Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Martin Balgach
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I have two early impressions of music—the first is the easy listening station playing on the kitchen radio when I was a kid, but that was mostly background music. I started to listen more to music when my sister would play heavy metal records—Motely Crue, Def Leopard, Ratt, you get the idea. Hairband bliss. On vinyl!
How did your passion for creating music begin?
We had a piano in our house growing up, but I was never very good at playing it despite taking some lessons. In middle school, I met a kid who exposed me to New Wave—and I was hooked. Echo and the Bunneymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash. It was Simon Gallup of The Cure—his hypnotic,driving bass playing—that inspired me to start banging away at a hand me down acoustic I snagged from a relative. I’ve been playing ever since.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Over the last year or so, I’ve released 4 singles. They’re all pretty different, from acoustic to electric, stripped down to full instrumentation. They aren’t connected but are rather the realization of ideas I’ve had over the years, some new, with the intention to finally make them permanent and give them a place in the world.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
My sound is a little folky and a little edgy. I wouldn’t put myself in either camp as I spend an equal amount of time trying to be as quiet as I can be and as loud as I can. I think some of the songs are a blend of those ambitions and needs.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I’d never recorded to a click and once I figured it out, it did open up the possibilities to add instrumentation and percussion. But I also like knowing that I don’t have to make it “perfect” and I’m okay if my music exists with some ebb and flow, with some inconsistency. I’m endeavouring to play what I hear and I’m not trying to be anything but what I am, so I think the tunes have that roughness, that imperfection. There is plenty of really perfectly technical and clean music out there. I think I’m a messy songwriter and performer and I’m learning to embrace that, maybe improve on it when it seems right, maybe lean into it, too. The click represents a choice—to adhere or depart.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I have some gear that really inspires me—a 1965 Gibson J50, a 1966 Blackface Vibro Champ, a Jazzmaster I bought when I was in high school, and a few other pieces that I alternate through. Couple pedals [insert sarcasm]. I’m not a huge techy guy and I rely on my recording engineering to authentically capture some warm analog vibe on recordings. I think it’s important to sound like a real person and I don’t use tech to become someone else, but I do find gear to be inspirational for songwriter. I’ve definitely written songs that really only can be played on a certain guitar or a certain amp to feel complete. There is some magic in matching up with the essence of an instrument or amp, of aligning with it in a way that can’t be replicated.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’m on a heavy Anna Tivel kick right now. She is a poet and amazing songwriter with a mysterious, enchanting vibe. Her live show is intimate and intense and I find her songs comforting and intriguing.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Whoa. This is a big question. Throughout all the things we do in life—work, family, and so on, and all the rules and norms we have to acknowledge and follow, music and art is a refuge, a frequency, a friend, a narrative, a space. Some years ago, I went back to grad school to study poetry. That work informs my songwriting. For me, music and poetry represents, well, rather, they are my true self—I don’t have to monetize art or get anything from this more than what it gives me, and what I give them, what I decide I need them to be. Which isn’t to say it’s easy or stress free, or that I don’t hold myself accountable or in relation to others, and quite the opposite—I perseverate over all aspects of all of it, but it’s authentically me and it doesn’t have to follow any rules. It’s freedom.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I recently played a show and a guy came up to me afterwards and said,”Your songs make me feel calm.” At another show, a woman told me that my songs helped her emotionally reflect on the recent passing of her husband. All of that. Any of that. I guess any emotional connection means I’ve done something right, something important and vital and real. Connections are everything.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
At my best, I feel miniscule within the spectrum of what people accomplish musically, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to 100% strive to always be better, to be more, to reach another level. Nothing inspires me more than hearing an incredible song and wanting to write a song that explores some essence of what moved me—maybe a tone, a phrase, an emotion. I’m always thankful for those sparks. In a lot of ways it all feels like one eternal conversation.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I chase weird venues—arty stuff, alternative spots, that’s my thing, I don’t desire big stages or fancy spots. Listening spaces with cool vibes, book or record stores, cafes—any place with interesting, tuned-in folks is pure bliss to me.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Thurston Moore or Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth. Those two guys have pushed the limits beyond the limits and they unlocked guitar for me.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ouMnzNUnD0zjeBmN0Oo6q?si=Iv3UGgJ6TO6sfSbLYQyZjQ
website: martinbalgach.com
And the tunes are available on all other streaming platforms.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I’m going to start working on an acoustic EP. It’s time! The songs are ready. Just need to make the time to do it. 2026!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
If anything about any song resonates in any way, large or small, I think that’s an amazing connection and I’m thankful that anyone would take the time to listen to my songs.
