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ANR (previously known as Awesome New Republic) is an indie dance-rock duo from Miami. Founded in 2004, the duo is comprised of multi-instrumentalists John Hancock and Brian Robertson, who began working together as students at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

Citing influences that range from Prince and Parliament-Funkadelic to Giorgio Moroder and Talking Heads, Hancock and Robertson initially recorded a pair of homemade albums, Witness Now the Birth of an Awesome New Republic (2004) and Courageous! (2005), the highlights of which were later compiled for release on the full-length commercial album debut ANR So Far (2005).

It’s Around You is taken from their latest album Stay Kids, which was released in March. The album is about not letting the act of growing up shame all childlike instincts out of you. Let yourself still be surprised; still wonder, and still try. Don’t take yourself too seriously, because it’s the playfulness that keeps you sane.

ANR @ Myspace, Twitter, Facebook
Source: Allmusic, Quit mumbling

Panda Bear is the moniker of Noah Lennox, a founding member of Animal Collective who is also a member of Jane.

As a teen, Lennox began listening to electronic music and artists such as Aphex Twin, all of which became a huge influence on his later work. He recorded and performed music and started to use the name Panda Bear because he drew pictures of pandas for the artwork of his recordings.

His first solo release was the self titled Panda Bear in 1999. After focusing more on touring and recording with Animal Collective, he released the follow-up Young Prayer in 2004 and the highly acclaimed third solo album Person Pitch in 2007.

Slow Motion is taken from his fourth album Tomboy (released in April 2011).

Panda Bear @ Myspace, Facebook
Source: LastFm, Wikipedia