Bonus Episode: Balthazar
Photo by Alexander D’Hiet
How do you keep a passion fresh, especially when it involves 5 people? In a lot of ways, it’s a miracle that bands ever work out, but when they do…man, it’s truly something special. This has been the case with Belgian band Balthazar, who are gearing up to release their fifth album, Sand (out February 26th through PIAS). The album is Balthazar at their freshest, most relaxed and realized form yet. It’s also the band’s most personal release, with songs showcasing a form of heartbreak that’s not veiled in the usual mystery. In a lot of ways, Sand feels like the type of album where Balthazar are saying: this is who we are, take it or leave it.
In 2021, that’s a brave approach, one that I feel others will find infectious. On this episode of the podcast, I catch up with frontmen Jinte Deprez and Maarten Devoldere about how they crafted Sand during the pandemic lockdown, the challenges that came with delving into more personal waters and why it’s more important than ever for bands to explore different sounds.
Follow Balthazar on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
