifting over fog-soaked peaks. Strings sweep in with a somber grace, joined by subtle shakers and a steady four-on-the-floor beat that nudges the track forward. Ambient washes and shimmering pads add a prismatic glow, as the arrangement builds and unravels with a natural rise and fall, landing in a raw yet calm finale. Drawing from acts like Explosions In the Sky, Bon Iver, and José González, it’s a folktronica gem that’ll hook anyone into Sufjan Stevens or Novo Amor.
Message To Bears described the track, saying, “Influenced by the primal pull of nature, building, swelling and finally offering release and quiet comfort in uncertain times.” That vibe shines through, pulling listeners into a serene yet gripping sonic space. With Tired Eyes, Waking Hearts dropping next month, this single sets the stage for more of his lush, atmospheric magic. Give ‘River Calls’ a spin now and keep an eye out for July 18th.
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