INTERVIEW: Dirty Slippers releases new music video

Dirty Slippers, the Hungarian four-piece band, are back with their new single, “Honest Kid,” recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. It’s their first English language song, and the band’s first release from their forthcoming album, which they will also record at Abbey Road Studios this year.

“Honest Kid” is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, with the lyrics following a 30-year-old man looking back to his childhood, reminiscing about a time when everything was easy, and the world was a peaceful place without a pandemic and war. The song’s lyrics are relatable to many, as we have all had moments of longing for simpler times. The band’s rock influences are evident in the song’s instrumentation, with gritty guitar tones and a grooving bass line. The drums provide a solid foundation for the track, driving it forward and adding to its energy.

The music video for “Honest Kid” perfectly reflects the grandiosity of the song, with the band performing in a palatial location that adds to the song’s epic feel. Directed by Daniel “Kobe” Nemeth, the video is visually stunning and captures the band’s energy and charisma on stage.

Dirty Slippers’ previous success in Hungary and Mid-Europe is a testament to their talent, with three albums charting and ten songs making it onto different radio chart lists. Their experience and sonic talent are evident in “Honest Kid,” which is a polished and well-crafted song that showcases the band’s ability to write a catchy tune and deliver it with conviction and performance panache.

The band’s decision to record their album at Abbey Road Studios is a bold move, and it’s clear they are taking their music to the next level. The studio’s legendary status is well-deserved, and’t has been home to many famous productions. Dirty Slippers’ new single, “Honest Kid,” is a fantastic addition to their already impressive discography. The song is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, with catchy melodies, bold guitar riffs, and compelling lead vocals.

We caught up with Dirty Slippers to find out more about their inspirations, their new single “Honest Kid” and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Dirty Slippers below.

Hey Dirty Slippers, how’s things?

Hey Plastic Team and readers! Everything is really great and busy, our new video just released today, and we have got worldwide premieres from Australia to USA, from India to Brazil, so we are superexcited and hope, everybody will love our Honest kid!

How did you first get into making your own music?

I was 11-12 years old, when I wrote my first instrumental song, with my childhood friend, Tamas Szecsi. He was our first drummer, nowadaways he is our lawyer 🙂
I was a huge fan of great punk-rock music and beat music from the 60’s and always wanted to show my frontman feelings to the others. Music was my first success in my life. My parents enrolled me in all kinds of sports training. But after a while I got bored of all of them. I found myself in music. I love writing songs, just sitting with my guitar and expressing all my pain and joy in songs.

Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?

For me, it all started with the Beatles’ White Album and Dire Straits’ Making Movies vinyl. My father put them on and then gave me the covers. I saw how cool Paul, John, George and Ringo looked and Mark Knopfler in his headband! From then on, there was no question, I posed in front of the mirror with a toy tennis racket and shouted the songs in fake English in the room. 🙂

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

Ohh, there are some amazing new British artists and bands! Honestly, I am a huge fan of Sam Fender! His energy, unique sound and the lyrics amazed me, so I am happy he will perform this summer in Hungary. I hope we could meet for a quick chat! The Sherlocks, Marseille, The K’s are great bands too, and of course I am waiting for Noel Gallagher’s new album too!

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I really like listening to music and learning from the other bands. There are many good and bad things that are around us, that’s why I always have new feelings and themes. If something makes me really happy or there is sadness in my life I always run to my studio and start to work on a new song. That helps me to swing through things.

What do you love about the music scene of Budapest?

We have got a really vivid music life with great festivals like Sziget and with great clubs, where you could easily catch a great band or a new favourite. There are so many great concert halls too, where the technical issues are modern and cool too. So you can easily listen to great bands in great places, which helps make unforgettable moments.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

To be honest, I am a frontman, so my passion is to entertain the people with our songs. I love to be on big festival stages and very small clubs too. I don’t think there is a perfect place or time for a concert. But we must always strive to give the audience something new, different and better than before.

How did you find making your new single “Honest Kid”?

During the first quarantine period, I sat in my studio and was really angry, upset and sad. Some friends died in the covid, and I didn’t want anything (I could not bring them back), just flying back to my childhood, which was really happy and peaceful. Honest kid is a song with a lot of pain, full of memories and a middle finger to the bad things.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

For me the most important thing is, we reflect on people’s feelings. There are many circumstances that want to ruin people’s everyday lives or prevent you from experiencing either sorrow or joy. Honest kid is the song in which you can feel the duality of the lyrics. Our world is in trouble, but you could close the door and live in your own bubble.

How was collaborating with George Shilling?

Amazing as always! He is the best! We started to work together in 2009, when we made our first album in the USA. George is a multi awarded world famous producer and we are really grateful to Him, because his professional work helped us to this level. He’s not just a producer, he is a great friend, a great supporter of our music and often he plays on cello, piano and acoustic guitar in our songs too. We learn a lot from Him!

What was it like making the music video for the single?

Our director, Daniel “Kobe ” Nemeth is a very talented guy, he always knows what we would like to watch on the screen. That’s why we offered a historical place to Him. That was the amazing, beautiful ballroom of the Nadasdy Castle of Sarvar in Hungary. One of the most impressive castles of the world, in my opinion. So I sent photos and videos to Kobe and he said: – yes, I know exactly what you guys imagined for this video. Bebi, our drummer, George and I were really elegant in the scenes and these frescos of the middle age on the wall behind us look fantastic and highlight the emotions. The clip is a stylish music video, which I really like and it was an honour to shoot it in a iconic castle, where the history comes to life.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

I mostly listen to British bands and some great bands from the USA. Most recently, I listen Noel Gallagher, The Lathums, The Sherlocks, Marseille, The K’s, Goo Goo Dolls and of course my all time favourites like The Beatles, Oasis, Green Day, Stereophonics, The Coronas from Dublin, Liam Gallagher’s solo stuff, Frank Turner’s live album (what George Shilling mixed and produced) and so on. Honestly, I am a huge fan of all great bands, and I always listen to music.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

We would like to help the audience with our music. These days some really bad things have happened: covid, war, inflation, economic problems and so on. We are the band who cry with the people, who laugh with them, if they are happy. That is why we are really close to them and always reply to the fans. We want to be a bastion they can rely on. Our music also wants to mean this.

What’s been your favourite live show so far?

Thank God, there were a lot! We had amazing festivals like Arad Open Air Festival, and we had amazing club concerts in the UK and in Germany in legendary venues like Markthalle Hamburg and so on. I love every concert because we do this to the audience, and I am really happy when I see new faces in new cities in new countries. Now, I think, we had a great concert in the Cultural Palace in Arad, which was amazing. Fantastic venue, sold out show, lots of great people!

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

I think that would be in Hyde Park, with Paul McCartney, Oasis and Green Day. What a huge line up!

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Yes, keep the dream alive. Never give up. Never compromise. Never believe the voices that say something won’t work out. There is always another way, there is always another door to enter to the same goal. Humble work, hard awareness. I believe in this!

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

We will finish our first English language album at Abbey Road studios in June. Our Hungarian festival tour will start in May and we will go back to London to play an amazing gig with a really great goal. (I cannot tell more now sadly). So we will have a really busy year. New album, dozens of concerts, and I hope the British people will love our new video Honest kid!

Watch the music video for Honest Kid below