Two intensive years lie behind him, full of inspiration and personal moments and a little more time to transform those moments into extraordinary compositions and songs. Then he refined them with pop, rock or electro music finesse and a complete symphony orchestra. For internationally acclaimed crossover artist, songwriter, composer, pianist and entertainer HAVASI, the new album "Metamorphosis" marks the beginning of the next exciting chapter in his creative work. After selling more than half a million tickets and performances at the world's most famous venues – including New York's Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Wembley Arena, and the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin – HAVASI signed a long-term contract with Electrola / Universal Music Germany in February. This was followed by a wonderfully curated best-of album "The World of HAVASI" with his most successful and popular songs so far and gave an insight into the musical world of this exceptional Hungarian artist. All this happened in the midst of the recordings of "Metamorphosis", his latest work.
With the new ten-song album HAVASI presents a cinematic, emotional journey, creating powerful pictures and sound experiences. HAVASI's compositions and crossover elements merge into songs that are unique in structure, elegance and power. A soundtrack for our emotions, memories and dreams, with all the musical nuances that create images in the head - and goosebumps. "The title stands for the infinite possibilities of creating new things all the time. As a musician, I can take very different elements from all genres, from the great classical masters to pop, rock, and now electronic music – it's about change and freedom", explains HAVASI, adding: "The common theme, if you can call it that, is certainly the feeling of hope that resonates in all the songs. And the piano. For me, music has exceptional power."
The new album "Metamorphosis", mixed by Grammy-winning film music icon Geoff Foster (The Dark Knight, Interception, Black Swan) opens with "The Battle is Over". A song that at first is as calm, peaceful, and thoughtful as a tune-in for all the exciting things that await us when we open up and look forward. A song that sensitizes the audience for the extraordinary moments that HAVASI wants to tell and create with his new work. "It has a mystical atmosphere. It is like arriving in a different place. It has a special power and fits in perfectly with the rest of the album."
The graduate of one of the most renowned conservatories in the world finds his song ideas often in noncommittal free moments at the piano. When he gets into a creative flow, his own experiences and memories flare up in his thoughts and become a new musical piece, just like "Out Of The Woods": "This song was born out of the feeling that life always goes on, even if the world around us just seems dark. We should never give up hope and our dreams. It's a song meant to inspire audiences to move forward. The past is part of us, but shouldn't stop us, but inspire us to change something." The song is also an homage to Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, and electronic music that HAVASI also counts among his great influences.
HAVASI describes the creation process of his new songs as a short, intense moment of brainstorming – "when I get goosebumps, I know I have something to build on" – followed by "two years of work in the studio, with the orchestra, the technicians, the musicians and so on." Artisanship, talent and passion at the highest level – and with a lot of heart. And it has an impact on the audience.
The images in his head are an exhilaratingly beautiful side effect of his music, for which HAVASI is infinitely grateful. Visitors to HAVASI's concerts often tell how much his music has influenced their personal life stories. With his breathtaking shows, HAVASI creates a world of its own full of musical highlights. He works with the most talented creatives on his performances to create a unique atmosphere – from intimate candlelight to bombastic pyrotechnics – and an energy that captivates and touches the audience. "I have the great privilege that so many people write to me after the shows and are thankful for the moments they describe as cathartic. People start to change things in their lives, change jobs, go out again or just pick up the phone to call someone they haven't had contact with for a long time. That's the greatest gift for me."
Of course, his family is touring with him and supporting him at the shows, especially his now 11-year-old son Eliot, who plays the drums and even performs a song live with his father. He also inspired "Clouds": "He wanted me to play something on the piano so he could accompany me on the drums. So I played this light, carefree song. This piece is like seeing the world through children's eyes. Sunshine and joy, that's the vibe of 'Clouds' - it's the happiest song I've ever written."
One of his favorites, though it's hard for him to name just one, is "Shall We Dance", a wonderful song that reminds him of a moment in his own childhood when he first danced with a girl. "It's a song full of love, so romantic and with that feeling of being close to someone you care about." The variety on "Metamorphosis" is simply impressive - from gentle, subtly instrumented songs to a childlike lightness to powerful, driving flames and pure energy, like "The Force": "It's just a crazy song, for a moment you know something's going to happen. It gets faster and faster. I usually play it standing up to put more power into the piano and the music. Some people might think it's for the show, but no, for this song I have to put all my body weight in to get to that level of power."
For HAVASI, "Metamorphosis" is more than the beginning of a new phase in his impressive career. It is also a message to remember our strengths. It's an album full of energy, imagination, and love for the music, the audience, and a world that can offer incredible things if we allow it. "I think there is nothing more beautiful for me as an artist than people who may have had reservations about classical music and classical instruments have opened themselves up to music in all its facets through my albums and shows. That's the biggest compliment."
When he enters the stage, show laws are overridden: What HAVASI unleashes with his breathtaking mix of classical virtuosity and Las Vegas glamor is a force of nature that makes the crowds flock to his concerts. With more than half a million tickets sold and appearances at the most famous places in the world - including New York's Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Wembley Arena and the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin - the visionary HAVASI has created its own place and is sending it set out to conquer the league of international superstars from there.
“Music is a language that connects us deep in our hearts, no matter where we were born. When I compose, I have images in my head that don't exist in reality. In order to transport the emotions I have with them, I work with the best film artists in the world for my live shows.”
Another secret behind the HAVASI phenomenon is the dedication to his craft: As a graduate of one of the most renowned conservatories in the world, the Hungarian pianist and composer is a real virtuoso on his instrument. He is inspired by different eras and genres and combines the influences of old masters such as Liszt and Chopin with the cinematic widescreen atmosphere of great film composers and the most exciting elements of modern pop and rock music. From all this, HAVASI creates a unique music spectacle that masters all the nuances between elegance and pyrotechnics with ease.
"Although my background is classical, I like going to rock concerts or EDM festivals. I love that moment when the DJs pick up the pace and the crowd goes wild. I was only able to do that in Carnegie Hall with my piano. It was incredible because the audience reacted like at a festival. It's that goose bumps moment in front of and on stage that I'm all about..."
The origin of all this lies in HAVASI's childhood. At the age of four he sat at the piano and practiced for hours in his mother's attic before he was accepted at the famous Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Even then, he felt the rush of classical music when he played the music of the national hero, whom he still deeply admires to this day, but he was just as fascinated by the rock music from his walkman in the back seat of his parents. The defining moment came when he was at a concert at age 12, but it was not Sting or Springsteen who impressed him:
"When Tracy Chapman came on stage to play her hit 'Fast Car' on an acoustic guitar, something unique happened: she started singing and suddenly everyone around me was singing along. I sat at the back of one of the cheaper back rows and looked around the stadium where 50,000 people sang along with her. I have never forgotten that goosebump moment.”
Since then he has been trying to create this feeling again and again - for himself and his steadily growing fan base, which is lining up for concerts tickets and has viewed his videos on YouTube more than 125 million times. HAVASI is fully committed to it. In addition to daily practice, he has been practicing martial arts for years to focus energies and prepare his body for the top performance of his shows. His family is his biggest inspiration and plays a special role when, for example, his ten-year-old son accompanies him as a drummer in front of 15,000 people. With his long-standing team, he is constantly working on new stage shows, visual concepts and also uses the support in other areas, which he now also receives from the global market leader Universal Music.
"I'm not interested in genre boundaries like classical music and rock. In my eyes there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. I only want to play what moves me emotionally.”
The best way to dive into HAVASI's orbit is with the new album THE WORLD OF HAVASI. 14 already released titles and one brand new one open the gates to a fascinating world of music full of emotion – without prejudice or stereotyped thinking. One could start with the overwhelming THE ROAD, which has more than 25 million views on YouTube and heralds the extraordinary journey with sensitive piano and rousing orchestral power.
As one of the many highlights on the album, PRELUDE (AGE OF HEROES) impressively indicates what an experience for all the senses the pieces of the Hungarian entertainer are in a live setting: With a huge range of powerful drums, mystical choral singing and HAVASI’s virtuosic playing, the composition takes off towards limitlessness. One of the many highlights is the drum & piano version of THE DUEL: At a crazy pace, pianist and drummer compete for the enthusiasm of the listeners. Live, no less spectacular, with a drum set hanging from the ceiling of the hall, which revolves around itself during the entire performance – to the roaring applause of the audience.
The unreleased title THE UNCONQUERED is a very unusual piece. It begins with a 1931 recording of a Seminole folk song, captured on a wax cylinder. HAVASI, who is on friendly terms with the Florida-based Native American tribe, fused the song into its composition: “What is fascinating about the recording is that it feels like a gateway into the past and I am almost a hundred years after the Original I was able to do a duet with singer Billie Stewart.” The recording itself as well as the dramatic story of the Seminoles who never surrendered to the white immigrants – hence the title – inspired HAVASI to THE UNCONQUERED.
It is also this emotional depth of his songs that his fans describe after the concerts: "When he plays, he touches souls"; "this man is capable of painting whole paintings with his piano" or breathless "he's just spectacular, he's wonderful - he's a genius." But in the end, words are often insufficient when it comes to describing music - especially the sound world of HAVASI. Let's just experience his musical vision for ourselves from April 8, 2022: Welcome to
THE WORLD OF HAVASI
„There aren’t many pianists playing in stadiums –
and none of them are classical musicians.“ Havasi
