Origin of the Operators

Noah Bears had a pocketful of songs, and I had an itch to get a new band going when the cosmic frequencies of the universe aligned our paths in early 2018—skyrocketing an epic tale of romance, fun, travel, music, and, ahem… some much-needed inner work. (Two people who had both been single for at least five years can make for a tricky tango.) Still, it was pretty much an instant love match, and we both dove in deep—on every level.

The more Noah and I talked about our personal ideas and musical goals, the more we realized we shared a vision—not just for a band, but for an entire musical experience. We dreamed of creating an uplifting and sacred space through live shows, ceremony, and music that activates the vibrations of love, joy, and healing. Many heart storms and deep conversations followed, as we explored our mutual desire to share and express something meaningful to open hearts and listening ears—an overall vibe of happiness, authenticity, abundance, ease, and a sense of oneness with our global human family.

We knew we couldn’t bring this vision to life alone. We talked in detail about the kind of talent and energy we hoped to find in future bandmates. Then, we held a ceremony—connecting with our higher selves and the higher selves of those we were calling in. We stayed open to whoever might be aligned with the journey ahead.

And sure enough, one by one, the right musicians began to arrive—each in divine timing. Originally, we called ourselves Waking Bear. 

We started out rehearsing several days a week, learning from the foundation of Noah’s pocketful of songs. Over time, as we synced up with one another’s styles through jam sessions and recordings, something new started to emerge. A whole new wave of original songs began to rise from our collaboration—amplifying our original intention of high-frequency music, and revealing what’s possible when hearts come together to create something that can only be born in a collective. The talent and connection among us have surpassed anything we expected. There’s a simpatico, a sense of rapport, authenticity, and kindness that surrounds the band like a protective force field. 

On October 1st, 2021, we lost our dear friend and bandmate, Scott Ercoliani, to COVID. We were absolutely heartbroken. Scott was a beautiful human being—so kind, so open-hearted, and so funny. He always saw the best in others, always smiled behind the kit, and I don’t think any of us ever saw him have a bad day. He was truly one of the enlightened ones, and we were so fortunate to share our lives and our music with him.

We eventually pulled ourselves back together, adopted a new drummer, set forth, and started playing shows again. Over the seven years that we’ve been together, we’ve parted ways lovingly with a few members and welcomed new friends into our circle. 

In 2024, Waking Bear rebirthed ourselves as Elevator Operator—a name that better fits the intention of our music: to inspire and uplift, to keep returning to how grateful we are to be alive, and to have people we love!