With music having such a deep and rich history in bringing people together, Hudson, Everett and Jude Felsman’s current project “The Fresh Bears” is just one way they connect with those around them. These three brothers, all born in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, along with their bassist Grant Baker, make music meant to connect listeners closer to Christianity.
“I think music is such a good vehicle to share hope and give people an anthem that they can believe in when they step into a room with us. I don't think there are enough bands in the industry that are writing music that challenges society,” Hudson Felsman said.
While hailing from the land north of the United States, Hudson and Everett Felsman both graduated from Victory Christian Academy, and Jude Felsman is still attending the school. In 2010, their father Kurt Felsman was hired as a worship pastor at Calvary Church of Valparaiso due to his relationship with his own previous band members recommending him for the position. Having a father who was musically involved brought music into the Felsman brothers’ lives from a very early age.
“Because we're brothers, we've grown up playing music together since we were just two feet tall. We already played a ton in church, so the aspect of playing music together felt normal and comfortable,” Hudson Felsman said.
Having all this involvement through church, the brothers were all a part of the youth group at the church. One year, while brainstorming ways of raising funds for a group trip, they decided to jam out and use their musical prowess to help the other students afford to go. Starting as a jam band, the group performed their covers of popular songs together, collectively falling in love with the idea of spreading their love of music to others.
“It started with us jamming out, then we found a love for music again in the blues. That has turned into just us playing gigs around Valpo. We've played at Central Park a few times, and now we're writing songs. We released our first debut EP a little over a year ago,” Everett Felsman said.
While performing music written by others is a task of its own, the group has now branched out into writing and producing their own original music. As the only one of the brothers still in high school, Jude Felsman is the one who has dedicated his free time to writing most of the music that The Fresh Bears are working on as of now. With inspiration coming from U2, Led Zeppelin, Colony House, and Inhaler, the band uses their own blend of alternative rock and indie to bring their message to any audience they can draw.
“A lot of these songs outline coming to terms with our depravity and living in this sinful world, and the underlying, Christian tones,” Jude Felsman said.
Like all aspiring bands, the brothers of The Fresh Bears would love to one day end up playing in major venues. No matter what amount of success they achieve, they have already reached their personal goal of simply doing right with the gifts they have now.
To find out how you can join the audience for their next concert or to stream their new album “Poverty Soul,” to be released on June 6, visit their social media at linktr.ee/thefreshbears.