Stereo Embers The Podcast 0313: Eszter Balint

“I Hate Memory” Born in Budapest, Eszter Balint relocated to the United States and as a ten year old and found herself in New York living with the avant-garde Squat Theatre troupe, which was founded by her dad. Being surrounded by artists was no new thing for the violin-playing actress, who came from generations of artists. Her father was also a poet, her grandfather was a renowned visual artist and her great grandfather was one of the premier intellectuals and art critics at the turn of the century in Hungary. Balint acted in the troupe and living amongst writers, painters, actors and visual artists had an instant effect on her sensibility and her career path. In other words, it wasn’t likely she was going to be a realtor. By 15 she played violin on a song produced by Basquiat and not long after, she started appearing in movies like Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger Than Paradise, Woody Allen’s Shadows and Fog, Trees Lounge and The Linguini Incident. She also had a several episode arc on Louie CKs sitcom “Louie." She’s put out a handful of staggeringly great solo albums, including classics like Mud and Airless Midnight and her new one, I Hate Memory is a song cycle that explores Balint’s trajectory from communist Hungary to the vibrant non-stop life of lower Manhattan in the early '80s. This is such a stirring song cycle it gave rise to the anti-musical version that was staged at Manhattan’s beloved Joe’s Pub. The record rings with poeticism, artistry and conviction. It’s evocative, sonorous and truly unforgettable work. www.eszterbalint.com www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.alexgreenonline.com IG: @emberspodcast