With their previous four albums cementing them as a broad and solid name on the indie-pop scene, not to mention their previous full-length ‘Fever’ topping the album charts in their homeland of Belgium, Balthazar are soon to return to deliver their eagerly-awaited new LP ‘Sand’.
Previewed by the new single ‘Losers’, it feels as though they are yet to lose their magic touch. With a smooth and enticing groove running the length of this new offering, they are firmly on their way to dropping yet another hit offering.
So with the new LP available soon, we caught up with them to find out more about their newest material and what we expect from them again later this year.
Words by Chris Bound
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Photocred: Alexander-Dhiet
Chris) Hi guys, how are you today?
Balthazar) Quite well considering these are no easy times, Belgium’s in lockdown as well and we miss the sweet smell of yesterday’s beer in concert venues.
For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound and who have been your biggest influences so far?
It’s minimally arranged and groovy.
I tend to stay stuck with the great songwriters who started out a long time ago. Bowie, Cohen, Dylan, Reed… I’m not much of a walking music library as are some of my friends. I’m happy to know some of the classics and go from there.
And what inspires you to make music?
Love, we tend to write close to our beds.
Now I think about it, the spirit of my mom, I’ve heard you go look for the flaws in your mother in other girls. So I’d assume it’s that mechanism working in songwriting as well.
You have just released your new single ‘Losers’. Can you tell us how that track came about? Is there a story behind it?
It’s about putting your trust in the future. In a way it’s a wink to all the mindfulness business out there. We always think one day we’re gonna write the ultimate album and be content. Find the perfect woman; crack the code to the perfect lifestyle… That’s why it’s a dance track, today’s shit, tomorrow should be fine so for now just keep dancing…
What was the inspiration behind the video as well?
We wanted to do something with the cliché of the end of heist movies. You see 5 characters going their own way after a job. That’s why the subtitles take such a big chunk of the video. One day we might release the first 84 minutes of the movie.
It is also lifted from your upcoming new album ‘Sand’. Can you tell us what we can expect from that?
It goes further on the direction we took with Fever. We felt we hadn’t pushed it far enough on that album. It’s very groovy; we’re working with more electronic drums for the first time. In a way we had to because we were recording in full lockdown and couldn’t get together the five of us in the studio to play it live. But I like the fact that fate plays a role in the process. The coronavirus being the sixth band member or something like that…
And how would you say it compares to your previous material?
I hope it matured another year. We’re on a mission, one day we’re gonna write the ultimate album remember?
The coronavirus outbreak has obviously affected everyone’s plans, but what have you got in store for the next few months?
Releasing an album. Prison workout routines. lots of unwashed interviews over the internet. We’re thinking of dropping something special because we can’t tour yet but I can’t say much about that yet.
And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to those who are just starting out in the music industry?
Don’t complain, use the lockdown to keep writing, it’s what you’re supposed to love. Or turn to virology for better job security.
This review was created via Musosoup #sustainablecurator