Vera Blue Strips Down Radiohead's Creep for triple j

Vera Blue has joined the long line of artists tackling Radiohead’s “Creep,” one of alternative rock’s most recognizable and reinterpreted songs. Her version for triple j’s Like A Version strips the 1992 track back to its emotional bones, stripping away the original’s bombastic production in favor of something more intimate and ethereal.

The Australian singer-songwriter built her arrangement around three core elements: electric guitar, piano, and her own voice. Starting low in her range, Blue gradually ascends into a soaring falsetto by the chorus, creating a natural dynamic that mirrors the song’s emotional arc. What makes her take particularly distinctive is her deployment of The Pipe, a mouth-controlled dynamic effects processor and synthesizer made by SOMA Laboratory, which adds an eerie, otherworldly texture to the performance’s latter half.

The Art of Reinterpreting an Icon

Blue spoke about her approach to the classic track with genuine reverence. She described “Creep” as an “epic rock song” whose lyrics cut deep, calling them “heartbreaking.” Her goal wasn’t to reinvent the wheel but to create something “very haunting” that still acknowledges Thom Yorke’s original vision. That’s a delicate balance many covers fail to achieve, but Blue appears to have nailed it by respecting the source material while finding space for her own artistic voice.

This kind of reinterpretation is exactly what Like A Version is designed for. The triple j program has become a launching pad for artists to showcase their versatility and emotional range, and Blue’s stripped-down take demonstrates why that format remains so compelling.

New Music and Live Plans

The cover isn’t Blue’s only recent work. During the same studio session, she performed “Maze,” a track from her forthcoming album Modern Rituals. The album drops Friday, Aug. 21 via Island Records and Universal Music Australia, marking her third studio album under the Vera Blue moniker since launching this project in 2016.

Blue isn’t keeping the music confined to the studio either. She’ll support the album with a national Australian tour that kicks off the same night as the album release at Brisbane’s Princess Theatre, running through Aug. 28 when it wraps at Perth’s The Rechabite.

From The Voice to Independent Success

Born Celia Pavey, Blue’s journey through entertainment has been anything but linear. She initially emerged as a folk artist and competed on The Voice Australia before strategically rebranding as Vera Blue in 2016. That decision proved savvy. Her 2017 album Perennial climbed to No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart, fueled by the double-platinum hit “Regular Touch.”

Her biggest international moment came through collaboration rather than solo work. Teaming up with Australian electronic producer Flume on “Rushing Back,” the track reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, proving her range extends well beyond indie-folk territory. That willingness to experiment and collaborate has become a defining characteristic of her career.

Modern Rituals follows her 2022 album Mercurial, and based on early performances like “Maze,” the new record promises to continue exploring the artist’s evolving sonic palette. Whether it’s a cover of Radiohead’s most divisive masterpiece or original material from her upcoming album, Blue consistently demonstrates an ability to find emotional authenticity in whatever style she’s working within.

The real question isn’t whether Blue can pull off a compelling “Creep” cover, but rather how many more innovative reinterpretations she’ll offer before her artistry fully transcends the need for other people’s songs.

Source material from Billboard