A Chat with Veruna (21.05.25)
A hybrid of electronic and alternative pop, Danish duo Veruna captures the heart of contemporary existence with the voice of a restless generation in their music. Joining the talents of Marcus Elkjer (vocals and keyboard) and Max Winding (drums), Veruna explores the intimate and exuberant sides of life in all its grit and glory. We speak with them about their EP Serotonin, music video for ‘Nacht’, and much more.
OSR: Let’s start with the new EP. Serotonin is such a vibrant, high-energy project. What themes or emotions were you trying to explore with this release?
Veruna: With this EP we wanted to explore positive emotions such as euphoria, hope and being in love. Our first album, No Seatbelt At Midnight, dealt with heartbreak and general melancholia, so we wanted to switch it up this time and do a lighter and more uplifting record.
OSR: The ‘Nacht (MatPash Remix)’ video has a gritty, cinematic quality. How did the concept of following a sleepless addict through Copenhagen come about?
Veruna: We spoke to the director Lukas Valentin about visual concepts of the song and early on we realized that we all imagined the music being a great soundtrack for a sleepless addict. Copenhagen is the city where we all live and we have all tried wandering home in the early hours of the morning, so it made perfect sense to use some of our favourite raw locations in the video.
OSR: You worked with Mirror Entertainment and directors Lukas Valentin and Tobias Ervolder on this video. What was the creative process like collaborating with them?
Veruna: We had a couple of meetings discussing ideas and movie references. We both wanted to bring in the aesthetic of ‘Pusher’ by Nicolas Winding Refn, and the guys were super quick to elaborate on that and develop a script. The filming took place in one day, where we were part of the set all along and even played small parts ourselves in the video. It was a really fun, spontaneous and collaborative process.
OSR: MatPash not only remixed the track but also stars in the video. How did that dual involvement shape the project’s direction and energy?
Veruna: We believe MatPash’s acting became really earnest, intense and true to the vibe of the music since he did the remix himself. It elevates the acting and made him feel more synchronized with us and we think that he did an amazing job with both.
OSR: There’s a strong contrast between the pulsing, euphoric energy of the music and the darker narrative of the video. What kind of emotional experience did you want to create for the viewer?
Veruna: We wanted the viewer to tap into the emotional rollercoaster such as a night out can be. From the peak of the night, where you are dancing and feeling high and not worrying about tomorrow, until dawn, where reality kicks in again. In this place, the highs and the lows are being amplified in the extreme life of the main character, and the pulsing energy of the music is supporting his racing mind and heartbeat.
OSR: The night time setting and Copenhagen’s urban landscape play a huge role in the visual tone. Why was it important for you to root this story in your home city?
Veruna: Besides the practical aspect of shooting the film in our hometown, Copenhagen is, in many ways, a uniquely architectural and cultural city, with a wide range of visual expressions. That variety gave us a rich graphic palette to work with and helped shape the overall tone of the video.
OSR: Can you talk us through one or two standout moments from the video shoot? Any unexpected challenges or powerful memories?
Veruna: Definitely the last scene we shot in a spiral parking garage on Amager at 3:30 in the morning. At one point, a guy stuck his head out of a taxi and yelled, “You guys need to get the hell home!” He clearly thought we were drunk people coming back from a night out, just hanging out in a garage waking up the whole neighborhood… which, to be fair, we might’ve been doing. Sorry! But we were completely sober – painfully so, actually.
OSR: How does ‘Nacht (MatPash Remix)’ reflect or connect with the rest of the Serotonin EP, both musically and thematically?
Veruna: The remix of ‘Nacht’ is an electronic piece, just like the rest of Serotonin, but apart from that, and the original track itself, it doesn’t necessarily tie in closely with the overall expression of the EP. For us, this remix was more about creating something visually compelling and giving the song a new life in a different context.
OSR: There’s a real sense of urgency and vulnerability in both the song and the video. Are you hoping to open up a wider conversation about mental health, addiction, or nightlife culture?
Veruna: That’s a great question. We both strongly believe that if you’re struggling, whether it’s with substances, gambling, or anything else, and it starts affecting the people you love, then you absolutely should seek help. But honestly, that wasn’t our main focus when we came up with the concept for the video. It just ended up there somehow, and that’s the unpredictable beauty of working with art. We’re grateful for that.
If there’s any kind of hidden message in the film, it’s probably this: you are NEVER alone. There’s always someone to call. Always someone to reach out to. And if it’s not family or friends, then a professional. But you need to act in time because otherwise, it might be too late. And that’s exactly what happens to the character in the video
OSR: Finally, what do you hope listeners and viewers take away from Serotonin and the ‘Nacht’ video, whether it’s on the dancefloor or watching alone at 3 am?
Veruna: In general, we try to be careful about telling people what they should feel when they listen to our music – it’s such a personal experience. But we do hope that people allow themselves to get drawn into the world of Veruna with us. The music can be electronic and intense, but there’s also a lot of love in it. That duality is what drives us.
Many thanks to Veruna for speaking with us. Find out more about Veruna on their Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
