Balu Brigada's 'Portal' Is An Artfully Alternative Debut
Balu Brigada is alt pop’s best kept secret, and there’s no question that their debut album Portal, is the gift that we’ve been waiting for. A self-described “groove pop” duo fronted by multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter/producer brothers, Henry and Pierre Beasley. Portal has been a work in progress since 2022, on the heels of beloved EPs I Should Be Home and Find A Way, and a run as support for Twenty One Pilots in 2024 across Europe, New Zealand and North America.
Portal is a 12-track project with sonic touchstones in New York, Berlin and their native Auckland, each city has shaped the album’s identity with a culturally enriched signature, ranging from grungy influences to inversely serene and introspective themes. “So Cold” is the second track of the project, and injected with a blend of groovy guitar texture, and silky, grit-tinged vocals circa early Cage the Elephant and The Strokes. With honest lyrics that strike the listener, “Guess the mystique only works in your prime// I used to have the answers, and now it’s too close to call.” The track is an electric, high-energy hit that begs an instant replay.
“Sideways” is an impressive display of effortless candor, and offers an artful look at the messy aftermath of a relationship gone sideways. The track’s magnetic hook, “Whatever happened to a fresh start?//Oh maybe civil is a lost art//’Cause now you’re looking at me sideways.” is a sharp hit of relatability that reels the listener in. The accompanying music video, directed, shot and edited by Ezra Simons, plays on the complex back-and-forth nature of it all, Henry and Pierre perform the track against a bright (and sometimes) gritty backdrop with fun camera work that deserves a watch (and rewatch.)
“Backseat” contrasts the introspective theme of Portal with a blunt, assertive delivery where the narrator breaks free from what held them back, seen in lyrics, “You stay with me, but you don’t even like my company//I’ll give you another soul to squeeze.” Building up with heavy hitting synths, drums, and a drop into a groovy guitar that just hits as the track approaches its next verse. “You told me I’m the one you wanted, really wanted//But you don’t love you like I love you, I don’t believe you // So I’ll take the keys and I’m gone.” “Backseat” is a cry of independence, and a new way to leave things in your rearview.
2025 is the year of Balu Brigada, and with an exciting headline tour starting October, their trajectory is higher than ever.
