Bernice, AKA: vocalist / songwriter Robin Dann, has shared her new single “Don’t Wanna Be European”. ” written from the perspective of a bear,” says Dann. “Sitting up in a tree somewhere, she sees that she’s about to be shot down, and both wonders why her life can’t be spared, and also tries to accept her fate.”

Written at the Banff Centre while working with Grammy Award-winning producer Shawn Everett (Lucius, Alabama Shakes), Dann elaborates, “I wrote the song after a cub had to be removed from campus the day I arrived. We layered a melodyne’d version of my voice as a man underneath my own and also braided in some very slowed-down Vaporwave tracks from YouTube weather channel videos. I think both help to describe the woozy confusion that the bear feels.”

Born to a musical family, the daughter of a symphony harpist and the former Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s principal violist, and a graduate of Goldsmiths’ MA in Music, Dann’s background, formal training, and experimental sensibilities developed into Bernice’s sparse arrangements and pop-minded songwriting, often following curious and unexpected paths.

Bernice’s members and collaborators including longtime Owen Pallett collaborator Thom Gill (keyboard/sampler) as well as Colin Fisher (guitar), Daniel Fortin (bass), Philippe Melanson (drums), and Felicity Williams (supporting vocals). All are professional musicians from Toronto’s music community and members of Owen Pallett, DIANA, John Southworth, Bahamas, Martha Wainwright, The Barr Brothers, and many others.

BERNICE PERFORMANCE DATES

2/23 – Miami, FL – The Hangar (Red Bull Sound Select’s 3 Days In Miami) *
4/19 – Toronto, ON – The Mod Club (Canadian Music Week) ^ – SOLD OUT
4/20 – Toronto , ON – The Mod Club (Canadian Music Week) ^
* w/ Angel Olsen, Charlotte Day Wilson
^ w/ Charlotte Day Wilson