EMQ’s With Peel

EMQ’s With Peel

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Norwegian Alt Rockers, Peel. Huge thanks to their Bassist, Holten, and Vocalist/ Guitarist, Pim, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Peel is Seb on guitars, programming and stuff, Pim on vocals, guitars, programming and just about every other gadget that makes sound, and Holten on bass, and programming. A few more people join in on the live setup. Peel was formed in the late 90s and has been working ever since.

How did you come up with your band name?

Holten: We had a few alternative band names floating around for a while but Peel kinda stood out. It’s short, recognizable, and we liked how it visualised peeling back layers down to a core, a truth perhaps, or some sort of revelation of the universal meaning of who we are, why we are and so on. 

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

Holten: We’re from a small town just outside of Oslo, Norway. Peel is kinda it’s own little universe genre wise. We’re a little bit of everything, but too little metal or rock to really fit in either so we’re not really in touch with any specific scene. I guess the metal scene in Norway is thriving as always. Norwegian rock in general is just so sad that it’s best ignored. 

What is your latest release? 

Pim: Our latest release is the single ‘Love Phobia’. It’s a red hot riff driven melodic rock song that I felt we needed among the other tracks on our upcoming album “Big Sundown” set for release early next year. 

Who have been your greatest influences?

Holten: We’ve been doing this for so long now that our influences have evolved with us. It’s an extensive list you could say. It ranges from hard rock and metal to pop and singer songwriter stuff so it’s everything from Motörhead to The Beatles in a way. 

What first got you into music?

Holten: The need to create and communicate feelings that a young mind had difficulties expressing or even comprehend. And the chicks. 

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Holten: No idea.. What I would love was if we could collaborate with a top notch producer. Someone that would really take Peel to another level of performance. 

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Holten: Glastonbury perhaps. It still has a bit of that “woodstockish” vibe to it. Been there several times and it’s always great.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Pim: I don’t know if you could call it a gift, but we’ve had fans that have tattooed our lyrics on their body. That’s quite a statement and it felt surreal and a bit weird. 

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Delete all your social media accounts. 

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Holten: That would be he who went by the name Lemmy. Everyone else kinda tries but he nailed it. 

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Holten: Creating, performing, being in a “gang”, working towards something together. I don’t hate anything about it. 

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Holten: Obviously that the music industry loved Peel above all and uplifted us to musical sainthood. 

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Pim: One album – is that even possible???? I’ll name two. Right now it would be a tie between “Never Loved Elvis” by a British indie/alt pop band called The Wonder Stuff and a pure class pop band from USA called Jellyfish and their second, and sadly enough, last album “Spilt Milk”. Ask me tomorrow and it would probably be a different answer.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Pim: First CD, then vinyl and cassettes….

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Holten: I think we’ve been lucky not to have any gigs go really bad. We’re a really good live act, and we are always really well rehearsed and prepared. If I was to pick one.. The Quart festival a few years back perhaps. Big stage, huge crowd. That’s where Peel truly comes into its own. 

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Holten: I would probably be a bum or dead since there’s nothing else I’m any  good at. 

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Holten: Hank Moody, Garry Nolan, John Lennon, Colonel Tom Parker and Rick Rubin. 

What’s next for the band?

Holten: Next up for Peel is the release of a new single called  ‘The One You Know’ and then keep working on the upcoming album “Big Sundown” set for release in the new year. 

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people? 

https://www.facebook.com/peeluniverse

https://www.instagram.com/peeluniverse

https://www.tiktok.com/@peeluniverse

https://youtube.com/@peeltheband

Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?

Holten:  Mmm.. I’ll go with mufftwat.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Holten: Thank you so much for showing an interest in Peel, and we hope to speak with you again when the album is out! 

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.