photo by Dan Peluso
Balloon Ride Fantasy models music after 1980s pop music, creating an indie electropop/fantasy rock genre. The local band released their newest album earlier this month.
Pittsburgh’s music scene doesn’t compare to many other larger cities’ in the country, but that might be changing with one band’s distinct sound.
Balloon Ride Fantasy (BRF), a local six-piece “indie electropop/fantasy” rock band, released their self-titled, full-length album earlier this month, and it was a long time coming. Nearly three years ago, the band began recording the album in lead singer Chris Olszewski’s home studio, which was funded by an Indiegogo campaign.
In just the first few seconds of the first track of the album, “Species,” the band catches the listener’s attention by taking him or her back in time. The ‘80s pop rock influence this band has can’t be missed, coming through strong in not only this track, but throughout the entire album.
The whole band grew up in the ‘80s, and that influence is clearly portrayed in their music. Because of this, they connect well with the music from that time period, according to Bethany Berkstresser, BRF’s harmony vocalist.
“Eighties pop culture and music was so imaginative and colorful, so it’s fun for all of us to play with and explore those elements musically,” said Berkstresser in an email interview on April 16.
There are many reasons why this band sticks out among the rest in the scene, but the most prominent is the synthesizer that is used throughout the entire album. The use of this now uncommon instrument in popular music is how BRF integrates their ‘80s pop rock influences into their music.
“Musicians that probably steered me in the direction of the music I’m currently writing are Michael Jackson, Prince, The Police, Hall and Oats, Genesis,” said Phil Conley, BRF’s guitar and synthesizer player in an email interview on April 16. “Basically 80s pop.”
However, the band brings their own relevance to ‘80s pop rock by fusing the classic sound with their own modern and indie styles. Audiences get a real taste of the band’s indie sound when listening to the fifth track on the album, “The Anchor and the Sail.”
The track features great guitar work by both Olszewski and Conley. Harmony vocals Berkstresser brings add depth and feeling to the track.
The entire record encompasses a variety of musical elements that truly makes this band from other genres. And with the band hailing from Pittsburgh, there is no reason the music scene shouldn’t begin to flourish.
“With a fully realized sound and live performance, we offer an alternative to what you’re used to seeing at Pittsburgh music venues,” said Jordan Wood, BRF’s keyboard player when asked what the band brings to Pittsburgh’s music scene.
BRF brings a new and exciting twist to the Steel City’s music scene, considering the fact that they created their own genre of music. Conley explains that their songs are “catchy, but different” from what is relevant in the music scene right now.
This “catchy, but different” element the band embodies is how their genre, fantasy rock, can be explained.
“We created our own genre of music, fantasy rock. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and listen to this album all the way through like five times,” said Brad Schneider, BRF’s bass guitarist in an email interview on April 16. “Then try to put us in a genre.”
BRF’s eponymous album can be purchased and listened to in full at balloonridefantasy.bandcamp.com.
