pear and the awkward orchestra
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pear and the awkward orchestra

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | INDIE

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | INDIE
Band Folk Pop

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"RUSSIAN DOLL by pear and the awkward orchestra: Review by Andrea Baldwin"

Russian Doll is the latest creation of Stephanie Barros-Lees of Moot (Brazilian-flavoured folk-jazz) and maudlin (ambient-industrial trip-hop) fame. With such a diverse range of musical interests, it's not surprising that this offering from Pear and the Awkward Orchestra is tricky to define, genre-wise. Steph's jazz roots are showing, but each song is an intriguing journey which yields more surprises the more times you listen.

Travelling in Circles moves like a dream carousel - slightly warped, slightly out of control, a touch psychedelic. Steph's vocal virtuosity, from sweet high gasps to sudden low rasps, enhances the fairground feel, backed by autumnal bassoon and clarinet, and sassy percussion.

Noah's Song is lyrically simple but musically ironic, the understated choppy acoustic guitar laying down a bumpy bed for laid-back slow-jazz vocals and cool harmonies.

Steph's tonal creativity impresses anew in Light of Love. Old Friend pulls off the remarkable trick of telling a familiar story (a woman recovering from broken love) in myriad subtle shades of mood and feeling, ultimately proving that the story is always unique to the teller.

Tingly percussion and harmonics introduce Small Things, another delicately introspective exploration of mood. Fallen Woman pushes further into the territory of soundscape - slow, smooth, mesmeric jazz vocals dancing a tango with the electric guitar, sometimes gliding in perfect unison, sometimes confronting each other before slowly stepping back into the groove.

Beautifully produced; vocally and musically elegant, complex and satisfying. - Folk Rag


"travelling in circles=Triple J"

rating: 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5

A gorgeous tune!!! This lady has an amazing voice, and beautiful songwriting to boot! Can't wait to hear the entire EP!
Sarah Howells, triple j
triplej
23 Aug, 2007 - Triple J Unearthed


"Live Review: Jeff Martin and support @ The Basement, Sydney – 7th May 2010"

" Brisbane singer/songwriter Pear (aka Stephanie Barros Lees) provided the surprise performance of the night.

Diminutive and dressed in a quirky combination of strapless retro dress, black stockings and sneakers; Pear succeeded in holding the audience’s attention with her equally quirky, at times Bjork and Fiona Apple-esque tunes. Cleverly combining elements of jazz, folk and pop into her tunes, her live performance was confident and polished – accentuated by her lively mannerisms and wonderfully clear pronunciation of the lyrics.... her excellent pitch and control – including a very jazzy vibrato in the top end – surely won her plenty of new fans." - LifeMusicMedia Review: Ben Hosking


"Live Review: Jeff Martin and support @ The Basement, Sydney – 7th May 2010"

" Brisbane singer/songwriter Pear (aka Stephanie Barros Lees) provided the surprise performance of the night.

Diminutive and dressed in a quirky combination of strapless retro dress, black stockings and sneakers; Pear succeeded in holding the audience’s attention with her equally quirky, at times Bjork and Fiona Apple-esque tunes. Cleverly combining elements of jazz, folk and pop into her tunes, her live performance was confident and polished – accentuated by her lively mannerisms and wonderfully clear pronunciation of the lyrics.... her excellent pitch and control – including a very jazzy vibrato in the top end – surely won her plenty of new fans." - LifeMusicMedia Review: Ben Hosking


Discography

EP Russian Doll 2007
EP Something will come 2009
single 'travelling in circles' and b-side noah's song on rotation on Triple J's Roots'n'all and featured in Triple J unearthed Roots chart; single "clumsy" on rotation on triple j and featured in the Brisbane Sounds 2010 compilation.
Single Oh Katrina 2011 (high rotation triple j)

Photos

Bio

sweet and delicious are the key words for these Brisbane-based folk/popsters. pear and the awkward orchestra is the solo project of Stephanie Barros Lees, supported by a mini-orchestra of Brisbane's best.

EP Russian Doll (2007) and EP something will come (2009) have enjoyed critical acclaim and regular airplay and orchestrated the grassroots rise of this unique band. A full-length debut album is in production; first single 'oh katrina' released in February to decided triple j airplay and attention.

Praise for pear and the awkward orchestra:

“Roots Artist we LOVE”
-Sarah Howells, Triple J.

“poetic, original songs…..extraordinarily brave vocal style”
- Lonnie Martin, Folk Rag.

“Pear and the Awkward Orchestra had the crowd enthralled by her lovely voice and whimsical songs encompassing folk, pop, roots and jazz.”
- Cody Alexander, Live Review : Island Vibe Festival 2009

“Brisbane’s own Pear & The Awkward Orchestra are quirky sweetness”
2SER Radio (SYD)

“pear’strange and expressive voice soars through her songs, each an intricate meld of poetical lyrics and odd, often disjointed melodies”
- David Allen ArtsHUB

“Layering gorgeous pop melodies throughout a composition of light jazz and acoustic folk, pear exhibits her amazing talent against a stripped-back swell of sound into which you will be well and truly entranced.”
– Scott Mehaffey, four thousand