Veps dissect their new single ‘Greetings From Peru’: “I’m the bad guy in the story”
Norwegian four-piece Veps have returned with their infectious new single, ‘Greetings From Peru’, which they have dissected exclusively with Far Out.
The new track is the first taster of their upcoming sophomore album, Dedicated To, set for release on June 14th. Arriving alongside a self-directed and shot video, ‘Greetings From Peru’ tells the autobiographical tale of a long-distance break up that took place while trekking across South America.
Forming in 2018, Veps started playing shows when they were only 14, setting themselves the challenge of only playing songs they’d written. While the blanket ban on covers initially made their lives difficult, it put the group in strong stead ahead when they made their debut album, 2022’s Oslo Park.
In their first four weeks of being a band, Veps already had three songs in their canon, which set a prolific precedent they have continued to build upon over the last six years since their formation.
Looking back on their journey up to the point of ‘Greetings From Peru’, which sees the band elevate their nostalgic sound to a new level, drummer Maja Berge says: “I feel like it’s been a very gradual process. Even now, there are still moments where we’re like, ‘Oh, wow, we’re evolving as musicians, and we’re getting better.’ It’s been a slow and steady process through all these six years.”
Regarding their songwriting process, Veps work collaboratively, as vocalist and guitarist Laura Dodson explains: “We write very honestly about our own lives. It’s always been about self-expression for us. A lot of the songs are about real things that have happened to us. If someone’s had a bad day or something hard is going on in their life, we’ve just met up at practice and written about it together.”
‘Greetings From Peru’ is no exception. Like the rest of their catalogue, it was born out of an unfortunate real-life experience that they successfully used as fuel for an indie-pop anthem.
Berge honestly admits: “I was backpacking through South America, and I was dating this guy back home, which I didn’t have feelings for. So it’s like a letter home from Peru where I broke up with him. And I’m the bad guy in the story.”
Dodson notes the nuance expressed in ‘Greetings From Peru’: “The song also shows the complexity in the situation that you’re not just bad, even though it might have been a bad way to break up. Aspects of the relationship obviously weren’t working, so I don’t think it paints here as completely bad.”
When probed about what fans should expect from Dedicated To, Veps promise it will showcase a “rougher” and “maturer” aspect of their sound than Oslo Park. The LP is set to be released this summer through Miktam Records/Universal Music.
Watch the video for ‘Greetings From Peru’ below.
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