Prego

Prego are a London based 5-piece who have been playing their unique blend of stunning indie-rock music for over 4 years together. NME branded them the “loudest, most brilliantly concocted cross between My Bloody Valentine's cosmic scree, Elbow's elegant drone and Coldplay's Big Music chart-friendliness” and, with support slots to Red Light Company and People in Planes, Prego are racking up a massive amount of musical popularity. As they embark on a lengthy trip up to Glasgow’s Hinterland Festival next week, Music-News reporter Susan Ford caught up with Edd Simpson of Prego to talk music, writing and epic live performances.

Who are Prego and what's your story?

We're a 5-piece from London who've been together in various forms for about 4 years now. The band started when I moved to London having written some songs from the band, and having originally begged and borrowed musicians, the band evolved from there.

Where does the name 'Prego' come from?

It's Italian and means 'You're Welcome'. A friend of mine had spent some time over there and came back suggesting it as a band name, I just really liked it.

Describe your music to those who have never heard it…

It's a coming together of many indie rock and post rock influences, it can be intimate, epic, loud, raucous, subtle, we aim to draw people in and move them in some way, for me that's the point in making music.

Where does your unique sound come from?

It comes from trying to bring post-rock elements to structured songs I guess. I don't think there are that many bands out there doing it the same way, we love experimental music, but also really well written songs and so we meet somewhere in the middle.

What are your main influences in both lyric and sound?

Musically we collectively love many bands, to name a few of our main influences I would say Explosions in the Sky, Aereogramme, Death Cab for Cutie, Sparklehorse, Sigur Ros amongst many others. With regards to lyrics, I have great admiration for Ben Gibbard (Death Cab) and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), and more recently the genius of Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit). [completely agree with you on Scott Hutchinson, the man’s a lyrical legend – Susan]

How much do you think place i.e. where you come from and where you write your music affects the final outcome of your sound?

I think surroundings can certainly affect your writing. I love writing out in this house in the South of France I often go to. It's in this really quaint French village in the middle of the Pyrenees and always just lets you empty yourself of all the day-to-day crap and just get immersed in writing.

What is your favourite Prego song and how did it earn this title?

I think my favourite Prego track is a song called My Current State (is your favourite objective), because it ties together all the elements of what we do most effectively.

Just how excited are you about playing Hinterland?

We can't wait, it's gonna be an amazing couple of days, playing with bands we love in a city we love, what more can a band want?!

What can fans, or the people who are attending Hinterland purely for the discovery element, expect from your live show?

Hopefully it'll be epic, loud, energetic, we want people to just lose themselves while we're on and go on a bit of a journey.

What is the best live gig you've been at, as a fan? Do any of these rub of onto your own performances?

Yeah, everything we enjoy live certainly influences us. Three shows that spring to mind are Mogwai at the Royal Albert Hall, a three band bill of Augie March, Deloris and Art of Fighting out in the Metro in Sydney, and At the Drive In at the same venue, all unbelievable shows for different reasons.

What is next for Prego after Hinterland?

We're recording the album this summer, and cannot wait to bury ourselves in the studio to get it done, it's gonna be a ball.