January is a time of new beginnings, and I thought what better way to kick off the year with something a little different for BOB? When the team at Wildlands were kind enough to offer us the chance to talk to Balu Brigada… needless to say I was chomping at the bit.
So I caught the train into the city, followed the crowd through to the showgrounds, and sat in the shade watching the band I found earlier in 2025 after hearing a teaser of their song ‘Backseat’ off their then-upcoming album Portals.
I’d since become obsessed with the album when it was released in August, with its twisty-turny groove-pop (coined by Henry himself) goodness that’s pulled from the likes of Gorillaz, Tame Impala, and The Strokes.
The Beasely brothers strolled into the interview cool as cucumbers, having finally cooled off from their mid-afternoon set, and we got to chat about their experiences in Brissie, their musical process, what they’re obsessed with at the moment, and a few thoughts on their discography. Without further ado…
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BOB: Have we *been* to Brisbane before?
H: We *have* been to Brisbane, we’ve actually only opened shows in Brisbane, so we’ve never played a show in our own right… is that correct?
P: Yeah, and also we visited twelve years ago because our Mum’s cousin lives here.
BOB: Oh my god, well, welcome back!
BB: Thanks! It’s good to be back… home in Brisbane 🙂
BOB: Are there any return spots that you guys know or remember?
P: I remember the theme parks… there’s like a Movie World or something? Is that in Brisbane?
BOB: Yes! We have Movie World, Dream World, Sea World-
P: Yes! Sea World!
BOB: It’s a hit or miss for theme parks, honestly. But if you’re a first timer, they’re great.
P: Yeece (their version of yes)
H: And we did the Scooby-Doo ride.
H: Yeah, that one goes alright.
P: I think we would have done that one like twice-
H: I’m actually thinking it might have been closer to fours (four times)
BOB: So do we prefer festivals to headline shows? Do you like the kind of crowd that’s there for you?
P: Festivals are fun, the only thing is that when you’re sound checking, there’s a different crew and you’re like *erghhh* stressing out, and there’s lots of sounds and people hitting snares. It’s a lot sometimes.
H: Today was great though, it was sunny, people on shoulders, it was a great crowd.
BOB: Awesome! Can we talk about a few of your songs?
BB: Absolutely!
BOB: There are a few lyrics in your songs, at least to me, that talk about relationships that happen in a kind of vicious cycle… so how do we feel about couples therapy?
H: Jeeeeez… how do we feel about couples therapy? I’d say it’s most likely a very, ah, good thing to do, not that I’ve ventured into it… Perhaps it would be of worth. That’s my political answer, that’s all you’ll get.
BOB: More on that, ‘Backseat’ conveys to me a power dynamic between two people who literally cannot stay away from each other. So do we believe in fate, or the predictability of human behaviour? Are we slaves to our bad habits?
H: … are we, Pierre?
P: I believe in fate… and actually that song is more about the music industry-
H: Which is a toxic mistress in itself, honestly.
BOB: Too right! Okay, let’s talk Politix, obviously the song, not… the thing that can get you in trouble. I think we all know someone who can really command a room for better or worse, which of you two would you say is the better social butterfly?
H: Hm… I would say it depends on the day, I’d say probably more Pierre than me.
P: It depends… we flip-flop. We have turns being social.
BOB: In the way that only brothers do.
H: Yeece. Telekinesis energy, it’s his turn.
P: Amy [their manager] would know, who’s more social?
A: Ah… you’re both different!
BB: Ohhhhh okay, I see, it’s like that!
A: See-sawing, we call it!
BOB: Okay, and speaking of social butterflies, I’m a really big fan of ‘Butterfly Boy’, it’s a great song.
BB: Danke!
BOB: I find it a really interesting delve into vulnerability and self-acceptance, so what would you say in the year 2026 is your big message for people who are going through a tough time?
H: I would say… just learning to be kind to yourself. I think that’s a great description of the song-
BOB: Oh, thank you!
H: And yes, because it is super valuable to be vulnerable and self-accepting. Be kind to yourself.
BOB: That’s beautiful. Your song ‘Portals’, off the album ‘Portal’, only has two lines which are echoed in ‘So Cold’, “Reasons to stay, reasons to go”. What do you think are some reasons to stay in Brisbane?
BB: Love it!
P: Scooby-Doo ride… Presence of toads or frogs.
H: Cane toads.
BOB: Just the fact that they’re here?
BB: Yeah!
BOB: We hate them!
P: We don’t have them in New Zealand, so I heard one last night, and I was like, “That’s new.”
BOB: Nooooo, they’re so feral.
P: Yeah… they probably would get annoying.
H: That might be a reason to go.
BOB: Now, you guys don’t really do bridges in your music, I find they’re more like post-choruses, which I really dig. I was just wondering if you would know the hardest part of knowing when a song is finished.
H: Like when you’re creating it?
BOB: Yeah. What makes you think “ this is where we plant the flag”?
P: When the deadline was two weeks ago. I’ve heard a quote about this, and “a song is never done, you either run out of time or you run out of money.”
H: And we never have money, so it’s generally time.
BOB: And along those lines, do you write lyrics or music first?
BB: Always music.
BOB: And what’s your ideal state of mind when you’re writing music?
P: Two coffees…
H: Two coffees and two beers.
P: I think if it’s a day session, it’s two iced coffees. If it’s an evening session, two beers.
BOB: Cap it at two beers? Come on, it ends up being more than two beers.
H: Maybe it does… maybe it definitely does.
BOB: As a nice little finisher, I always like to know what people are watching or listening to. Whether that’s on the plane, or the tour bus, or just at home. So is there something right now that you’re obsessed with?
P: I’m going through a real big Eminem phase right now.Which I had like seven years ago. Every seven years, I get aggressively into Eminem, and then I just take a hard left out.
BOB: What era of Shady are we talking?
P: Um… kind of Marshall Mathers, the second one. There are kind of a lot of different ones I hadn’t heard before because he’s got quite a discography… and it’s pretty loose, you know? What he got away with. I mean, obviously, he’s an incredible rapper.
H: I’m listening to a New Zealand artist called Rita Mae a lot recently. Yeah, she’s released some stuff in the last month that’s really amazingly written and produced.
BOB: Well, shout out Rita Mae!
BB: Shout out Rita Mae!
BOB: Thanks so much for chatting fellas, 2026 is gonna be a huge year for you, I can’t wait to see what you guys put out!
BB: Thank you!
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You can stalk the lads’ socials here, as well as stream their debut album Portals across all streaming services. I’d recommend Butterfly Boy, 4:25, and Backseat… but it’s all a smash in my books!