Introducing…. Peel
Peel has always thrived in the space between melody and experimentation, carving out a sound that blends alt-rock with indie pop and hard-hitting riffs. From label bidding wars to underground success, their journey has been unpredictable but true to their vision. In this chat, they open up about their influences, the chaos that fuels their creativity, and the evolving sound that continues to push boundaries. With new music out and more on the way, Peel is keeping things fresh while staying connected to what matters most—the music.
Click Roll Boom: Tell me about how you got started?
Peel started off around the millennium, and things moved fast—we had a bit of a label bidding war before signing with Edel Records in Sweden. Our debut album was recorded in Stockholm with Adam Kviman, and we toured a lot in those early years, playing festivals and supporting acts like Briskeby and Morten Abel. Our single “Natalie Somewhere” got some real traction, especially on MTV in Asia and the Nordics, but even with that buzz, we stayed kind of under the radar—always a bit on the outside of the mainstream, which honestly suits us. Right now, it’s me, Seb, and Dan, who's been with me since the start. We just released a new single called “Tears from the Sun”—a melancholic but driving track that really captures the Peel sound.
CRB: How would you describe your sound, and how has it evolved since you first started?
Peel has always been about strong melodies wrapped in a mix of genres—alt-rock in the truest sense, with everything from hard rock to indie pop in the mix. We’ve had our share of chaos over the years—lineup changes, tough times—but the music’s always been the constant. And so when it comes to the evolution of our sound, it takes all kinds of turns in the sense that we are inspired by what’s happening in and with the band and everything in our lives… So it’s kind of hard to follow a straight and logical path in our development sound-wise.
CRB: Who or what have been some of your biggest influences, musically and beyond?
There are so many influences, really too many to mention all of them. Books, movies, poetry, paintings, my experiences in life and the world we live in; everyday life both in an individual as well as a global perspective. I really do listen to all kinds of music, from Sunn O))) to Bach… Artists and bands that I’ve had in my pocket through life are the classics like The Beatles, The Cure, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath (Dio era), Elvis Costello, Crowded House, Grandaddy, Bob Marley, The Clash… fuck, the list is endless… hahaha. I’m fascinated by chart music—both today’s and yesterday’s hits. Love the sounds and vibes that are found in 80s music. People like the Norwegian anarchistic author and poet Jens Bjørneboe were tremendously important to me and shaped my view on people and the world when I was younger.
CRB: What does your songwriting process typically look like – is it a more individual or collaborative effort?
Up until now, the songwriting has mainly been an individual effort in the sense that the lyrics and songs are brought to the table by Pim. That does not mean that the others aren’t contributing; everyone is leaving a mark on the songs when it comes to both arrangement and instrumentation—and not to mention in the studio, where everyone helps out with producing the songs.
CRB: How do you approach experimenting with new sounds or ideas when creating music?
Just by playing around with new instruments—both physical and digital—listening to music both old and new to pick up ideas. Get rid of boundaries and let the inner child just play around…
CRB: What’s been one of the most memorable moments in your journey so far?
There are some memorable moments collected along the road of time; first time we got played on national radio, when I saw the “Natalie Somewhere” video on MTV (back when MTV actually played music), when we saw our name on the charts alongside huge artists and bands, the experience of being allowed the opportunity to work with a bunch of skilled people.
CRB: How do you prepare for live shows, and what do you aim to bring to your performances? We do warm-ups, we find our focus both individually and collectively—preparing our “loving attack.” We want the audience to feel good in our company, in our universe—“the Peel universe.” Forget the harshness of today's reality and the state of the world. Hopefully, they connect and find comfort in our music and lyrics.
CRB: How do you balance creative expression with staying connected to your audience?
By striving to be true and honest in everything we do—no matter what. And by challenging ourselves, and through that, challenging our audience. Our music might be negatively described as pretentious, vast, and pompous, but I think we, as people, are quite down to earth and similar to the people that like our music. So by taking ourselves on a creative journey, we hope automatically that our audience joins us.
CRB: What do you hope listeners take away from your work?
If our music and lyrics can evoke deeper emotions—spark a memory, amplify a moment, ease pain or discomfort, bring comfort or joy, offer a new perspective, be a companion in loneliness, release frustration, channel aggression, or simply help someone feel—then we've done something meaningful.
CRB: What does the future hold for you – any plans or goals you’re excited about?
To keep writing, recording, and releasing music that hopefully means something to someone out there. We hope people will check out our new song Tears from the Sun, an uptempo melancholic alt-pop rock song perfectly tailored for late summer nights. And we have a new song ready to be released called Modern Age Family Business.
