LearningToDive - ‘Promenade (feat Bravo Bonez)
Ambient pop classic in the making, LearningToDive return with a brand new video for ‘Promenade’, Norwegian pop single beautifully crafted by Bravo Bonez with a wealth of additional musicians including out very own Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers) who know resides at Pro Sound Studios NZ.
Taking its cue from the heady days of 80s New Wave and Art Pop, LearningToDive’s new single, Promenade is packed with dreamy synths and strings and focuses on LTD’s serious thoughts on society, the planet and life. Quite distinct from his usual upbeat, retro, lo-fi focused tones, Promenade explores alternative themes using darker more complex layers, blending genres of post-punk, 80’s-pop and new-wave. A return to the craft of creating songs which are as richly orchestral and emotional as they are technologically advanced and synthetic, this is final single release before their forthcoming debut album and is accompanied by a stunning video shot in Hyde Park and Kensington Palace Gardens “Promenade tells the story of two people who live in London and work close to Hyde Park. They often see each other from afar while walking in the park and naturally feel drawn to each other. They start going on their lunch time walks together and eventually see each other more regularly, only to find the relationship is doomed.
Promenade explores the age-old problem of two people that love each other but cannot be together. Although in unsatisfied relationships, our protagonists cannot lie to their partners and their guilt weighs on their relationship, causing it to fall apart. The song is a sad reflection on the truth, that as humans we can love more than one person at once, but in most relationships, you can really only be with one and choices have to be made”. A love letter to the dazzlingly inventive 1980’s musical scene, LearningToDive’s debut album, Norwegian Pop, is packed with the very best of the sounds of the 1980s genres of post-punk, synth-pop, New Wave and the New Romantic movement. One of a series of projects from musician, producer, vocalist and composer, Bravo Bonez, it explores personal, political and societal ideas, addressing themes of hope, betrayal, danger and age, whilst retaining a musical edge which crosses the decades to sound as vibrant and vital as ever. LearningToDive is the new artistic identity of New Zealand-based Bravo Bonez.
Stylistically different from his previous musical output, LTD focuses on the more serious aspects of Bravo’s life and his perceptions of the world. The last few years has seen Bravo Bonez seriously question some of the assumptions he has made about his place in the world and his responsibilities as a husband, father and denizen of this fragile blue planet. Each of his new tracks explores a different theme using 1980’s musical templates, emphasising texture, depth and harmony. Bravo has many contemporary influences, but for this album specifically he cites 80’s artists such as Roxy Music, the Psychedelic Furs, Echo & The Bunnymen and Iva Davies (Icehouse). There are some more recent artists that have influenced the album… examples being Boards of Canada, Radiohead and The Impending Adorations. Born in the UK, Bonez has spent the last 15 years between the cities of London and Wellington (New Zealand). Now permanently settled in the capital of NZ due to Covid-19, Bravo spends his time reconnecting with his musical passion through a variety of musical projects, as well as helping to develop and encourage local musicians through owning and running his own music studio called PureSound Studios NZ.
Credits: Written and composed by Bravo Bonez. Co-produced by Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers) and Bravo Bonez, engineered & mixed by Clint Murphy (Enter Shikari; 50 Cent). Features drums by Greg Haver and additional guitars by Andy Taylor. Additional vocals by Alba Rose. Released on the PureSound label. Recorded at Ocean Sound Recordings in Norway and PureSound Studios in New Zealand, mixed at Modern World Studios in the UK. Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, Nashville.