(Exclusive Interview) BEARINGS:“We’ve accomplished so much its sometimes easy to get lost in it.”

Young creatives often feel that buzz. The urge to make something, anything, and their youth fuels the drive to carry that out. Bearings were no exception. The Ottawa-based band, made up of members Dougie, Ryan, Mike, and Collin quickly found themselves playing venues across Canada. And it’s easy to see why; their songs radiate a youthful quality infused with the pop punk spirit of bands like Blink-182. That same passion carried them forward, creating songs that people still connect with to this day. That echoes on their upcoming fourth full-length album, Comfort Company, to be released November 7th.The ten tracks will explore what it means to grow old in a world that never seems to stop spinning. 

With the new album on the horizon, the band is also ready to hit the road this autumn, supporting As It Is. Collin from Bearings caught up with SpinVybe to discuss the excitement of touring again, their journey so far, and how this new album captures where they are since their beginnings back in 2017.

SpinVybe: The brand new album Comfort Company is set to release this November. Can you give our readers a sneak peek into what they can expect in terms of sound or overall vibe on this record? 

Bearings: With this record, we intended to write and record our most raw record yet. There’s a heavier focus on being more of a guitar-driven rock band. With Doug taking on guitar duties, we wanted to make the album as genuine as we could and simply write songs the same way we did when we were first starting out.  

SpinVybe: With each new release, how do you usually approach writing and producing? Do you begin with lyrics, melodies, or a particular concept? 

Bearings: Most of the time, we start with an idea that is mainly Doug's, but sometimes others will bring to the table. This could be an almost fully written song or simply a chorus idea that needs to be expanded upon. However far the song is, if we like it, we will work on it. These could be simply a chorus melody or a full-fledged instrumental with no melodies. 

SpinVybe: You wrote in a range of environments, from a cottage to a basement. Does changing your scenery help your frame of mind or boost your creativity? 

Bearings: I would say that it definitely does. Spending too much time in one place, we all get a little stir crazy. We spend so many days straight in a studio writing and recording; it's nice to get out and write at a cottage for a change of scenery.  

SpinVybe: The latest single “Quick Release” reflects on your journey as a band and the effort behind it. How often do you all pause to reflect and think of how far you have come and the determination it takes to live out your dream? 

Bearings: Absolutely. Sometimes I find it amazing that we’ve gotten to tour North America so many times over the years, and also getting a chance to do Europe and the UK is surreal. We have accomplished so much; sometimes it's easy to get lost in it and forget that at one point, I didn’t even think achieving something like this was even possible.  

SpinVybe: The themes of this album explore getting older in a world that stops spinning. How do you navigate being a musician today, especially in a social media-driven environment, compared to when you first started? 

Bearings: It’s certainly changed quite a bit if I’m being honest. Social media was basically just Facebook back when we started. All we had to worry about was posting everything we do to Facebook. Now it is much more nuanced, with having to create content specifically for social media (TikTok, Instagram Reels, etc.), while also trying to post often enough to stay within the algorithm. It took us a while to figure out what works for us, but we have begun to understand our lane. 

SpinVybe: What was the scene like in Ottawa/Canada when you were starting out, and how have those experiences shaped you as an artist? 

Bearings: Back when we started out, we exclusively toured Canada. Southern Ontario became our stomping grounds, with us playing shows every other weekend in different cities throughout the province. We were also fortunate enough to have one of the best Ottawa house venues thriving around this time (RIP LEAKY BS). We basically learnt how to tour exclusively playing Ontario before we even ventured into the states. If it wasn’t for that scene, we never would have had a chance at doing everything else we wanted to do.  

SpinVybe:  Looking back from 2017 to now, is there an album of yours that you still deeply resonate with, or do you see all as past chapters that are completed? 

Bearings: I think it's safe to say all our albums resonate with us, as they all represent a different point in time for us as a band. Blue In The Dark definitely is something we are forever proud of, and it was nice that we were able to circle back and repeat some of the process on Comfort Company. I don’t think they are chapters that are ever complete though, as they live on and we continue to play them live. They simply have become part of our identity.  

SpinVybe: What advice would you give to musicians in their hometowns, creating music with friends and starting out similar to you? 

Bearings: Play shows. Just play some damn shows. Focusing on content is absolutely crucial as well, but you don’t want to solely focus on it and never have any experience performing live under your belt. Playing small shows, even if they’re to no one, will help you shape your live show, and you’ll learn more with each show. 

Photo Credit: Wyatt Clough

SpinVybe: You’ve mentioned influences like Blink 182, Turnstile, and The Story So Far. How do these inspirations show up in your music today? 

Bearings: We have listened to some of these bands so much, it naturally shows up sometimes. We love referencing some of these artists while writing for certain sections of songs. But overall, we definitely just write what feels natural to us. Sometimes it just happens to sound a bit familiar, like some of these bands, not because we try to, but because it’s who we are.  

SpinVybe: Having toured with bands like Neck Deep and Drain, soon you’ll be joining As It Is on their Happy Ever tour. What’s the best part of hitting the road with other artists? 

Bearings: Honestly, it's finding out just how alike most bands are. It's funny how every time we meet a new band, you start to pick up on the character quirks of all the different members. And 9 times out of 10, they mirror our own band. Makes you feel a little less alone, and generally you always meet some of the best people. We have made lifelong friends that I’ll be talking to for years to come. 

SpinVybe: How does touring with other bands influence how you approach your own live shows? 

Bearings: A LOT. We have learnt so much to improve our live show from touring with other bands. We implemented a lot of what we see from other bands into our show, at least what makes sense and feels natural to us. It can be as small as seeing how they set up their amps side by side to how they get the crowd to engage with them. Bands have different strengths, and taking what you see and improving your own show is the best way to keep growing.  

SpinVybe: On your upcoming headline tour in November, what can fans expect from a Bearings performance? 

Bearings: As I said earlier, it's Doug's first time playing electric guitar for the band live, so it will certainly be a new experience. We are planning to rock harder than we have before and be louder than we have. We can’t wait to get back to it.  

SpinVybe: How do you keep each live show feeling fresh and memorable for not only you but also the fans? 

Bearings: Trying to not have a script. We have a general idea of what we want to say between songs and what not. Some of what we do is planned; some of it is winging it. Sometimes the most fun moments come from one of us doing something unplanned.  

SpinVybe: What have been some of the most meaningful milestones in Bearings’ journey so far? 

Bearings: 4 LPs being released is going to feel pretty surreal. In 2019, we had the opportunity to tour overseas for the first time, and it was a dream come true. We hope to get back there eventually.  

SpinVybe: Looking ahead, what are your goals for this next chapter of the band? 

Bearings: To take Comfort Company to as many new ears as possible, and hopefully see more of the world with it.  

SpinVybe: Finally, what does 2026 have in store that you hope to achieve or are particularly excited about? 

Bearings: Lots more shows!

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