On Repeat: Forever X2

May 22

May 22 On Repeat: Forever X2

We’ve been listening to Peter Verdell’s indie-rock project Forever X2 all year, and we’re so stoked on the release of his self-titled EP—out today. The singer-songwriter + multi-instrumentalist recorded the six-track EP DIY style, and the final production is a flawless blend of classic, nostalgic + modern sounds. The LA-based artist just wrapped up a residency last month at The Satellite, joined by special guests Lauren Ruth Ward, Gabby Bianco (Smoke Season), Kat Pawlak (Holy Wars), + Party Nails. We chatted with Peter all about the EP + playing live.

Asymmetric Magazine: Last time we chatted with you, you teased the EP with your release of Walk The Ocean. Congrats on the full release! Can you tell us about the whole collection of tracks?
Peter Verdell: The EP is special to me for a lot of reasons. I wrote all these songs on a guitar, alone in my apartment, and then I recorded all the instruments in a garage a few miles away. I got to play all the drums, guitars, synths and do all the singing. It was about as DIY as it could get, and I needed it to be that way. I needed this new band to be fun and fresh and for there to be as few barriers between my brain and the recordings as possible. I worked with two talented dudes on the producing and mixing (Ari Berl and Yianni AP from a band called Pink Skies), and they did a great job. I wanted the songs to feel new but also to feel like they could've been on rock radio in 1997. I don't know how close we came to that, but either way, I'm in love with how the songs turned out. And I do think they feel fresh and new but also kind of familiar.

AM: Is there a track that resonates with you most?
PV: On the deepest level, it's gotta be God Don't Want. I wrote it about losing someone, but even with that, it doesn't feel like a sad song; it just feels good. I think we pulled off a 90's nostalgia-meets-2019 feel, which I'm obviously all about.

AM: You did an LA residency at The Satellite last month—can you share a favorite memory from those shows?
PV: We had a different special guest join us for a song every week, and I think those are my favorite memories. Our set was pretty well-rehearsed, but the covers we did with our special guests were barely rehearsed, so it was extra fun and unpredictable. It's a rad thing to not know exactly where you'll end up by the end of a song. Plus, our special guests were amazing: Lauren Ruth Ward, Gabby Bianco from Smoke Season, Kat Pawlak from Holy Wars, and Party Nails.

AM: Do you have a favorite track to perform live?
PV: I think it's Walk the Ocean at this point. KROQ Locals Only has spun it a lot, and it's been getting awesome feedback across the board, so it's definitely the most-known by people so far. We got to see lots of people dancing and singing along to it at our residency. It was the best.

AM: What's next for you after this EP?
PV: I'll be booking a few LA shows for the summer and chipping away at new songs. Other than that, I don't really know yet! I'm hoping that word of mouth keeps spreading about the band and the songs and I get to do some fun shit with this.