Pep'S

With an eclectic style that draws from soul, funk, and reggae as well as alternative pop/rock, Pep's is a French band whose breakout hit, "Libertà," came in 2008 after several years of underground success. Born in Grenoble, France, the band's namesake, Florian Peppuy (vocals, guitar), founded Pep's in 2001 and was joined by fellow bandmembers Philippe Berruyer (bass), Alexandre Combeau (drums), Guillaume Diederichs (saxophone), and Dan-Luc Bicrame (turntables, keyboard, percussion). This original lineup made its recording debut with Suivre le Flo (2001), an independently released six-track EP. A full-length album debut, Au Sourire de l'Âme (2003), followed a couple years later and was also independently released. Both releases feature versions of the song "Libertà," which is performed on Au Sourire de l'Âme as a collaboration with singer Djazia Satour from the group Mig. A few years passed before Pep's returned with another release, En Attendant... (2006), a six-track EP with a couple new studio recordings and four live recordings, including fan favorite "Libertà." In 2007 a couple bandmembers (Combeau, Diederichs) left, and Guillaume Marocco (drums) joined upon their departure. After signing to Echo Productions, the label of Mike d'Inca of Sinsémilia, Pep's released their second full-length album, Utopies dans le Décor (2008). Once again, the album featured a version of "Libertà," and this time it became a breakout hit for the band; for instance, it was selected for inclusion on the NRJ Music Awards 2009 (2008) compilation alongside many of the year's biggest hits. Moreover, Utopies dans le Décor was re-released late in the year in association with Universal Music and re-entered the French albums chart, peaking at number 63. In the wake of the album's deluxe edition re-release, Pep's toured heavily and furthered their longstanding reputation as a spectacular live band.