Perth rock/new wave outfit The Dirty Secrets have been gracing stages across Australia since late 2004, and show no signs of slowing down. And they’re set to take on the world, having recently been signed to Japanese label Avex Corp.

“Our songs got out somehow,” explains Jarrah McCleary, the band’s vocalist. “I dunno how they got across there [to Japan]... I think our manager had something to do with it. They really liked our stuff, which was good.”

The four boys were in separate bands and met each other through different gigs, before finally joining forces to form The Dirty Secrets, with only one lineup change since the beginning. “The band seemed to just really work, and it was just a band that went somewhere, when other bands kind of just did their thing,” says Jarrah.

So what’s the music scene like on their home turf? “There’s lots of new and up-and-coming bands that pop up, and there’s some standard bands like… You’ve got your Snowmans, and your Eskimo Joes, your End of Fashions… You know, your standards. And them you’ve got your new and up-and-coming bands that have a scene as well. There’s lots of original and different bands.”

October marks the band’s first overseas jaunt, and will see them playing in New York, LA, Japan and London. And even though they’ve been recording debut album Hands & Bones in London, they haven’t been overseas as a complete band before. But it’s an experience that Jarrah is looking forward to. “I’m excited!” he says, and you cant help but believe him.

What are the best and worst things about touring? “Meeting new people is always awesome, it’s really good… I just sort of open up as a person a bit more and I just learn a lot, you know? Just meeting people… I was watching a documentary on one of the earlier Australian Prime Ministers… I don’t remember his name; he came in at WWI… His education was basically in the park. He’d go out in the park and meet people that were sitting down and watching the river or whatever, and that’s what he’d do, he’d go out and meet people. And he said that that was his university education. And I totally agree with that… Just meeting people and talking to people, and learning things about them,” Jarrah explains. “The worst part would probably be the driving, the long distances. Or aeroplanes… Aeroplanes knock you around a bit… Like, on the throat when you’re singing.”

And the lack of sleep? “I didn’t think I could [take sleeping tablets], but on a flight from London, I was like, “Stuff it, I’ll take some sleeping tablets.” And it was awesome. I slept the entire trip. I think I slept about 16 hours… It was ridiculous… But I woke up and I was home, it was great!” he laughs.

The boys supported OK Go on their recent Australian tour, their first time supporting an international act. “It was good playing the bigger venues,” he says. “It was good getting out there… They were really nice guys. They were friendly, down-to-earth, and tired, which I can imagine… Flying in a plane, every day to the next venue… It got tiring. But even though it was tiring, it was one of the better times in my life that I’ve experienced… But those days are still coming, which is good,” Jarrah says. “I’m 25, but I definitely feel like I’m peaking still.”

The Dirty Secrets start their Melbourne/Sydney tour at 161 in Melbourne this Thursday night, and Jarrah wants everyone to check it out. “That’d be awesome!”