Over the past decade, PUP have carved out a reputation as one of the most vital and uncompromising voices in modern punk. Known for their live shows, humor, and songs that blend raw emotion with razor-sharp hooks, the Toronto four-piece have built a loyal fanbase across the globe.
Now, with the release of their fifth album, Who Will Look After the Dogs?, on May 2nd, PUP are once again pushing their sound forward—retaining the intensity they’re known for while diving deeper into introspection and experimentation.
We caught up with frontman Stefan Babcock while the band was in Amsterdam for their headline show at Melkweg on May 18th. With a European tour underway and strong reactions to the new material already rolling in, Stefan spoke with us about life on the road, the evolution of the band’s songwriting, and what it’s been like reconnecting with fans through these new songs.
Strife:
So, here we are! First of all, thanks for your time. How is the tour so far?
Stefan:
Yeah! Today’s actually our first day in mainland Europe, which is exciting.
Strife:
Have you been here often?
Stefan:
Yeah, I think this is our sixth time playing here. Last week we were in the UK—it was the first week of touring this new record, and it’s been really fun. Playing the new songs live is always exciting. They sort of take on a new life when you perform them in front of people. You get to see how people are connecting with them, which you don’t really get a sense of when you’re just writing or recording.
Strife:
How was the UK leg of the tour?
Stefan:
Really good. Our London show was incredible, and honestly, all the shows were great. It was interesting too—our first show was only two days after the album came out, so each night you could see more people getting familiar with the new material. Now that it’s been out a couple weeks, the reactions just keep getting better.
Strife:
Were the reactions what you expected?
Stefan:
To be honest, I try not to expect anything anymore. I used to, with earlier records, and I was always way off. I’d think certain songs would connect and they wouldn’t—because I just have no objectivity. So I’ve stopped trying to guess. But there have definitely been surprises this time. For example, there are a couple of mellower songs on this album that have been getting the best reactions live, which I didn’t see coming.
Strife:
Which songs are you hinting at?
Stefan:
Well, we’ve got a song called Shut Up that I personally love, but I didn’t think our fans would be into it, it’s kind of a mood killer live, so we haven’t been playing it. But it’s one a lot of people and reviewers have pointed out as a favorite, which is really cool. And there’s another one called Hunger for Death, which is mostly mellow. We weren’t sure how it’d work live, but it’s actually been getting some of the strongest reactions every night.
Strife:
That must feel good. Since we’re talking about the new record—how do you think it differs from your past work?
Stefan:
One thing we’ve always been proud of as a band is that we don’t look backward. The records aren’t drastically different from one another, but we’re never trying to re-create DVP or the first album. We just want to keep getting better at songwriting and move forward.
Strife:
Yeah, not sticking to one sound, but letting it evolve.
Stefan:
Exactly. For me, every album we’ve made is my favorite at the time—not because it’s “better” than the others, but because it’s the best thing the four of us could have made together at that moment. It wouldn’t feel honest to keep writing songs like I did in 2013, when I was 22 and drunk and partying all the time. I’m still angry and sad—just about different things now.
Strife:
Very relatable. So is this the first album where you feel proud of every track?
Stefan:
Yeah, actually. On every previous record, there were always a couple songs I didn’t like. But this time, I genuinely feel good about all of them.
Strife:
Did you have more material to choose from this time?
Stefan:
Way more. Usually we write like 10 songs and that’s the record. But this time I wrote around 30, we arranged about 20 as a band, recorded 15, and 12 made the final cut. So there are a lot of terrible demos that’ll never see the light of day—but I think having that volume helped us only put our best stuff on the album.
Strife:
Do you have a song you’re most proud of from the new record?
Stefan:
It kind of changes depending on the day. When I’m feeling amped, I’m really proud of Paranoid, which is the heaviest song on the record. But most days, it’s probably Shut Up or Hallways. I think lyrically, those are the songs where I said what I needed to say as clearly and precisely as possible—which is always my goal.
Strife:
Talking about songs you are proud of – we talked earlier about mellow songs doing well live. Can you say more about that shift?
Stefan:
Yeah, I think the fast, heavy songs are more immediately gratifying—especially for a punk crowd. People want to jump around, mosh, yell. That’s always been easy for us—kind of the “low-hanging fruit,” in a way. But the slower, more introspective songs are harder to write. You can play a mediocre punk song and people will still go wild. But a mellow song has to actually be good to hold attention live. It needs to carry emotional weight. And I feel like for the first time, we’ve written a few songs like that.
Strife:
That’s great – the balance of punk anthems and mellow songs also works well live. Since you have so much music by now, have you changed your approach to how you make the setlist?
Stefan:
Definitely. We’re headlining now and playing longer sets, so we can explore more dynamics. I used to think the crowd needed to be going nuts the whole time—but now I’m learning that quiet moments can be just as powerful. A song like Hallways doesn’t get a mosh pit, but people are singing along and fully locked in. That’s just as special. And then we bring back the chaos afterward.
Strife:
That contrast makes things more interesting.
Stefan:
Totally. I think our fans have grown with us. People who’ve been there since the first or second record are more into that emotional depth now, too. And for the younger crowd, maybe these songs help open their minds the way certain bands did for me when I was a teen.
Interviewer:
Like what bands?
Stefan:
One that comes to mind is RX Bandits. They started as a ska band—super fun—and then they got weirder. Their album The Resignation was this weird blend of ska and something almost like The Mars Volta. It blew my mind. It made me realize that music didn’t have to stay in one lane. I hope maybe we can be that kind of band for someone else.
Strife:
Yeah, I love when bands evolve instead of just repeating themselves. It’s exciting as a listener to hear that growth—especially live. Speaking of, how are you balancing old and new material in your set?
Stefan:
We’re playing songs from all five records. Probably six from the new album, and the rest is a mix across our discography. I think different people connect with different eras of PUP, and I want everyone to hear something they love, plus maybe discover a new favorite.
Strife:
Absolutely. Thanks again for your time – are you looking forward to tonight’s show?
Stefan:
Absolutely. I always love playing Amsterdam—it’s usually a rowdy crowd and a really fun time. Can’t wait.
PUP’s show in Amsterdam was energetic and rowdy, exactly as Stefan as predicted. If you want to experience their music live they are currently on tour throughout Europe, check the dates here.
And make sure to listen to their latest album ‘Who will look after the dogs?’ below:
