Seattle-based pop duo Chinese American Bear have revealed details of their third studio album, Dim Sum & Then Some, set for release on 8 May via Moshi Moshi Records. The announcement comes alongside the debut of their lead single, “All The People (所有人),” accompanied by an animated stop-motion video. The album explores personal snapshots from the lives of band members Anne Tong and Bryce Barste as romantic partners.
Formed by Anne Tong and Bryce Barste, Chinese American Bear have built a reputation in the indie pop scene through bilingual Mandarin and English lyrics. Their sound draws from Barste's influences like MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Pond, and Sly Stone, combined with Tong's classical piano background and love for pop music. Following an EP and two full-length albums, this third LP, Dim Sum & Then Some, offers intimate glimpses into the couple's shared experiences.
The lead single, “All The People (所有人),” highlights the duo's playful side. Barste describes it as: “probably my favorite song on the album. It’s so fun, light, cool, and a little weird. It’s a song for everyone. All the people. It has some fantasy vibes, musically and lyrically.” Tong elaborates on the creative process: “When Bryce first showed me the sounds for 'All The People', it immediately reminded me of a fantastical setting with castles and fairies so I leaned in that direction with the lyrics. It was fun to write about a topic we hadn’t explored much before. I’ve written a lot on our favorite foods and Chinese culture but hadn’t explored much fantasy. We’re actually both huge fans of fantasy in general (Bryce puts on the Lord of the Rings movies at least twice a month in our household, it’s his comfort background noise). I also recently started getting into 'Romantasy' (A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, etc.) so I was also in that mindset.”
Directed by Barste, the track's animated stop-motion video complements its whimsical tone. The full tracklist includes:
- “Intro (开场白)”
- “All The People (所有人)”
- “No No Yeah Yeah (不不好啊好啊)”
- “I Wanna Go Home (我想回家)”
- “Turn Up The Radio (把收音机开大点)”
- “Chant (Namo Amituofo)”
- “Mama (妈妈)”
- “Lovely Day (美好的一天)”
- “Land of Fun (好玩的地方)”
- “Forever Lover (永远的爱人)”
- “Chinese American Bear Anthem (华裔美国熊之歌)”
This release continues the duo's blend of cultural elements and personal storytelling, appealing to fans of their evolving sound.
