Start Listening To: Veps

A Candid Conversation with Veps on Life, Music, and Their Upcoming Album, Dedicated To.

Introducing the dynamic and talented band Veps. Hailing from the vibrant city of Oslo, Norway, Veps consists of four childhood friends who have been making music together since they were 14. Their journey from high school jam sessions to the indie-rock stage is marked by raw and relatable lyrics that echo the experiences of their daily lives and relationships.

As they prepare to release their sophomore album, Dedicated To, Veps sat down with us to discuss their musical evolution, the stories behind their latest singles, and the creative process that keeps their sound fresh and authentic. Join us as we dive into their inspirations, challenges, and the unique backstory of their single "Greetings From Peru" in this exclusive Q&A.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

We are four friends who grew up together in Oslo, Norway. We started playing together at 14, and immediately started writing our own music and have been writing together ever since. The music is inspired by our daily lives, and the people around us. In high school we wrote about our lives as teenagers, and now we write about our adult lives. I guess you can say that our music reflects where we are in life. As we’ve grown older our sound has matured, but we have stayed true to our indie-rock roots.

Your single, “Greetings From Peru,” has a unique backstory involving backpacking through South America. Can you tell us more about how this experience influenced the song’s lyrics and overall vibe?

the lyrics from “Greetings From Peru” is actually just a translated message from our drummer to a boy back home. The vibe in the song reflects the excitement and experiences you get when you travel, and how they can feel more exciting than what is waiting for you at home. It’s quite a cocky break up song. It might not paint us in the best light, but it expresses the care free attitude you get from being in a relationship you’re not emotionally invested in.

Dedicated To is set to release on June 14th. How does this sophomore album differ from your debut album, Oslo Park, both musically and thematically?

like we said, we have grown a lot the past few years. We feel like this album shows a more mature, yet playful side of us. We have dared to take more space in the soundscape and experimented with more complex rhythms, themes and tonality. However, we will never let go of the garage sound.

How was the album produced?

It’s recorded at Studio Paradiso in Oslo with Marcus Forsgren over the span of 6-7 days. We recorded the instrumentals live, meaning every track is recorded with everyone playing together. Every song was written during the spring/summer of 2023, and we came to Studio Paradiso with all of them ready. Marcus did his magic in the studio with ideas and feedback, and we are very excited to release it.

The music video for “Greetings From Peru” was self-directed and shot in Oslo. What was the inspiration behind the video, and what was the creative process like?

The idea was to depict a letter being sent from Peru to Oslo. In the video you see us transport a golden envelope using many different methods of transportation. We sadly couldn’t afford to fly from Peru and back, so instead we attached a GoPro camera to a bicycle, a skateboard, the tram, a boat, etc., and we spent a few days traveling around Oslo. We make most of our videos ourselves, and we like using what we have and find creative solutions for the things we want to depict.

Your sound blends alt-pop with indie rock elements and has been described as raw and DIY. How do you maintain this aesthetic while also evolving as a band?

we write everything as a group. It’s not really a choice we make to sound like we do, we just happen to sound that way when we play together. Most of our process is trying and failing, and what we end up with is not necessarily the “right way to do things”, but rather the way we feel about something.

Can you share some insights into the production process of Dedicated To, especially working with Marcus Forsgren and Matias Tellez?

Marcus Forsgren has an ability to bring forth elements of our songs that we didn’t realize were there. He is very good at knowing when to keep experimenting, and when to keep it as is. It has been a very dynamic and fun process in the studio! Marcus taught us that when in doubt, eat ice cream in the park. Whereas Mattias Téllez has always understood our sound and we trust his decisions in the final mixes. It has been a very natural creative process between us from the very beginning.

You mentioned that the title Dedicated To is a thank you to all the people who inspire you. Can you elaborate on who some of these people are and how they’ve influenced your music?

the album cover is a painting of all the people that have inspired these specific songs. It’s a combination of family, friends, exes, lovers, and generally people who have inspired us in different ways. The cover is painted by our talented friend Mathea Rognerud.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while writing and recording this album, and how did you overcome them?

while writing the album we had a packed summer with both work, festivals and practices. We probably saw each other more than we saw our family! However, keeping up the pace and working a lot made had us in a good mindset and we made a lot of progress. The biggest obstacle was probably felling a bit burnt out at times, but playing the shows and hearing the album on vinyl or in a headset makes it all worthwhile!

“Greetings From Peru” deals with themes of distance and clarity. Are there other recurring themes or messages that listeners can expect on Dedicated To?

The “Dedicated To” album revolves around the close relations. That is probably what you could call the main theme. It is a reflection on different aspects of these relations, whether it’s your relationship with your parents, siblings, ex or significant other. Many of the songs are about seeing yourself or your loved ones in a new light.

You’ve had a whirlwind journey since forming the band at 14. Looking back, what have been some of the most memorable moments of your career so far?

During the spring of 2022 we did a tour in Great Britain. We had a huuuuge suitcase with all of our clothes that was really heavy. Unfortunately, Helena had to carry it since she didn’t bring any instrument. We didn’t have a car for the tour, so we dragged that incredibly heavy suitcase through the different cities and the overcrowded trains. Long story short, we each have our own suitcase now… The tour taught us a lot. We had to improvise and find creative solutions to problems. Since the crowd size varied we had to try to give everything we had at every gig. Even if that is a crowd of 7, 70 or 700 people.

How has your music evolved from your debut EP Open The Door to now? Are there specific elements you’ve focused on improving or changing?

Playing in Veps has never been about being the best. The only thing we want is to become better, one practice at a time. As we mentioned earlier, we write songs about where we are at the time. We have focused on evolving as musicians and songwriters to move forward, but not on pushing anything behind us.

What do you love right now?

we love that the summer is finally coming to Norway, because we had a very dark and cold winter this year. It’s nice to ditch the winter coat, and wander around Oslo in sneakers and a t-shirt and see how the city comes to life when the sun is out!

What do you hate right now?

We hate seeing the growing the lack of moral in the world right now. There is a lot of gruesome things happening, and it’s hopeless to feel that you’re not being able to make a difference because the power is not in your hands. Sometimes it feels like the things you do aren’t enough, and that there is a constant urge to do more. It’s not given that children and youth can grow up in a safe environment like we did, and we are very thankful to live where we do, and have the lives we have.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

For June: an important album from my upbringing is “Down on the Upside” by Soundgarden. My parents love that album, and I have so many good memories with them at home around the dining table listening to it.

For Maja: Vilka tror vi att vi ar - bo kaspers orkester. This group is probably the band Ive listened to the most my entire life. The album was released the year i was born, and my parents love Bo Kaspers Orkester so from day one ive had this album on the stereo during breakfast and dinner. My parents even sang “dansa på min grav” on my confirmation. Now, that im 21 I listen to this artist almost everyday.

For Helena: An important album for me is «Stay gold» by first aid kit. It’s one of the albums that made me fall in love with singing and made me realize that it was something I wanted to do. I have many memories where I am singing the songs in front of the mirror in my room quietly so my parents wouldn’t hear.

For Laura: An album from my youth that I still listen to (and always will), is The Suburbs by Arcade Fire. I first found it when I was 14 years old, around the time I started growing into myself and developing my own music taste. I listened to it as I went through many firsts: falling in love for the first time, growing up, my first depressive episode, figuring out how to maneuver myself in this world. It had a big effect on my adolescence, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

What do you hope your fans take away from Dedicated To? Are there any particular emotions or thoughts you want to evoke with this new album?

“Dedicated To” is written as a reflection of our lives with real stories about us, and we hope to tell the stories in a way that can make the listeners relate. We feel like the album is a collection of many different songs that expresses a broad specter of emotions and we hope the listener can interpret the music in many different ways.