Oh Pep! Performs At OpenAir While In Town From Australia

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16min 33sec
<p>(Photo: CPR / Daniel Mescher)</p>
<p>Oh Pep!</p>

The songwriting duo of Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs -- who perform as Oh Pep! -- came to our studio all the way from Melbourne, Australia. The band released its debut album "Stadium Cake" this summer.

Recent highlights from OpenAir Sessions:

The record features songs with witty and sometimes humorous lyrics backed by catchy melodies. Hally and Emmerichs' music is heavy on folk instruments like acoustic guitar, mandolin and violin. But the album also veers into rock and pop. They’ve quickly become a favorite on NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Oh Pep! played three songs from "Stadium Cake" and spoke with OpenAir about meeting as teenagers at music school, expanding beyond a two-piece and touring with Colorado band Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats.

Stream the session and watch video of "Wanting" above. Read interview highlights and watch more video below.

Violinist and mandolinist Pepita Emmerichs on expanding their sound on 'Stadium Cake':

"We never had classified ourselves as folk. It was more that the instruments that we happen to play and we know best are folk instruments. ... As the years have gone by we've become more interested in other kinds of sounds. There's lots of keys on that album and a much bigger sound than we have had previously."

Emmerichs on touring with Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats:

"Nathaniel Rateliff is incredible and so is his band. It was a really big tour for us. We've never really played to that many people. I think the first few nights were, like, over 3,000 people. Then there was one that was like seven and a half thousand people. That was very exciting for us."

Songs performed:

  • "Wanting"
  • "Bushwick"
  • "Doctor Doctor"

"Bushwick"

"Doctor Doctor"