Laden with dreamy haze and luminous pop, the brand new single and captivating music video Tripping Over Time out today from beloved indie alternative act Boy & Bear also unfurls alongside the announcement of the group’s upcoming sixth studio album of the same name, with the full-length and entirely independent record Tripping Over Time set for release on Friday December 12. Primed to be launched in unforgettable fashion this December when Boy & Bear take the stage for their biggest headline show to date at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Saturday December 14 (selling fast!), fans can also witness some of this brand new Boy & Bear magic at shows in Boonah, Sandstone Point and Margaret River to close out 2025, and a performance also locked in at Tasmania’s premium summer day out Festivale in February 2026.
Announcing their monumental upcoming performance on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt on December 14, joined by special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven, some lucky fans will also be able to snag the ultimate Boy & Bear experience, with the band today announcing an exclusive competition that will see two winners score two return flights, one nights accommodation in Sydney, a meet and greet with the band, and a signed limited edition poster from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt performance. To enter, simply pre-order Tripping Over Time, either vinyl, CD or digital download, from the band’s Australian webstore https://www.boyandbear.com/, register for the competition – and you and a friend may be sharing time and space for this Boy & Bear milestone later this year.
Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Sydney Opera House Forecourt show are onsale now from https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear, with all other tickets available via https://www.boyandbear.com/.
An otherworldly conduit into a world of pop serenity, lush soundscapes and Boy & Bear’s vintage yet modern stylings that bathe you in warmth and relatability, Tripping Over Time finds Boy & Bear channelling their own spin on subtle nods to The Avalanches and Moby; “but I feel like there’s a sense of hypnosis in this song that potentially draws from sample-driven dance music,” shares vocalist and guitarist Dave Hosking of the new track’s underlying sonic terrain.
Working alongside renowned LA-based producer Justin Stanley (Prince, Beck, Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Mark Ronson) to bring Tripping Over Time to life, Boy & Bear’s lustrous new outing also sonically reflects its ruminating yet positive lyricism threaded throughout, as Daveelaborates, “Tripping Over Time is a celebration of the new-found wisdoms of age. As much as it’s a trade-off sometimes, I feel more at peace with myself and my circumstances these days. The things that give me joy have shifted, I operate to a slower but more stable pace and there’s something profoundly pleasant about this.”
Accompanied by a brand new music video today, with the ARIA Award-winning Jeremy Koren (Grey Ghost), previous collaborator of Khalid, Hiatus Kaiyote, Ruel, Tones & I, Troy Sivan and more, acting as Visual Creative Director both for Boy & Bear’s latest clip and the broader album, Tripping Over Time relishes in the song’s nostalgic sonic aesthetics while also amplifying the nuances beating within for the single and overarching album, as Jeremy himself explains, “In a sea of inauthenticity we wanted to slap the face of the viewer with nostalgia via a montage of images on images using a variety of 80 – 90’s broadcast cameras and 8mm film and Hi-8. The classic John Brack painting ‘Collins St at 5pm’ was an influence, as was Rene Magritte’s depictions of suited men in hats. There’s something quite sad and unnerving about uniformity but it also allows the band to become an organism reflecting our collective gaze upon this crazy world. The loneliness of Jeffrey Smart’s visual compositions as well as the weirdness of David Byrne’s comments on society – all these things made their way into the visuals.
“The album is so multi layered that it felt necessary to distil it into a pure form, which became the suited men who walk thru these vast landscapes,” Jeremey continues. “We were of course led by the music and its deep influences… the syncopation and textures of Talking Heads or the quirky layering of Peter Gabrielle, the warm/world building synths of Sade or the bright/positive elation of the Beach Boys or Devo, all ofthese collective influences have somehow snuck their way into our representation on screen. These first 2 clips are the first 2 feet stepping into this world … it’s a journey broken into little pieces and we have plenty more to come…PS – Fuck AI.”
An album that spans themes of love, morality, longing, determination and self-reflection, Tripping Through Time marks album #6 for Boy & Bear, and a second entirely independent affair following on from their 2023 self-titled full-length. Opening with its title track, Tripping Over Time shimmers with gentle grooves and warmth before gliding into softly sharp terrain with one of the album’s lead singles Where Does Life Begin. Magnetically capturing compelling uncertainty with uplifting beats and soaring backdrops, Where Does Life Begin leads to previously-released single Vertigo; a jangly exploration into the awkwardness of life, time and change. Between haunting acoustic Bon Iver-esque contemplations (Ancestors), vibrant folk-hued silk that tugs at heartstrings while also soothing weary souls (Thunder), infectious hypnotism (Lost Control) and swooning love letters fit for even the coldest of hearts (Love Has Been Too Good To Me), Tripping Through Time also channels indie charm (Roses), sharp melancholia spliced with whimsy (Sleep Talking) and buoyant reflections on life and permeating acceptance (penultimate track All These Years). And closing out as though in a hazy, glowing dream, Tripping Through Time ends via Movie, perfectly balancing the album’s contrast between playful and deeper themes, with the overall album acting as a vivid snapshot of life in every facet. “I wanted to look at the passing of time through a variety of lenses,” shares Dave of Tripping Through Time. “Ultimately, I think the record has an optimistic feel to it. There’s challenge and confrontation but underneath it all, there’s a belief that everything for now is in its right place.”
“The record predominantly is about how time changes us,” adds Dave, “we grow up, our priorities shift, our lives move onto new chapters and with this comes new insights but also new challenges. It’s a balancing act of reflecting or even yearning for our youth whilst also embracing life as it inevitably moves forward. So, I think the record’s emotional core is really about finding peace in who we are and who we’ve become. It’s about self-growth.”
“The album is about embracing life as it is,” continues Dave. “The songs are played live with real human energy and emotion. While optimistic, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; it’s honest and grounded. Each track carries a bit of tension but avoids a dark or heavy feeling. The album encourages stepping back to appreciate the beauty in the world. It’s a big celebration full of happiness, but with a bittersweet, “happy-sad” energy. The focus is on feeling things emotionally rather than intellectually and staying grounded while looking toward the future. Tripping Over Time is more experimental and “trippy,” designed as an escape from reality. The tracks create a journey that listeners want to revisit, evoking memories from past periods of life. It’s a form of escapism, reflecting the nature of life itself. The lyrics are poetic rather than literal, allowing listeners to interpret them in their own way and create personal stories. The record features floating sounds and playful experimentation, showing how working at your own pace can foster creativity.”
“It’s about the subtle lessons of life. You often don’t realize you’ve gone through something until you experience it. You’re always learning and stumbling forward, embracing the cyclic nature of life. There’s playfulness in all the crazy moments. The overall feeling is optimistic, nostalgic, and reflective.”
Renowned for balancing personal experiences with universal themes, armed with their beloved trademark blend of vintage pop, alternative elements and folk edges, Boy & Bear channel nostalgia into charming and captivating sonic journeys. Taking the world by storm in 2011 via their debut album Moonfire, Boy & Bear instantly won hearts and minds while also taking home five ARIA Award wins, also reaching double-Platinum status for their maiden record. Cementing their ever-burgeoning legacy with 2013’s Harlequin Dream, 2015’s Limit of Love, 2019’s Suck on Light and, most recently, 2023’s self-titled album, over the years Boy & Bear have garnered multiple #1 charting albums, top 10 debuts, seven ARIA Award nominations and five wins, over half a billion streams and ongoing performances in their wake as headliners, supporting the likes of Mumford & Sons, Chris Isaak and Crowded House, or charming audiences across the globe with their unforgettable performances.
Off the back of previously selling the most headline tickets of their career globally, Boy & Bear are closing out 2025 in spectacular fashion, withtheir biggest headline show to date locked in for December 14, performing on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt with special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven. A longtime dream in the making, revealed poignantly recently online with Boy & Bear members and brothers Tim Hart and Jon Hart detailing their connection to the Opera House and live music, the band will also appear at The Long Sunset in Boonah on Saturday November 1, perform alongside Rob Thomas at Sandstone Point Hotel on Saturday November 8, appear at Good Day Sunshine on November 29 and kick off 2026 with a performance at Launceston’s Festivale on February 1 next year. And amongst these upcoming new core Boy & Bear live memories, a sublime new chapter will officially arrive on December 14 when Tripping Over Time arrives into the world; a chapter that finds Boy & Bear simultaneously harnessing their signature sound while also tripping the light fantastic into brave new sonic worlds.
“We’re really proud of this record,” Dave concludes. “Maybe every band says that, but we feel like we’ve made something really exciting. From drum machines and synths, to banjos and sitars. I think we’ve played to our strengths on this record and doubled down on our true sound. That’s always the goal! To have a sound that feels unique and idiosyncratic and I think we’ve managed to do that this time round.”
Tripping Over Time single is out today.
Tripping Over Time album is set for release Friday December 12 pre-save here: http://boy-bear.ffm.to/trippingovertimealbum/
Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Sydney Opera House Forecourt show are onsale now from https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear, with all other tickets available via https://www.boyandbear.com/
Stream: TRIPPING OVER TIME
Watch: TRIPPING OVER TIME
