Introducing: Sasha & the Bear

We fell really hard for the soul-soothing yet emotionally hard-hitting sounds of Wake Me Up by Israeli duo Sasha & the Bear. We spoke to Dov and Sasha about the single, their creative process, and their plans for the future. Read on to find out more.

Could you tell us a bit about Sasha & the Bear?

Dov: Sasha & the Bear is a duo that was formed in Brooklyn NY in late 2016 early 2017 btw 2 close friends Sasha Daniel and Dov Eagle. It’s a pop/lo-fi/indie project btw 2 friends that love to make music together.

How did the two of you meet?

Sasha: We met officially ten years ago in NY. We are both from TLV originally and knew each other briefly from the army (IDF) where we both served in the army band. When we met again in NY we started making music and performing right away and became extremely close friends. We consider each other siblings.

What drives you both to make music?

Sasha: We both come from very musical families, so music is a huge part of our lives since we were babies. Music makes us forget about time and mundane worries. It’s meditative, exciting, and simply fun! Music is the perfect medium for both of us to express feelings.

How does the creative process work within Sasha & the Bear?

Dov: It really depends on where and when we meet to work on music together. Our last EP is a result of a 10-day trip to Sweden where we met with very basic music equipment. We were most inspired by what we’ve been through in the past year or so. Usually, we’ll start with an idea of what the song is about and take it from there

What tracks do you have on repeat right now?

Sasha: Swim Good by Frank Ocean, Just Dancing by Sylvan Esso and Rosalia’s last album.

Dov: SBTRKT – GHOST, Wet Leg – Chaise Longue, altopalo – waitin 4 u.

Who or what would you say has had the most influence on your music?

Dov: It’s hard to answer that since we’re changing all the time and what we’re going through in life really also affects our art. I would def say that my mom’s passing last year had a huge effect over me and my Art – in general my mom was a huge influence most of my life since she was a guitar teacher for over 20 years, and I started taking guitar lessons with her at the age of 6.

What song always gets you singing along?

Sasha: I can think of so many… for me it’s Steve Wonder, Amy.

Dov: I’m more of a listener less of a signing along kinda guy. Def not a good company if u like karaoke!

What artists would you love to work with?

Dov: would love to work with Baths who’s one of my fav artists but also FKA Twigs, Ela Minus there’s really a lot of artists I would love to collab with.

Could you tell our readers some about your new single, Wake Me Up?

Dov: Wake me Up was written after the loss of my mom Vera in May 2021.

The song is about the feeling of losing someone you love and the way to cope with the loss. a reminder of our own mortality.

It’s a reminder that we’re all mortals and that our time on this planet is limited – it’s a song about learning to live with the loss and embrace all the feelings that come with it and mostly to learn how to keep on going with the loss side by side.

What’s up next for Sasha & the Bear after the release of Wake Me Up? Gigs, videos, new music?

Dov: We have 2 more songs coming out this year/early next year and we’re both planning to meet again sometime soon and work on new music.

For now, we create music together and share it with the world. We don’t have any plans of playing together soon given that we both live in different countries and have our own personal projects going on, but u ever know. Maybe someday soon we gonna create a new set and go on a small tour.

Head over to Instagram to catch up with the solo adventures of Dov and Sasha, as well as on Twitter, (Dov) and Facebook (Sasha).You can stream Wake Me Up and more music from Sasha & the Bear on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer.