Solar Bears

John Kowalski and Rian Trench comprise the Irish electronic duo Solar Bears, whose sound draws heavily from film scores and science fiction. Blending electronic and acoustic instruments, the pair crafts eclectic pieces that shift between pastoral downtempo reflections and guitar-led excursions into neo-disco and indie pop. They came together in 2009 and chose their name as a nod to Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 science-fiction masterpiece Solaris. Mike Paradinas soon took notice, bringing Solar Bears to Planet Mu, where the label released their debut EP Inner Sunshine along with the first album She Was Coloured In during 2010. Both projects drew widespread notice online, prompting the duo to deliver their follow-up Supermigration in 2013. That record leaned further into pop sensibilities than their earlier work and featured guest appearances by Keep Shelly in Athens and Beth Hirsch. Three years afterward, Solar Bears issued their third album Advancement through Sunday Best.