{{Short description|British musical duo}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The 2 Bears | image = The 2 Bears.jpg | caption = The duo performing, with their<br/>logo projected above | origin = London, United Kingdom | genre = {{hlist|[[Indietronica]]|[[House music|house]]|[[alternative dance]]}} | years_active = 2009–present | label = {{hlist|[[Southern Fried Records|Southern Fried]]|[[DFA Records|DFA]]}} | website = {{URL|the2bears.co.uk}} | current_members = * [[Joe Goddard (musician)|Joe Goddard]] * Raf Rundell }}
'''The 2 Bears''' are a British musical duo formed in 2009, composed of [[Joe Goddard (musician)|Joe Goddard]] (of electronic band [[Hot Chip]]) and Raf Rundell (previously of [[1965 Records]]). The duo produces original material amalgamating various styles, including {{nowrap|[[2-step garage|2-step]]}}, [[house music|house]], and [[soul music|soul]], and also hosts a radio show on [[Ministry of Sound]] Radio entitled ''Follow the Bears''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ministryofsound.com/radio/radio-djs/145/follow-the-bears/ |title=Radio: Follow the Bears |publisher=Ministry of Sound |accessdate=9 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213034832/http://www.ministryofsound.com/radio/radio-djs/145/follow-the-bears/ |archive-date=13 February 2011 }}</ref> Critics offer various descriptions of The 2 Bears' sound, including "pop-hip-house",<ref>{{cite web |last=Ottewill |first=Jim |date=3 June 2011 |title=Review: The 2 Bears - Bear Hug EP |website=[[Resident Advisor]] |url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=9191 |access-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> "liquid-bmore-house-step"<ref>{{cite web |last=Pelham |first=Duncan |date=9 March 2011 |title=[insert bear pun here] |url=http://pelski.co.uk/insert-bear-pun-here/ |access-date=19 July 2011 |website=Pelski}}</ref> and "rave-garage".<ref>Ralph Moore, ''Mixmag'', June 2011.</ref> The duo has produced remixes for several established artists including [[Santigold]], [[Metronomy]], [[Toddla T]] and [[The View (band)|the View]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Goddard |first1=Joe |last2=Rundell |first2=Raf |url=https://soundcloud.com/the2bears/sets/remixs-25/ |title=The 2 Bears – Remixes by The 2 Bears on SoundCloud – Create, record and share your sounds for free |publisher=Soundcloud.com |date=10 March 2011 |accessdate=9 December 2011}}</ref>
==History== {{more citations needed section|date=May 2024}} Raf Rundell, a former press officer, and Joe Goddard, one-fifth of electronic music band [[Hot Chip]], met while working together at the Greco-Roman [[Sound system (DJ)|soundsystem]] parties. Joe has told how the band originated from the suggestion of a friend who proposed that he, Rundell, and Joe Mount (from the band [[Metronomy]]) form a band called 'The 3 Bears'. The band ultimately formed as a two-piece without Joe Mount.
During their formative studio sessions Rundell and Goddard created the tracks "Mercy Time" and "Be Strong", which went on to appear on their first EP ''Follow The Bears,'' released by [[Southern Fried Records]] in early 2010. ''Follow The Bears'' was supported by a subsequent remix EP featuring contributions from [[Derrick Carter]] and [[Supabeatz]]. The 2 Bears went on to release a further two EPs on Southern Fried Records, ''Curious Nature EP'' in the latter part of 2010 and ''Bearhug EP'' in early 2011. Both were accompanied by further remix EPs with contributors including [[Maxxi Soundsystem]] and [[Midland (DJ)|Midland]].
The 2 Bears' first complete album ''[[Be Strong (album)|Be Strong]]'' was released on 29 January 2012 and was preceded by the single "[[Work (The 2 Bears song)|Work]]" on 2 January. The single was included on the [[Radio X (United Kingdom)|XFM]] playlist. They also made a mix album, ''2 Bears 1 Love'' which featured [[Wiley (musician)|Wiley]], [[Toddla T]], and remixes from the 2 Bears.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/watch/the-2-bears-work |title=The 2 Bears | Work |date=7 December 2011 |publisher=[[Contactmusic.com]] |access-date=9 December 2011}}</ref> Their second LP titled ''The Night Is Young'' was released in October 2014 on Southern Fried Records.
==Discography==
===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/7258/2-bears/|title=2 Bears songs and albums {{!}} full Official Chart history|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue1147.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120320232829/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20120316-0000/Issue1147.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 March 2012|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 1147|magazine=[[ARIA Charts|The ARIA Report]]|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=17 March 2024 |via=[[Trove]]}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[Be Strong (album)|''Be Strong'']] | * Released: 30 January 2012 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: CD, [[LP record|vinyl]], digital download | 35 || 83 |- ! scope="row" | ''The Night Is Young'' | * Released: September 2014 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: Digital download | 53 || — |}
===Remix albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''The Night Is Young (remixed)'' | * Released: 6 November 2015 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download |- ! scope="row" | ''Bears in Space'' | * Released: 11 May 2015 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download |}
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| EP details |- ! scope="row" | ''Follow the Bears EP'' | * Released: 2010 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: Vinyl, digital download |- ! scope="row" | ''Curious Nature EP'' | * Released: 2010 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: Vinyl, digital download |- ! scope="row" | ''Bear Hug EP'' | * Released: 2011 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: Vinyl, digital download |- ! scope="row" | ''Lambs Bread and Weepers EP'' | * Released: 2014 * Label: Southern Fried * Formats: Digital download |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]] ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Dance Chart|UK Dance]] ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Indie Chart|UK Indie]] |- | 2011 ! scope="row" | "[[Bear Hug]]" | 187 || 26 || 13 | rowspan="2"| ''Be Strong'' |- | 2012 ! scope="row" | "Work" | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Work" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 47 on the UK Physical Singles Chart Top 100.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20120325/1/ |title=Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 25 March 2012 - 31 March 2012 |work=Official Charts Company |accessdate=26 May 2020}}</ref>}} || — || — |- | rowspan="2"|2014 ! scope="row" | "Angel (Touch Me)" | — || — || — | rowspan="2"| ''The Night Is Young'' |- ! scope="row" | "Not This Time" | — || — || — |}
====Notes==== {{notelist-ua}}
==References== <!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically --> {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.the2bears.co.uk}} * [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/dec/18/2-bears-goddard-rundell-interview Interview in ''Observer'', 18 December 2011]
{{The 2 Bears}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2 Bears, The}} [[Category:English electronic music duos]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 2009]] [[Category:2009 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Electronic music groups from London]] [[Category:British electronic dance music duos]] [[Category:British male musical duos]] [[Category:DFA Records artists]]