Conversation with Claudia Balla Regarding "Winter Tale"

Claudia Balla, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Let’s start by delving into your fascinating journey. Tell us about your background and upbringing. How has your personal life influenced your music?

Thank you so much for having me. I guess my upbringing was nothing extraordinary but in the good sense – I grew up in the suburbs as the only child of loving parents, went to school, got a degree and started working a day job. 🙂 I believe it’s hard to separate our personal life from the music we make as our songs will reflect our everyday experiences, even if this is not something we do deliberately or consciously.

Can you share with us some insights into your musical journey and how you got started in the music industry?

I started playing the piano and writing songs as a kid and haven’t stopped ever since. My love for the arts and performing has been present since nursery school. However, I officially debuted as a singer-songwriter in 2013 with my first album.

Can you take us through the creative process behind “Winter Tale“? How did the concept for the album come about?

Since I was a child I have been dreaming about making a Christmas record as it is a magical, transcendental moment of the year. I started working on the first drafts at the end of December 2017 and we had several brainstorming sessions with András Bolyki, the executive producer of the album, to point out the main directions.

Are there specific stories or emotions that you wanted to convey through the songs on the album?

“Winter Tale” is quite introspective and mostly deals with different aspects of love. I wished to express various emotions like hope, joy, faith, love, admiration, longing, excitement, sorrow, determination and even more abstract things like self sacrifice.

Are there any specific tracks on the album that have a particularly deep or personal meaning to you? If so, could you elaborate on them?

My personal favourite is “White Bird”, as it is the most sentimental and intimate song on the record, a track that compares love to a fragile, elusive white bird. I love listening to “Dicsőség”, the final choral piece composed by András.

In terms of songwriting, do you have a preferred method or approach? How do you capture and express your ideas?

I write when I feel inspired or when I need to exteriorize something, put words on either thoughts or feelings. I usually write on the piano or the guitar and record my initial demos on the phone.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your musical journey that has left a lasting impact on you?

I suppose every experience is memorable for one reason or another – every recording session, concert or encounter is unique and we learn something new almost every day.

In terms of personal growth, how has being a musician shaped your worldview and understanding of yourself?

I’ve been making music since I was a child so it’s hard for me to tell what my worldview would be like without it. I suppose it made me become more empathetic, more interested in what people go through, how they might experience the world and to be curious about their individual stories.

Are there any specific goals or milestones you hope to achieve in your career, both soon and in the long term?

I would like to grow both as a songwriter and as a performer and to make music that resonates with the listener. I’m not good at metrics or business projections and I don’t think we can control the reception of what we create. I strive to do my best as an artist and we’ll see where the road takes me.

As your audience grows, how do you maintain a connection with your fans, and what does their support mean to you?

I’m truly honoured and it’s a dream come true that even one person listens to anything I do and that I get the chance to discuss my music with people like you. 🙂 I try to be present on social media like any other artists (that’s a work in progress), but I prefer live events where we can share a moment together and have the possibility to meet and talk afterwards.