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Brandon Szabo Turns Life’s Hardest Moments Into EDM Fire With ‘1’”
It’s past midnight. In a small studio, the lights are low, almost as if they’re respecting the silence. Brandon Szabo leans over his controller, headphones resting around his neck. On the screen, a session of dozens of layered sounds pulses in waves of color. Outside, no one knows he’s about to close a chapter that began seven years ago — the day his life changed forever.
“I’m an artist, I need to create to process my emotions,” Brandon says. “When dance was taken from me, I had to find another way to express myself. Music saved my life.”
When fate changes the tempo
Before producing, Brandon was a professional dancer. His trajectory pointed toward the world’s stages — until a car accident brought it all to a halt. Physical recovery was only part of the challenge; the bigger battle was dealing with the absence of what had once given his life meaning.
In that space, he discovered music production. With no clear plan but an urgent need to reinvent himself, Brandon began experimenting with beats, synths, and textures. What began as therapy soon became his calling.
The birth of 1
Five years later, he was ready to share the result. 1, released on August 22, is his debut album — and the first time anyone has heard these tracks.
“No one has heard any of the tracks until now. I thought it would be interesting to see the reaction without any external frame of reference.”
The project was born in creative isolation. No collaborators. No outside feedback. No external pressure. The result is a bold fusion of EDM, house, techno, and funk, packed with powerful drops, hypnotic grooves, and a sound Brandon describes in three words: “Energetic, fierce, powerful.”
Between influence and independence
Brandon has always admired Don Diablo, who he calls his biggest artistic inspiration. Yet, he knew he needed to step back to find his own voice.
“Traversing inspiration from others and self-discovery is challenging. But it was the confidence he inspired that allowed me to take that step.”
This search for identity is more than an artistic choice — it’s a reflection of his life philosophy, where music is a space for freedom for both creator and listener.
The artist who almost became Batman
Few people know that before music, Brandon studied Police Foundations and worked with Royal Caribbean.
“I always wanted to help people and be prepared for anything. I wanted to be like Batman.”
That discipline and mindset of constant training now guide his approach as an artist — always ready to explore, take risks, and adapt.
Roots and festival dreams
Half of Brandon’s family is Hungarian, and one of his biggest dreams is to play Balaton Sound, one of Europe’s most iconic festivals.
“I want to live in Hungary and immerse myself in the culture and language.”
Until that day comes, he continues refining his stage presence.
“In dance and acting, I realized that the more confidence you have, the more present you are in the moment. That’s what I’m aiming for in my sets now.”
Philosophy of the dancefloor
Guided by the spiritual concept of MERKABA, Brandon sees his music as a vehicle for transformation. He believes that once tracks are released, they no longer belong to him.
“I want my fans to feel whatever they need to feel. The songs stop being mine once they’re released.”
This outlook also shapes how he promotes his work. Instead of pushing only his album, he urges fans to explore other independent labels and artists like Outsiders Recordings, Kazal Records, Mustache Crew Records, Housewood Records, and Almighty1 Music.
“There are incredible artists working hard to follow their passion with little or no visibility. They deserve to be heard.”
In the end, 1 is an album, but it’s also a statement. It’s the sound of someone who lost everything and rebuilt their life from scratch. It’s proof that isolation can create artistic freedom. And it’s a reminder that behind every drop and bassline, there’s a story — and in Brandon Szabo’s case, that story is about resilience, reinvention, and community.
As the final track of 1 echoes in the studio, Brandon smiles. The silence that’s surrounded him for years is finally about to break. And this time, the whole world is invited to dance.
