Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Balthazar’s J. Bernardt
Jinte Deprez of Balthazar has never been afraid of a flamboyant name. So, it seems fitting that he rolls forth in a solo capacity with the rather lavish moniker of J. Bernardt. His music is an opulent enough brand of avant-garde indie to match. Laden with hooks, synthesised saxophones, dissonant echo chambers and brooding vocals, his new solo tracks are a flashy, soulful and swooning feast.
The Belgian musician is set to release his second solo album, Contigo, on May 17th. Ahead of the release, he stated: “I know a break-up record is a cliché, but I’m growing to love clichés! I wasn’t afraid to go all the way. Forgetting about the break-up by singing about it is like self-sabotage, but I’m having fun with it too”. That need for escapism comes across in the tracks that conjure sepia-toned city skylines and the unmistakable aura of balconies.
The songs, like their creator, carry a charismatic aura. They are typified by the stylings that Deprez attributed to the leading single, ‘Mayday Call’, when he said: “Its a a straightforward beaty song lead by a thick orchestral unisono, all to back the vocals that squeal their way through a description of virtually a panic attack, calling out for help. The song was written in one breath with a suitable code of blasting chaotic horns, there’s also a touch of the original acoustic demo in the outro.”
Ahead of the release, we caught up with Deprez to chew the fat about his love for Jacques Brel, his thoughts on The Beatles and the musician he’d love to have a pint with. Enjoy his quick-fire question answers below…
Quick-fire Questions with J. Bernardt:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“Jacques brel – ‘Le Moribond’.”
2. What has been your favourite album released in 2024 so far?
“The Smile – Wall of Eyes.”
3. What is the weirdest gig you have ever played?
“A festival in Minsk where the presidential guards came on stage to shut us up because it was too loud in the presidential gardens next door. Fair enough.”
4. What is one internet rabbit hole you have fallen down?
“Watching videos of people that clean dirty old carpets.”
5. Dual question: what is your favourite soup? And what is your favourite comfort movie?
“Chervil soup while watching all the Star Wars movies in random order.”
6. Can you recommend a record we might never have heard?
“Bryars: Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet by Gavin Bryars.”
7. Have you ever cried at a concert?
“Yes, even on stage, for showbiz reasons, of course.”
8. What is your most prized musical instrument?
“My violin my parents bought me when I was a kid, so it’s not mine technically. Not yet.”
9. Who would be in your dream supergroup?
“Kanye West on piano, Dolly Parton on saxophone, Rosetta Tharpe on guitar, Liam Gallagher on tambourine, Prince on bass and Ringo on drums.”
10. What is the best hangover cure?
“Chicken soup and all the Lord Of the Rings movies in random order.”
11. Have you ever had a weird celebrity encounter?
“David Byrne once asked me where the backstage toilets were. It was very random.”
12. What was the last book you read? And what would you score it out of 10?
“Rick Rubin – The Creative Act. I’d give it a ten. I’m not a journalist.”
13. You can spend a month in any place during any season, when and where are you going?
“Mexico anytime. Book me.”
14. You can have a pint with any musician, who are you drinking with?
“Nick Cave, if he sits down, he’s huge.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“The fact that this is a question in 2024: no, well done to them.”
