Message To Bears, the alias of London-born, Bristol-based composer and producer Jerome Alexander, has just dropped his latest single, ‘River Calls’, via Lost Birds Records on June 20th, 2025. Paired with a striking animated visualiser, this release marks the final preview before his upcoming album, Tired Eyes, Waking Hearts, hits the airwaves on July 18th. With a career boasting over 200 million streams, Alexander has carved out a niche with his evocative soundscapes that fuse ambient, folk, post-rock, and electronic vibes. He’s shared stages with heavyweights like Nils Frahm and Olafur Arnalds, rocked the Green Man Festival alongside acts like Mumford and Sons and Flaming Lips, and earned spins from BBC Radio 6 tastemakers such as Guy Garvey, Tom Robinson, and Nitin Sawhney. His work has popped up in outlets like Vulture, Stereogum, and CLASH Magazine, as well as in media from Life is Strange to Netflix’s Virgin River and Warrior Nun.

‘River Calls’ weaves together ambient folk and orchestral layers, pulling in listeners who vibe with Sufjan Stevens, Novo Amor, or Bon Iver. It kicks off with a gentle guitar pluck, giving way to a choral motif that hums like a faint whisper across a foggy ridge. Strings drift in, steady and mournful, while soft shakers and a laid-back four-on-the-floor beat build subtle momentum. Pads shimmer through ambient textures, creating a push-and-pull dynamic that resolves in a calm, instinctual close.

Jerome Alexander described the track, saying, “Influenced by the primal pull of nature, building, swelling and finally offering release and quiet comfort in uncertain times.” This single nails that vibe, showcasing his knack for atmospheric storytelling and teeing up Tired Eyes, Waking Hearts as a must-hear. If ‘River Calls’ is any sign, the album’s set to deliver a deep, resonant ride.

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