Balu Brigada

Not to be confused with Baby Beluga.

Balu Brigada
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
Genres
Years active2016 (2016)–present
Labels
Members
  • Henry Beasley
  • Pierre Beasley
Past members
  • Charles Beasley
  • Guy Harrison
Websitebalu-brigada.com

Balu Brigada is a New Zealand indie rock band originally from Auckland. The act, formed in 2016 with four members, is led by multi-instrumentalist brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley. They have released two extended plays—I Should Be Home (2022), and Find a Way (2023)—and the compilation Balu (2024). Their debut album, Portal, was released on 29 August 2025.

History

Balu Brigada was formed in 2016.[5] Originally the band was named Baloo, an homage to the character of the same name from the Disney film The Jungle Book. However, fearing legal troubles from Disney, the band was renamed to Balu Brigada.[6] The band's first lineup had four members: Henry Beasley as the lead singer and guitarist, his older brother Charles as the drummer, his younger brother Pierre on keyboards, and their childhood friend, Guy Harrison, on bass.[7] Sometimes, Pierre was not allowed to play in certain venues since he was only 15. Their first two singles were "Weekend" and "Ricochet".[8] They started focusing more on writing and production after Pierre came of age.[5] Charles Beasley and Harrison left over the next several years,[6] leading Henry and Pierre Beasley to adopt multi-instrumentalist and dual vocalist roles.[7]

In September 2022, Balu Brigada signed with Warner Music Australia and Atlantic Records in their first deal as joint partners.[9] The band announced their signing alongside their first release under their new labels, debut EP I Should Be Home. The EP addresses issues from "messy break-ups to drunken epiphanies" navigated by an inexperienced "20-something".[9] The band relocated from Auckland to New York City following the signing.[10]

In July 2023, Balu Brigada released their sophomore EP Find a Way.[11] The track list includes viral songs "Designer" and "2Good". Spanning multiple genres, the six-track record has been described by the band as "about tripping up on all the subtleties of the dating game". It spurred them back to New Zealand and Australia to tour.[12]

Balu Brigada opened for Twenty One Pilots on the U.S. leg of the Clancy World Tour, which began in August 2024. The four-piece returned for the Australia and New Zealand leg, concluding in November of the same year, and also supported the duo on the Latin America and Europe & UK legs in 2025.[13] The New Zealand Herald's reviewer was appreciative of their Auckland performance, writing that their "catchy alt-pop riffs and endearing charm no doubt earned them plenty more fans in their hometown."[4]

In October 2024, Balu Brigada announced the Can't Be Your Dog Tour, their first headlining tour. It took place in February and March 2025, spanning four shows across the U.S.[14]

In January 2025, Balu Brigada was named one of SiriusXM's Future Five artists for 2025.[15]

In May 2025, Balu Brigada announced their debut album, Portal, released on 29 August 2025, along with the release of the album's third single "Backseat".[16] The album was written and entirely produced by both members whilst on the road touring.[17] Alongside this, the Portal Tour was announced, which began at Mexico City in October, and concluded at Austin, Texas in November.[16] The album's fourth single, "What Do We Ever Really Know?" was released on 24 July,[18] and the fifth single, "Politix", was released on 19 August.[19] The sixth and the last single, "Sideways", was released on 27 August, two days prior to the release date of the album.

Albums

List of albums, with selected details
Title Details
Portal
  • Released: 29 August 2025
  • Label: Atlantic / Warner Australia / ARRO[20]

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Almost Feel Good Mixtape
  • Released: 24 May 2019
  • Label: Balu Brigada
I Should Be Home
  • Released: 23 September 2022
  • Label: Atlantic / Warner Australia
Find a Way
  • Released: 28 July 2023
  • Label: Atlantic / Warner Australia
Balu
  • Released: 14 August 2024
  • Label: Atlantic / Warner Australia

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ Hot
[21] 		LTU
Air.
[22] 		US Alt. US
Air.
"So Cold" 2024 — — 1 7 Portal
"The Question" 2025 — — — —
"Learn to Let You Go" — — — — Non-album single
"Backseat" 19 88 7 21 Portal
"What Do We Ever Really Know?" — — — —
"Politix" — — — —
"Sideways" 20 — — —

References

  1. ^ "Pinguin Radio | Discover new artists and their music!". pinguinradio.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  2. ^ "Balu Brigada - The Brothers Beasley". RNZ. 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  3. ^ Williams, Jess (2024-09-29). "Twenty One Pilots Bring Show-Stopping Clancy Tour To Barclays Center". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  4. ^ a b Hageman, Mitchell (17 November 2024). "Twenty One Pilots Auckland show review: Band bring backflips and brilliance to Spark Arena". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Balu Brigada on their new EP 'I Should Be Home'". Hype Medium. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b Bell, Hartung (2017). "Balu Brigada: Hitting Number One". NZ Musician. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Balu Brigada - The Brothers Beasley". Radio New Zealand Music. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  8. ^ Bell, Jean (2017). "Fresh Talent: Balu Brigada". NZ Musician. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b Kelly, Vivienne (23 September 2022). "Warner Music and Atlantic Records Sign Balu Brigada". The Music Network. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ de Silva, Tommy (24 May 2023). "Balu Brigada is creating genre-bending music on the global stage". The Spinoff. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  11. ^ McInnes, Laura (28 July 2023). "Balu Brigada chronicle their journey on dreamy sophomore EP, Find A Way". Sniffers. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  12. ^ Lochrie, Conor (7 June 2024). "Balu Brigada Battle the Dating Game on New Single 'So Cold'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  13. ^ Le Calvez, Tony (19 August 2024). "Twenty One Pilots Begin 'Clancy' World Tour". The Needle Drop. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  14. ^ Balu Brigada [@BaluBrigada] (October 22, 2024). "!! Gonna be doing our very own tour of the US in Feb-March !! Come see us play our first ever headline shows on the CAN'T BE YOUR DOG tour 🐕" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 November 2024 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Aswad, Jem (27 January 2025). "SiriusXM Reveals 2025 'Future Five': Lola Young, Ken Carson, More". Variety. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  16. ^ a b Garner, Emily (29 May 2025). "Balu Brigada announce debut album and North American headline tour". Kerrang!. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  17. ^ Court, Nikki (11 September 2025). "Album Review: Balu Brigada – Portal". Mix It All Up. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  18. ^ Wilson-Taylor, James (25 July 2025). "Balu Brigada Release New Single 'What Do We Ever Really Know?'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  19. ^ Wilson-Taylor, James (20 August 2025). "Balu Brigada Release Dreamy New Single 'Politix'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  20. ^ Downs, Sarah (29 August 2025). "Balu Brigada Release Debut Album 'Portal'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  21. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Aug 7, 2025". TopHit. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
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