Afternoon Bike Ride

BIO

Afternoon Bike Ride is a lofi folk trio providing a comfort zone in audio form. It's in the name. When all three artists are together, their chemistry culminates into one organic and lush sound. Sonics that feel natural and freeing, as if fireside with a handful of microphones and instruments and toys. "An audio diary," the band describes, "of what we know will be our most cherished memories."

A Montreal-based Canadian trio consisting of Lia (vocals, guitar, programming), David (vocals, guitar, drums, programming), and Éloi (vocals, keys, drums, programming), the band has released a series of cohesive projects where field recordings blend with ambient, acoustic, folk, and pop. A cauldron of genres they stir during each song. With precision, Afternoon Bike Ride presents a soothing sound all their own, one that continues to expand and deliver with each new release.

Their forthcoming and highly anticipated sophomore album is called glossover. Genreless and yet familiar, it is an album simultaneously beside a campfire and within a cafe. It's with you on a long car ride and it's with you while helping a loved one or checking in on a friend. Bliss and loss and love and grief breathing as one. There's a "found footage" aspect, with quiet backup vocals and fluttering harmonies that sound like angels flying away. There are outtakes that feel like we're behind-the-scenes. Cozy and sincere. Talking while cooking, daydreaming in a sunswept daze.

While their sound is unique and very much their own, this band is still relatively new. The three artists gathered traction with their debut EP, sugarbloom, in 2019, and further evolved with their self-titled debut LP Afternoon Bike Ride in 2021. While initial stems and demos were emailed back and forth, the group put the finishing touches on glossover while in a cabin in St. Donat, Quebec. "We've been pegged as three separate entities," the band says, "and for this album especially, we really felt as one unit writing and creating for ABR and nothing else."

Throughout their new album (and throughout their discography), we hear songs that speak on self growth, songs about escaping responsibilities and getting away with the person you love. Songs that feel nostalgic, connected to friends. "At the end of the day," Lia says, "the lesson is to prioritize love– love for one’s self, family, community, planet."

Following up on their acclaimed self-titled debut LP in 2021 (as well as their tremendous Skipping Stones EP of the same year), their second LP (out in early 2023) is more. More everything. More effortless chemistry. More connection, more melodies. More fluttering vocals and textured synths. The three are working more tightly as a trio on this 14 song album and it shows. Splitting roles on guitar, vocals, percussion, and even English and French, Afternoon Bike Ride is working as one unit here and it's a comfortable pairing.

Lofi folk but not. Cabin pop but not. Blissful cassettes buried in the sand. A therapeutic open journal shared by friends. While the first album was miraculous in its breadth and possibility and innovation, glossover feels more like a band testing their capabilities. Digging deeper. The dress rehearsal was a great debut, but the sophomore album is the main event.

"Life is imperfect," Lia says, in closing. "We’re imperfect and that’s something beautiful to keep in mind.”

‘Glossover’ releases February 10, 2023 via Friends of Friends Music.