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Budapest-based metallers Heedless Elegance released their second album ‘Libra’ earlier this year and frontman Samuel Konter joined us to talk about the early days of the band, as well as his own personal musical memories.
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
The idea of creating a band came to our minds around 2015 I think, we were in a rock/metal festival in Hungary. Zsolt and I were totally sober and we said to ourselves “let’s try it one more time, but this time do it for real“. We had projects where we were playing together with Zsolt, but something was missing from them, so we decided to follow a path where we’ll be very conscious about what we are going to do. Of course, we continuously bumped into problems and mistakes, but on a different level.
Since the official start of the band which was in 2018, we had quite a few band members on each instrument, cause there was always something that came up to the surface. Those things were on a scale from ‘problems with the attitude’ to ‘the person literally went insane! But eventually, in 2020, the final line up of the band was found and now I can proudly say that I’m in a band with amazing musicians and friends: Zsolt Forgó, Mátyás Erős, Dani Varga, and Albert Csobán. Since then we got into the top 25 “Best Emerging Bands of Hungary” as the only metal music group by winning a showcase talent show in Herend and a major governmental showcase competition.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?
It is a good question, as much as I know our music deeply, now I would say it is that kind of music which hits you hard with its heaviness but at the same time could make you very emotional with its melodies. We are paying attention on making these two motives balanced in our music.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
Our second LP called “Libra” just came out on the 31st of January and we are really proud of this release, we worked so much on it and we gave our souls and hearts to make it as good as it’s possible from us. As far as we are able to look back from now to the past two years we truly think that it has become a colorful, yet coherent album overall. It was a challenging task for us to create such an LP while being honest and fulfilling our expectations to ourselves.
Libra is a concept album – divided into two parts with eight songs in total – about a fictional character and its inner journey from a murder driven by long-awaited revenge to the dissolving death of himself.
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
Of course, we have dreams about who could we tour with. For now, I would say Parkway Drive would be the best from all directions.
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
I remember I was 15 I think, I was a drummer that time and with my first band ever, we had our first show in a basement of an abandoned factory. It was a clubhouse of our motorcycle enthusiast friends, they had a band as well, they invited us to play with them. My parents were there, my friends, a bunch of unknown faces, it was such a surreal situation. I was nervous, but the environment was very homely, so I just enjoyed my time on the stage. After that concert, as a drummer, I never felt that much nervousness again, the next time I felt it was the time when I had my first concert as a frontman.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?
It is very hard to make something “new” these days or even possible at all I don’t know, but I think what you can do, that you pay attention on the details and make something truly honest, because without that it is very hard to have true success. I think your attitude and honesty can make the difference these days.
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
I hope it’s us :)))) But in the meantime, our friends from Hungary “LAZARVS” and “ANTARES” have a huge potential to be with the greatest in the next years!
What are your first musical memories? And what was the light bulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
To be honest, it just happened. Of course, I was playing on instruments when I was a kid and loved to listen to music, but when I first got into a band I didn’t realize that I was, you know, in a band, that I’m a “musician” from now. I never intended to become a musician, I just liked to play with friends and get drunk every time. Years after these happenings I started to feel like I wanted to do this, and the first time I ever felt that maybe it is gonna be good when we formed Heedless.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
I think it was a jam session gig in a small club in Budapest, we usually go there ’cause a lot of friends perform at these events. Because of the serious provisions in Hungary, there are no concerts at all now! This was back in November 2020.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
My favourite band in the last few years is Twenty One Pilots!
Although 2020 was a year to forget for many reasons, there was some incredible music released; what would be your album of 2020?
Katatonia – City Burials
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
If you would like to check us out or you’d like to order merchandise or the albums you can find us on these links:
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
Youtube
Bandcamp
If you would like to order merchandise or the albums, you can do it here in the webshop of metal.hu
https://metal.hu/zenekarok/heedless-elegance/
Photo credits: Hegyi Julia Lily
