Diandra Interviews Belau: The Key To Creating Is Always Learning

When you are a “beginning” artist, the beginning can last years. There are many chapters, you have to write on your own until the world reads you. Some of the biggest names, were nearly a decade struggling to find their sound and a support team that could take it to the world. Yet, when the world started paying attention to them, they were called new. Now, three years old as a duo, my interview with Belau member, Krisztián Buzás, discusses how being an artist is about constantly learning. 

Diandra: You have been Belau for three years. Name one thing you learned about music / yourself each year!

Belau: Belau is a constant learning. Also, as we have to mention, that we clearly have a long road ahead. When we started most of us never had proper live experience in a so-called mainstream band. Böbe was involved in a couple of TV shows in her teenage years, and I had a tour experience as a vocalist with my still existing hardcore band (Orient Fall). 

Anyway, year one’s lesson was realizing that if we want to be big then hard work is the only option. We have to improve ourselves, we have to learn, step aside of the comfort zone and realize our goals. Year two – obviously built on previous year’s lessons – was more about how working together should properly happen, how can we be a duo first, and then a live band. Year three, which is still happening right now (we have half year left) is definitely about tearing our songs down to bare bones and rebuilding them. Musically, we have improved a lot, but the road is still long enough. Next year will be definitely about bringing our music and performances to a whole new level. 

Diandra: What can people expect in your new album in terms of messages and music style? How do you think you have grown / are growing? 

Belau: As I mentioned we are planning to step up a few levels according to live sets and studio recordings as well. The message won’t change: the truth is inside us. If you want to reveal it, you have open yourself up, and our music tries to help everyone in this process. As a band we did a long journey until now, in music, in lyrics, at a show. In all other situations we are way more professional than we used to be, but the so-called growing should not stop.

We have toured a lot across Europe; we have been to 21 countries so far, even in the US at SXSW festival this year. We have a lot of ambitions and our new album will continue the work we have begun.  

Diandra” What have been the challenges and joys of trying to break into the international music scene from Budapest? 

Belau: The best about it was obviously the fact that we had the chance to prove at a lot of different spots all over Europe from Moscow to Skopje, from London to Gdansk or from Copenhagen to Taormina. We had a chance to play on several showcase festivals as well, but the biggest challenge is always to manage the financial background of the accommodation: the rehearsals, the new instruments, the travels, the recordings and a lot of others. That’s difficult, but we have help from fans, funds, bookers, promoters and some enthusiastic and decent people and it has already paid off. 

Diandra: How do you think Budapest inspires your sound and style?

Belau: Despite of all the travels to those wonderful cities, we still think that Budapest is a top-class place to live. It has a unique vibe, the people are different here, but in a very good way. Also ,the city breathes without any burden. It has a long way ahead to finally get tp the place what is deserves, but anytime we mention Budapest, most of the people come up with the fact that this is one of their favorite cities. So it inspires us throughout everywhere.

Diandra: Who are the female vocalists, all from Budapest or international music scenes, that you would like to collaborate on a song? 

Belau: Our first full-length, The Odyssey has featured only Hungarian women. All of them are high-class Hungarian vocalists, who have an unbelievable talent to music. In two of the songs Böbe was singing, who is the part of the Belau live act and we have to mention that she is the one who has the talent to sing on all the songs. On the upcoming LP – besides Böbe – we are planning to have only international features and the latest single that we have released is already one from these. Breath features the vocalist of the Austrian band, Leyya (Sophie Lindinger). We have a lot of plans for the other girls, but it’s a secret now.

Diandra: When composing and writing your songs, what are the essential things you need to get inspired? Describe your creative process!

Belau: The travels we have done is an essential that’s for sure. On the other hand, obviously the things we live aside, which affects us, what we fight with, and the journey inside. The process normally kicks off with one of Peter’s instrumental demos, which we try to make better together, than we find the right woman to work with, she comes up with a few vocal melodies, and then I write the lyrics. But this is not carved into stone; anything can happen.

Diandra: As a duo, how do you feel you balance each other?

Belau: We are friends since we are 10, so balancing has never been easier, yet we deal with a lot of new problems each day. We also have to do everything right beside our personal lives and our regular everyday jobs, so it’s damn hard.

Diandra: You guys have said you do not listen to much chill wave music. What inspired you to enter this genre? Was there a specific moment when you knew this group was your destiny? 

Belau: We have a few chillwave and downtempo favorites like Portishead, Toro y Moi, Saltillo or Odesza. These are essentials. Also, Bonobo is someone we must mention. Although, for me, different genres inspire me a lot more, especially form a completely different area. 

Destiny? Belau is something that I really love, but I wouldn’t call it my destiny. I’d rather say that it’s a journey we have to fulfill to make ourselves what we want to be. (Me: #wisdom)

Diandra: You have said hard work pays off. What are the moments in your career so far, that have made you feel your hard work is paying off? 

Belau: Let me just mention a few in no particular order: SXSW in Texas, Fonogram-awards in Hungary (so-called Hungarian Grammys), more than 150 shows in 21 countries in 2 years, finding friendship, improving in musicianship, and fulfilling the dream. 

Keep the name Belau in your mind, your heart, and your playlist! They truly have something special, and you can learn more about them by clicking here.