Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: As a child I played the piano and did theater which established my love for music, performance and art in general. I would often go to see operas and ballets with one of my good friends. I learned pretty early on to take one’s craft seriously and to keep both feet on the ground. I was also humbled by the talent of some of my peers which made me rapidly recognise my limits and pushed me to find my own voice.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Claudia Balla”?
A: I wish to make music that touches and moves people, which resonates with them, and to create a safe space with it where our fears, doubts, flaws and vulnerabilities are accepted, even cherished.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I’m not able to answer that question as there are so many great artists who are inspiring for various reasons, it wouldn’t be fair to name only a few of them. I suppose inspiration finds me when I’m lucky, I can’t say that I’m chasing after it. 🙂
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the album, “Winter Tale.”?
A: I wished to take a more introverted, somber and nostalgic approach to Christmas and winter in general without the usual gimmicks and commercial implications. The holiday season has become a commodity which made us lose sight of the main reasons why we are celebrating in the first place – be it religion, community, family or simply love.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Folk-pop. I hope this counts as one word due to the hyphen.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Winter Tale”?
A: We were recording it during the pandemic which meant that having 24 unmasked singers in one place at the same time was not allowed for several months. Traveling was also more hurdlesome, so we had to record certain instruments with either me or András Bolyki, the producer of the record, only participating online.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: Be kind to yourself and to others? Live and let live? My goal as an artist, and a human being, is to make the world a better place.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Bach, if I can only name one. I would have loved to have glimpsed into his creative process. Most probably it would’ve been completely beyond my comprehension though.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: I suppose I would need some advice myself on that matter 🙂 But what I could suggest it to do things that feel right even if it’s not what everybody else is doing at the moment. There is zero guarantee that it will work but at least you didn’t have to compromise or give up your values.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Practice more?
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