After originally establishing himself as the drummer for Grammy Award winning guitarist Al Di Meola's band, Hungarian artist Peter Kaszas is now continuing to explore his own sound on the breezy new single 'Music Is The Key'.
Channelling a strong base within his own jazz and soul-inspired roots, 'Music Is The Key' makes for a wonderfully refreshing listen from start to finish. With its sweet and sweeping tones, laid-back groove, and passionate vocals throughout, this one will wash over you with its effortless texture.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and what has inspired him most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
That was the drum set. No question about it. My father is also a drummer and I always took the chance to play whenever I could.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My father used to play with his band in Germany and Switzerland in the 80’s and 90’s so he got the chance to get a lot of music which was not fully available in our country at the time. From American pop music, Richard Marx, Michael Bolton, Earth, Wind and Fire… to Level 42, Stevie Wonder. Almost every genre he could find. Then later I was really into Sting, Peter Gabriel…
What was the first album you remember owning?
As I remember it was a Mezzoforte album called “Playing for time”.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Well…it’s a hard one…there’s so many great songs out there… If I have to choose one it would be “Love me still” by Bruce Hornsby and Chaka Khan.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Earlier I was waiting for the magic moment when I just sat down at the keyboard and wrote a flawless song in ten minutes. This can happen, but most of the time there are deadlines (even if it’s for your own album) so you can’t just wait for the moment. The only habit I have is that you need to force yourself to sit down and write, even when you are not in the mood. It’s like going fishing. Some days you don’t catch anything, but you shouldn’t give up.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Dirty Loops, Jacob Collier, Brian McKnight, Kurt Elling, John Mayer.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Open for John Mayer would be a dream.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding thing is when you see the joy and happiness on the face of the audience. A show can be just the third gig of the week but for the audience it can be the most memorable night for a long time. So we always have to give our best.
And what is the most frustrating part?
For some people music is just the noise when they get in the elevator…they don’t have any idea that it takes a lot of time, energy and dedication to create music, or to be a musician. But it is what it is.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
“Don’t be afraid to play what you love.”
-
Peter Kaszas' new single 'Music Is The Key' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.