APRE excited to be heading back to The Great Escape

For duo APRE they actually met in chess club after being introduced by its owner Sue.

Charlie Brown and Jules Konieczny both studied music at Kilburn in London after meeting at Ealing Chess Club years before.“We would rehearse in a room at the back of the chess club,” Charlie said.“One of our most streamed songs online was recorded there.“It just goes to show you that you don’t need all the fancy equipment to make good songs people will like. You just need to want to do it and have the passion.”

Charlie and Jules formed APRE in January 2018 and were signed to a record label in May.“It happened really quickly,” Charlie said.“One of the first proper gigs we did was the Great Escape festival in Brighton last year,” Jules added.“It was on the beach, and there was a really great vibe. Everyone was really chilled out.”

The pair are looking forward to heading back to Brighton for the festival again this year.Jules said: “We are excited to be playing Brighton. The first time there was a lot of industry people there but this time it is about building fans.“We have a later time slot and a different venue so it should be great.”

Charlie and Jules – co-vocalists, co-producers, multi-instrumentalists, describe their sound on Facebook as ‘alternative wonky indie electronic pop’.

Growing up Jules says his musical influences had a very 80s vibe bands like Tears for Fears and singer Peter Gabriel. Whereas Charlie admits he only listened to Led Zepplin until he was 16 before discovering Foals.

APRE have recently been supporting Sea Girls on tour and last year went on the road in Europe with Brits Critics’ Choice winner Sam Fender.Charlie said: “With touring you just have to be sensible so I’m not drinking because when we toured with Sam around Christmas it was our first European gigs and I just got over excited in Brussels and lets say the drive to Paris wasn’t fun.”Jules added: “What people don’t realise with touring it is great but there is a lot of waiting around. “Our session players are people we went to school with as you spend a lot of time together backstage or in a van so it is important to get on with the people you are with.”

Having already released a couple of EPs, with another out the end of this month, they admit they have written the album which they say should be out in 2020.The Great Escape festival for new music takes place from May 9 until 11 and showcases more than 400 up and coming artists from all over the world across 35 walk-able venues in Brighton. Other acts include The Amazons, Lion, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Iris, and Lewis Calpadi.

For tickets, visit greatescapefestival.com

APRE are headlining their own gig at Omera in London on April 3.

For more information on APRE visit, www.apremusic.com

The Great Escape - back and bigger than ever before