INTRODUCING BALU BRIGADA WITH SINGLE ‘nice to have someone to miss’

New Zealand’s Balu Brigada release ‘nice to have someone to miss’ – the second single off their upcoming EP, following their late 2019 track ‘medicine’.

Underpinned by their signature groove, “nice to have someone to miss” is a dreamscape of hazy production and yearning falsetto. Tracing the paradoxical pleasure in missing someone. ‘It’s really just acknowledging that it’s a luxury to have something that meant enough to you that you miss it when it’s gone.’ – Balu Brigada

Balu Brigada are an alt-pop duo from New Zealand, made up of multi-instrumentalist writer/producer brothers, Henry and Pierre Beasley. The pair started making music together young, when a 12-year-old Henry capitalised on his Older Brother status by appointing himself lead-guitarist and forcing Pierre to learn bass. They spent the next few years teaching themselves production, songwriting and a handful of instruments, before officially forming Balu Brigada when Pierre was old enough to pass as 18 and play in bars.

Before anyone else asks, the band name has its origins in the Jungle Book’s character Baloo – “the ultimate chiller,” according to the boys. This morphed into Balu Brigada when they wisely decided they didn’t want to get sued by Disney.

As a multi-talented duo, they have a hand in every aspect of Balu’s output. The duo dropped their Almost Feel Good mixtape in 2019, showcasing their ability to skate genres and pull from a broad range of influences, from Clairo to the Gorillaz to Tyler the Creator. Funk-inflected basslines glide under R&B beats, with lyrics relatable to any young person figuring themselves out  – whether they’re navigating a long-distance relationship over Skype or dining out alone on Christmas Day.

Their next EP, Funk Boiz, is set to drop later this year and is the duo’s most cohesive statement to date. It’s as suited to a lazy day in the sun with mates as it is to dancing in the kitchen at 2am, and cements Balu Brigada’s place as the best duo out of New Zealand since Flight of the Conchords.