Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
PREP — a four-member band known for their contemporary R&B, electronica, and 70s to 80s-inspired synth-pop music — visited Manila for the fourth time since its establishment in 2015. Music Geek got an opportunity to interview the band and discuss their music before their show and found the London-based group to be charming and easygoing guys. Vocalist-lyricist Tom Havelock is also known as PREP's groove, keyboardist Llywelyn ap Myrddin is the chords, drummer Guillaume Jambel is the top line, and producer Dan Radclyffe is the social media but actually the sonics. Without a doubt, PREP is no stranger to the Filipino crowd. They performed twice at 19 East in 2017 and 2018. The band was also part of the Wanderland Festival 2019 lineup. "We were not sure if the small crowds we played for before would turn up, but it was amazing!" This year, they played a sold-out show at the Samsung Hall, with an additional DJ set after party. Filipino fans were all so stoked to finally watch them again since the pandemic; the fans even demanded a day two. Just as excited, PREP shared how happy they were to be in the room with great energy while the audience sang along to the whole song. Fans were particularly booming during hit songs "Cheapest Flights" "Line by Line," "Futures," "with Who's Got You Singing Again," and a cover song, "As It Was" for the encore.They expressed that they want their music to come across as reassuring to their listeners, "people sent us messages that our music helped them during their depression, and it is extraordinary to have this sort of power, which is music." Besides, they added that they want their songs to serve as an escape from the complex emotions people go through.As they talked about their creative process, the band members were immensely involved in the decision-making, from music to visual presentation. Overall, the members often start with an idea and collaborate with their team from there. For music, they particularly begin with arranging the instrument demos into a highly produced record. Only then do they start creating the melodies, followed by the lyrics.Their latest EP, "Back To You," comprises four songs that capture their sound, which ranges from intimate to lively. They stated that "the PREP mix of groove and melancholy is there all the way through." They visited Bangkok, Manila, and Seoul on their 2022 Asia Tour. Soon after, they shared that they would be inspired by their travels and go straight to make the next batch of music."We are excited about it, and we have been talking about stretching things a little, maybe trying to broaden the palette, no pressure time in the studio."Above all, they revealed that some of their hits came from moments when they were playing around. For instance, when they wrote "Futures," Llywelyn was fooling around with the chords, and Dan said, "that is the energy we want - that is what we want." Besides acknowledging foolish ideas, they believe we should not disregard bad ideas. "Often when you write music, you always think to yourself that I have to make this the best thing I have ever done; it needs to be good, and it needs to be serious, but you forget to have fun."Get to know the band more below: