Peuk is a trio from Hasselt (Belgium).
Interview conducted on June 06, 2020
By Dan Locke
Band members
Nele Janssen : voice, guitar, words and music
Dave Schroyen : drums
Jacky Willems : bass, back voice
The band released his debut album in 2019 (fons records). It sounds intense on stage and that’s why they opened for DEUS and played at 2019 PUKKLEPOP FEST
How did you discover music?
Jack: Listening to kid’s songs I guess, there was this puppet dog here in Belgium called Samson, he had a lot of hits that I sang along with. However, I really got into music when my mom got me “Bad” by Michael Jackson. I played that record so much it started skipping all over the place because the grooves were worn out.
Nele: I had this fisher price cassette recorder (still have it) and my parents bought me cassettes with children’s music on it so I could sing on them. Later I asked for a melodic and experimented on that.
How did you start to write music?
Jack: Learned to play most Nirvana songs and then I said fuck it, I can write my own songs now.
Nele: My niece played piano and when I was little, I always wanted to go there so I could push the keys and make some noise. When I was old enough for music lessons, I took them and had to play classical music, it was okay but I wanted to write my own songs and so I did. After that, I learned to play guitar and wanted a band.
Do you remember how you got your first guitar?
Jack: I got some toy guitars when I was little, but I was 17 or 18 when I bought my first electric guitar with my own money. It was a cheap 200€ Ibanez.
Nele: It was an acoustic folk guitar, a Cort. I also had a cheap Ibanez. A black one. I bought it in some music shop.
In addition, do you still have it?
Jack: Still have it, modded the shit out of it, stripped off the paint and gave it a nice dark wood varnish, it’s still my favorite guitar.
Nele: No. I wanted to have a smaller acoustic guitar, a vintage one because a friend of mine had vintage guitars, and I thought they were great. I also wanted another sound and style than the Ibanez. Nevertheless, I sold it to a friend so sometimes I can visit him and play on it and it brings me back to the good old times.
How the band did get its name?
Nele: It’s a secret, but just like the end of a cigarette, you can trash it or throw it away if you like. We like short names.
How would you define your music? It sound like you are trying to combine Sonic Youth and Cat Power?
Nele: I don’t want to combine anything. I just want it to be honest. I try to write from what I feel or what keeps me busy. However, I like sonic youth and cat power, so it’s okay if it sounds a bit like a mix of them.
What was the Pukklepop Festival?
It was and still is, one of the 3 big Belgian festivals; the others are Werchter and Dour.
Tell me about the making of the video Caveperson?
Jack: I guess we wanted a performance video in the version of Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” so we shot it at Nele’s house. Later edited it and that was that.Nele: We wanted it to be spontaneous, and that room is a bit like my cave so yeah.
Tell me about your album? Did it take you a day to record it?
Jack: It didn’t really take a day to record it, that’s a myth. The basic tracks were recorded in 2 days and the guitar and vocal overdubs took another week or so to complete.
Nele: It was fun recording it because we didn’t play separated but together in a room at old farmhouse that was built into a studio, so it didn’t really feel like we were at some stiff studio. It felt more relaxed. I think it didn’t take long to record it because we played the songs together at the same time. Finishing the overdubs didn’t take long. I wouldn’t say the overdubs took a week but I’ve got a bad memory so who knows… In addition, it’s not that all the days were full days.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Jack: Probably Endless Spark, although I also really like Hangman.Nele: I don’t like to choose because they all have a different meaning and value for me but okay. Hangman, endless spark, skin it…
How do you stay healthy while touring? (Don’t answer PIZZA Jacky!
Jack: We don’t really stay healthy; we drink too much and don’t really eat that well. I’m always a wreck after a couple of Peuk shows. I’m gonna start to drink more water; we’ll see if that changes anything.Nele: I’m terrible in staying healthy, although I like it when there’s healthy food at the places, we perform… It can be exhausting but it also can give you energy knowing you’re doing something you like to do, and giving it to the people. I can have a kind of buzz after a gig and be full of energy, and then later crash. Maybe the ups and downs aren’t so healthy, but I just try to live with it. I don’t know. Try to stay mentally strong I guess, by singing songs in the car, listening to jokes, bullying Dave, looking out of the window and dream away or sleep if you’re tired, go explore the place outside the club and go easy on the booze… Also, a driver really helps and of course Gember lemon thee. Our tour manager also gives us health tips on food and medicinal plants.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Jack: You can’t stop the future so you might as well live with it. It’s not as personal as listening to an album you bought, but on the other hand, anyone in the world can hear your songs and discover your band, so that’s pretty cool.Nele: I miss something to hold, like a booklet or cover and I think it sounds better on vinyl (at my place it does). I like it when you can hear the needle of your record player sometimes. It’s more fun to put on a record but it’s a lot faster and cheaper to stream and get everything you want to hear and there is allot. However, I’m more old fashioned in that way.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Jack: Vinyl for sure. Just for the experience of sitting down and listening to a full album. I don’t agree with people who say vinyl sounds better because it really doesn’t. However, I just like seeing the record spin and the sound being picked up by the needle, it’s so basic but I still think it’s a wonder.Nele: Vinyl.
Any plans to tour?
Jack: Not at the moment, I’d be happy if we can play a couple of shows in this current landscape.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? In addition, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Jack: “Hold me now” by Johnny Logan. It was a big hit in the 80’s I guess, listened to it a lot when I was a kid.
Nele: “wuthering heights” by Kate Bush. The song is about the story from the book of Emily Bronte. I read it and got to know the characters so I could understand better what it’s about. I really like Kate Bush. She has an amazing voice and is a wonderful pianist and dancer. I always wanted to dance like her but I’m terrible at dancing. I can’t even walk properly.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Jack: It’s probably going to steer things into a more digital future, with performance streams and whatnot, and live performances will probably be scaled back. Let’s hope they got that vaccine soon so we can all get back to normal.
Nele: I’m worried that what Jack says could be very real and that it will never be the same again, even if we’ve got a vaccine.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Jack: Not a whole lot if I’m honest.Nele: Mostly feeling down and try to pep me up by writing new songs.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Nele: Growing my own plants and I do not talk about cannabis, but some other good smell herbs.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Are you planning to do something like that?
Jack: Not really, I hardly watch any of em; it just doesn’t interest me to see a band play in their living room with crappy sound. Therefore, I’m not really into doing one myself.
Nele: It’s not my thing because it’s less personal and I like to feel the live vibes from the audience. It would feel like a monkey jumping around in a cage while you could be jumping out in the wild with the other animals. But maybe in the future, we’ll have to do it to get by. I hope not.
Since Record Store Day has been moved. Will there still be a Record Store Day?
Jack: Last thing I heard they’re going to do a couple of RSD “drops”, which basically means they’re gonna spread out the RSD releases along 3 separate days or something. So yeah, there’s gonna be 3 mini record store days. You can get our 10″ at the end of June if I’m not mistaken.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Jack: The Corona way? Nope.Nele: I’m afraid not.
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts might not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Jack: Big 1000+ people concerts, maybe. Smaller concerts for up to 200 people are starting next month here in Belgium.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
Jack: Just until they release the vaccine. It’s not gonna take THAT long.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Jack: Sounds like a trip.
Nele: I don’t like tripping. The thing is eventually you don’t know what is real anymore. We’ll create another reality in this illusion.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Jack: Old and alone.
Nele: I don’t look so far ahead. I would not dare.
Anything you would like to say in closing?”
Jack: Thanks for depressing the shit out of me.Nele: Keep on smiling.
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