Known for their gritty guitar rock, Bearwood lightens up for the summer. "Promises," inspired by 1980s synth-pop, tells a story of youthful dreams and broken promises — cruising smoothly like a convertible down California’s West Coast. This heartfelt performance won’t leave anyone cold — not even during the (in)famous Finnish summer!
Check out other Bearwood music videos from our playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLst9_BMxzZju1d9dgf4E7b1n8kkWWi0sU&si=8w0aA6Szdx-2G_Gq
Visit our website for extras, and to contact us and to subscribe to our newsletter:
https://www.bearwood.fi
Listen to Promises on your favorite streaming service:
https://artists.landr.com/990591294691
Download Promises from Bandcamp:
https://bearwood.bandcamp.com/track/promises
music by Marko Karhu
lyrics by Matthieu Brandt
arrangement by Sami Sallinen
vocals: Marko Hietala
electric guitars: Marko Karhu
keys, bass & programming: Sami Sallinen
drums: Sami Kuoppamäki
backing vocals: Jenni Honkaluoma & Antti Paranko
producer: Sami Sallinen
label: Pop Art Finland
Basic tracks recorded at E-Studio, Sipoo, Finland by Petri Majuri & Sami Sallinen. Additional recording by Sami Sallinen, Marko Karhu, Pertti Jalonen and Antti Paranko.
Mixed and mastered by Sami Sallinen. A Pop Art production.
Studio performance video is shot by Sami Sallinen and Mika Lilja. Edited by Matthieu Brandt
We work with our own money, without any grants or support from a record label, and we are planning to release an album's worth of music and videos like this. If you feel like supporting us, it would be greatly appreciated! PayPal tip jar:
[email protected]
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"Promises" – A Soulful Reflection on the Roads We Choose
"Promises" is a hauntingly beautiful pop rock song that captures the quiet ache of looking back. With poetic storytelling and heartfelt lyrics, the song explores the moment we all face at some point – when the weight of past decisions meets the reality of who we’ve become. Through nostalgic flashbacks, broken dreams, and the echoes of unkept promises, "Promises" paints a vivid picture of youth, hope, and the bittersweet clarity that only time can bring.
Set against a backdrop of small-town memories and city escapes, the track carries a delicate sense of longing. It speaks to anyone who has ever wondered "what if", and reminds us that growth often comes with letting go.
For listeners drawn to songs that stir emotion and resonate with real-life introspection, "Promises" offers a powerful, personal journey – one letter, one promise at a time.
lyrics:
PROMISES
Flashback to our summer days
Endless bliss till the end of fall
Your name and mine
Inside a heart upon a wall
Last will and testament
To times now dead and gone
Took a bus to the city
Away from smalltown dreams
I'd come home real soon
And other promises I couldn't keep
Flashback to those summer days
Livin' in the shadows of doubt
If you're still looking
Here's where I can be found
Living it up in solitude
Where the rainbow hits the ground
Found a long lost letter
Full of broken dreams
And ways to say I'm sorry
For the promises I couldn't keep
Last will and testament
To times now dead and gone
Say goodbye to yellow brick road
Away from shallow dreams
I'd stay true to myself
And other promises I couldn't keep
Found a long lost letter
Full of broken dreams
#bearwood #promises #samikuoppamaki #markohietala #markokarhu #samisallinen
About Bearwood:
Bearwood began as guitarist Marko Karhu‘s vision for a solo project. In 2020, he set out to write guitar-driven rock that transcends genre boundaries. Soon, Marko’s compositions were complemented by evocative lyrics from Matthieu Brandt. After producer and multi-instrumentalist Sami Sallinen, drummer Sami Kuoppamäki, and vocalist Marko Hietala joined in, the solo project turned into a band project with original material scheduled to be released starting late 2024.
Together, the band has forged a unique soundscape where the creative fingerprints of every member can be felt — an electrifying synergy that elevates their music to something greater than the sum of its parts. Bearwood’s music defies convention — an intriguing fusion of rock laced with bluesy undertones, progressive twists, and even a touch of pop. It’s a soundscape that’s as versatile as it is captivating, pulling listeners into a realm where the familiar meets the unexpected.
(P) & (C) 2025 Marko Karhu
