Balu Brigada: Alt Music’s Next Biggest Thing?
Balu Brigada, via onestowatch.com
In April 2023, I was scrolling on TikTok when I came across a video by a user named “Fuegostine.” This user posts songs “you never would have found,” and luckily, at this moment, my algorithm brought me to Balu Brigada for the first time. The video highlighted the band’s song, “Designer,” and immediately after hearing the groovy, summery track, I was hooked. I added it to my playlist on the spot—and I’ve been following the band closely ever since.
Balu Brigada is a New Zealand-born indie rock duo composed of brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley. Originally formed as a four-piece, the band debuted in 2016 and signed with Warner Music Australia and Atlantic Records in September 2022. The following year, the brothers made a big move from New Zealand to New York City, which unexpectedly influenced the band’s sound to a more edgy and explosive energy. "You can hear the difference in how the aggression and tension flows through our music now," Henry noted in an interview. Since their formation, Balu Brigada has released three EPs and is set to release their debut album, Portals, this August.
The band began to gain significant traction beginning in August 2024, when they opened for Twenty One Pilots during the U.S. leg of the Clancy World Tour. According to VMP, during the tour, “the brothers demonstrated their ability to connect with audiences, winning over hearts and new admirers in the process.” This led the band’s June 2024 single “So Cold” to catch the attention of listeners, sparking a meteoric rise for both the track and the band. “So Cold” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, marking the band’s first-ever No. 1 hit.
With Portals on its way, Balu Brigada is set to embark on their first full-length headlining tour this Fall. As anticipation for Portals grows, Balu Brigada has given fans a taste of the album’s diversity with two new singles following “So Cold”: “The Question” and “Backseat.” The two tracks present completely opposing sounds, demonstrating the band’s ability to transcend genre. “The Question,” released February 21, is a late-night intimate ballad, with the “question” alluding to the possibility of becoming more than friends. Beasley affirms, with the chorus’s repeating phrase, “I don’t need a friend.” “Backseat,” on the other hand, delivers six minutes of adrenaline-pumping guitar riffs and drum lines. Set from the backseat of a fast-moving car, the track radiates urgency and confidence as Beasley asserts, “I’m driving fast because I mean it, I really mean it.” After teasing the song during their tour set with Twenty One Pilots, eager fans took to TikTok demanding its release—and Balu Brigada delivered, officially dropping it on May 29.
With a debut album on the way and a trailblazing single under their belt, one can only ask-- is Balu Brigada alt music’s next big thing? The signs point to yes. Their current trajectory, coupled with a growing fan base and support from major players in the industry, suggests they’re poised for long-term success. And Portals just might be the record that takes them there.
Portals comes out on August 29 via Atlantic Records.
