A musician who grew up in Whitstable has spoken of touring across the world in a band on the cusp of global success.

Jules Konieczny, 23, is one half of the duo Apre, an indie pop group with influences as far ranging as Tears for Fears and Peter Gabriel, to Coldplay and U2.

A visit to the band's Facebook page displays a boastful confidence about their music, proclaiming they are 'the soon to be biggest band in the world.'

Despite the bold claim, Jules said events over the past 12 months have slightly realigned their lofty ambitions.

The former pupil of Barton Court Grammar School, in Canterbury, said: "I do think lockdown has slightly grounded us, in the fact that we're just very happy to be able to do this job.

"I think genuinely now, of course we'd like to be massive, but if Charlie and I can keep on writing songs and touring occasionally then we're more than happy."

But Jules and band mate Charlie Brown are undeniably making waves, racking up a quarter of a million monthly listens on Spotify and were recently featured on NME's Home Sessions.

The pair released mini-album Always in My Head earlier this month, focusing on a maelstrom of emotions stemming from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Jules said: "Mental health is a big thing at the minute, for us as well - I think we've both struggled a little bit in parts during the lockdown.

"We just feel lucky that we have an outlet in music where we can express those things, and the reaction from the mini-album is that everyone is feeling similar."

The multi-talented performer was surrounded by music from an early age, with a piano-playing dad and an uncle who had a successful career as a session performer.

Growing up he was taught piano, guitar, bass and drums, before turning his back on conventional lessons to teach himself.

Seeking a career where he could do the thing he loved everyday, Jules moved to London to study at the Institute of Contemporary Music.

At a chess club in Ealing he met Charlie, where they discovered the strength of their shared musical interests.

Jules plays guitar, sings backing vocals and plays piano and Charlie takes the lead singer role, with two sessions musicians joining the duo in a live setting.

In a whirlwind few years the pair have written scores of songs together and played countries and festivals across the world, including 'one from the bucket list' Glastonbury in 2019.

He said: "Now we've toured around Europe a fair few times and toured around the UK quite a few times. It's been brilliant.

"We went to America and played SXSW festival in March last year, we played 9 gigs there in three days.

"We arrived in America and people were singing our songs and we were just like 'this is mental.'"

With a new album due out in 2021, Jules is hoping the pandemic will ease and allow them to take to the stage once again.

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