DROP OF THE MONTH: #07

“How It Would End” - Balu Brigada

Alt-pop duo Balu Brigada consisting of multi-instrumentalist writer/producer brothers (Henry and Pierre Beasley) give us a small taste of their upcoming EP with this groovy masterpiece dripping with crispy synths and anthemic hooks.

Congrats on the release of this incredible track - we’re also LOVING the music video for it! Where did you get the initial idea and inspiration for the song?

Thanks champs! The initial idea formed out of me (Henry) noodling with a synth in that ended up being the main sound in the chorus. Then when I found the chords, they felt quite dramatic and intense, so I started sculpting this wailing romantic tragedy that eventually became the song. 

Can you tell us a little bit about the meaning behind the track?

The song is kinda an extrapolation of a relationship I had in my teens. When you’re around that age, every emotion is at peak intensity so the drama of a break up gets turned up to 11. In this case, the song is about being betrayed beyond any reasonable reconciliation (letz be real - being cheated on) and deciding that it’s easier to cut someone off and "try to forget”, than salvage any part of the relationship. I literally can’t even be sure of what the details of how things unfolded were, but I remember that this is what it felt like.

What were some of your main highlights working on the track?

The majority of the production and writing for this one came together in a day which was a real treat. So just the first few hours tinkering with synths and wailing that chorus melody were highlights. Also, this is the first time i’ve managed to work the vocoder into a song which was incredibly satisfying after 984 failed attempts. 

How did you land on the concept of the crime drama music video? And can you tell us what happens next with Angelo & Carmichael?!

The initial concept came from our director Riley Coughlin who’s a bit of a visual wiz (Whizz?). He latched onto the drama of the track and the song title, and came up with the idea of us being wise-guy detectives rummaging through evidence to try and solve a case. That instantly resonated with us both and despite being a bit nervous to tackle a full narrative approach for a music vid, it felt too perfect to pass up. From there, I think Pierre spat out the idea that we could base it on 90s detective dramas like the movie ‘Se7en’, and we were all go on the aesthetic and character development from there. It looks like Angelo got blown to smithereens….. But did he? Only time will tell. 🕵🏻‍♂️

We always end on a “Would You Rather” so … would you rather go to jail for a year for a crime you didn’t commit, or get away with a crime but your brother has to go to jail for a year instead of you?

Yikes. Now I wish Pierre was writing this interview… I won’t lie, I definitely wrote down a version trying to justify Pierre taking the fall for me; but tbh I think that would probably fk up our dynamic forever, so I’d probably go to jail for something I didn’t commit. Who needs that year anyway. 

Thanks so much Balu Brigada! Make sure to keep up with them on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify or Apple Music.