Bear in Heaven Interview: SXSW 2010

Originally starting as a solo project in his bedroom, Jon Philpot began writing songs under the name Bear in Heaven. Eventually, Philpot added other members and they released two full-length albums. It was 2009s 'Beast Rest Forth Mouth' that snagged a Best New Music award from Pitchfork. The band is currently on tour and will be making a stop at this years SXSW.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Shape shifting drones with a beat you can dance too. Sometimes.

How did your band form?

I made a bedroom record and we started playing those songs. We forgot those songs, went through several gear changes, lost some players, got a new practice space and wrote some songs together.

What are your musical influences?

Drones, RnB, boogie rock, space disco, distortion, delay, LFO's, Prince and all our friends that make music.

How did you come up with your band name?

My friend Jeff Sims gave me a drawing of a bear in heaven. It stuck. Though, the drawing was never used for our album artwork.

What's your biggest vice?

Jon - Projects
Joe - Cheeseburgers
Adam - Ladies
Sadek - Showers

What's in your festival survival kit?

Bottle of Herradura Silver. A bag of satsumas. Three gallons of water. Shades, Balli shag. Flops. Trunks. iPhone. Taco Bell bucks. Pocket knife. One speedo. Hackey sack. Danish people. Golf carts. Massage tents. Essential oils. Credit cards. Greenbacks. Binoculars. Ear plugs. BB gun and a miracle.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Gerald Jay King and Pinegrove.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

A guy squatting in a grocery cart while talking a pay phone and meeting Bobb Trimble.

Originally you started out as a solo project. Why the need to form a band instead of just getting other musicians to back you up for live show?

That was years ago and I didn't know what the hell I was doing. Plus, collaboration is fun.

So you're playing SXSW and the Pitchfork festival this year. How exciting is that?

It's kinda like seeing Niagara Falls from behind the water or driving golf balls into LA rush-hour traffic.

The songs have pop elements, but are not wholly dependent on them? Any reason for this?

We like pop songs as much as we like not pop songs. We try to give equal attention to both children.

Edward Stuart is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.