Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Of course! My name is Lazar Lobo-Szaloky, I am the guitar player and singer of the Hungarian indie pop-rock band called Dirty Slippers. The story is behind my music career started when I was a little child and my Dad took Beatles and Dire Straits vinyls to the player. Then everything was changed suddenly in my life. I got the vinyl cover, listened the music and saw the cool picture of the Beatles in the booklet and I exactly knew: nothing else matters just the music! After that when I started learn in high school and I played guitar a few years back, I made the band with my childhood friend.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I mostly listen bands from the UK and USA. Nowadays I am a huge fan of Sam Fender, cause his energy and songwriting style are really close to me! Some british bands are really amazed me, just like The Sherlocks or Marseille, with whom we played last Friday in Guildford.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Dirty Slippers’?
A: The Beatles and Dire Straits were the first two big favorites, which as I got older were supplemented by the music of Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls and Oasis. Maybe even today these five bands are my biggest favorites. I really like the songs of Stereophonics and The View from Scotland and I’m constantly looking for new bands, because in addition to being a musician, I’m also a fan of good bands. And the name Dirty Slippers comes from the fact that one of my teachers in primary school (when there was no band yet, I only dreamed about it) said that he thought I would never be a successful musician. I told him yes and I would do everything for it. Then he asked what the name of your band would be. And I read the two words listed below each other in my English notebook: Dirty, Slippers.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Honest kid’. Is there a story behind it?
A: During the first period of covid, I was extremely angry and sad, because every day you could hear tragic news. I was at home in Gyula, in the family house with my parents, and I converted my former children’s room into a studio. I started working on our new album and the first version of this song was born very quickly one night. The next day, I called our vocalist over and we wrote the lyrics together. I felt like the four walls were squeezing me and I wanted to go back to my happy childhood, when I was surrounded only by the love of my friends and family and there weren’t so many problems in the world. I am happy that this has become our best-known song, both in Hungarian and hopefully in English. I feel this song is really honest and energetic, the people could identify with it very easily.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes! We would like to record our new, full english language album in June. Some great news and details will come very soon! George Shilling (Oasis, Mike Oldfield) will be the producer of the new songs too.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: Honestly, I think the listeners feels my energy and emotions. Some of our songs like Honest kid has got a really bittersweet vibe, which has got lyrics about themes, that could happen with anybody. We have got a lot of songs about love, break up, grow up and lost of a family member. I would like to help to the people with my songs. I would like to cry with they, if they feel pain, I would like to smile with they, when they’ve feel happiness. We were really close to our listeners since we started this band. I believe in this direct connection, cause I think, that could help me to know what they would like to listen on a concert on an album. I never play music to entertain myself, I wanna play to the people.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: We are on a really good way and amazing people come with us and that’swhy I am really happy and thankful. In Hungary we had 3 albums on the national album charts and had 10 songs on different radios’ charts. We played live 9 European countries and recorded albums in USA and last time at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. We always dreaming bigger and bigger and wor
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: We are a very active creative community. in most cases, I come up with an idea, which is usually arranged and recorded in my own little home studio, and after that I send the demos to the others. This seems to be changing in the recent period, because the others have now brought new, individual ideas and started working on them. It’s a bit of a new situation for me, because I’ve been the main songwriter since the beginning of the band, but I like and enjoy working on other ideas. By the way, Honest kid born on this way: I wrote the original Hungarian version, the English version – in which a few things have changed – is already being written with our drummer, Bebi.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Since we have always been a hard touring band, a few years ago I developed spinal hernias in my back. This often causes painful moments on tour. 4 years ago, in the middle of a tour in Transylvania, my hernia ruptured and I played the concerts in hellish pain. Thank God, my mother is a doctor and gave me injections, which made my job a little easier. After that, of course, I was laid up for weeks. By the way, I am very proud, because since 2009 our band has never canceled a concert due to a health problem
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: There’s a lot and I am really thankful for every success! Honestly, I am really proud about our recordings in Cleveland, USA and last time at Abbey Road. We had amazing concerts in Europe and on last Friday in the UK. Playing concerts in different countries, making records in different continents are the best things in the world! I really like travelling, meeting new people, sing my songs to the audience abroad. I hope we could achieve more success in the UK. One thing is for sure, I will do my best to it!
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