Their album’s long gone gold, but the record company won’t give them a framed record until it goes platinum! Their debut EP was the highest charting limited edition EP ever! And their first single She’s So Lovely spent a mammoth six weeks in the top10. What’s more, their first attempt at Christmas No.1, Elvis Ain’t Dead is charging up the charts, and currently the most played song on UK radio.

Scouting for Girls, have certainly been busy this past year, creating a much welcome disturbance in the Brit-Pop-Indie universe… Famously signed on Valentine’s Day, and almost recording in the studio the next, this three piece band from Harrow, London, have been defying the hardest and harshest of critics and cynics alike with their seemingly simple, but refreshing, quirky brand of inspiringly upbeat, nostalgia filled, “melodic-pop-with a little rock”, they have quite simply; put the “fun” back into Indie!

A ten year overnight success story, (though officially, together for just over two), they’ve been described as the happiest band in the UK!... The kind of boys you’d take home to your mother!... That is of course, if they make it through the first 60 seconds of their first speed date with you!... FasterLouder caught up with Scouting For Girls’ effervescent singer-songwriter front man, Roy Stride, in mini-bus transit during the band’s recent (UK) sellout tour, for their “first ever” Australian interview, and put him to the “one minute to impress” test (date).

If SFG were on a speed date with Australia, what would make you stand a part from all the other Bands vying for our attention?

“We make you feel good.. Give you passage to compulsory clapping and good fun…Um, we’re really not that good at selling ourselves, tend to leave that up to the PR people.”*

The PR people would no doubt say it is that “feel good fun-factor” that is collectively and universally wowing “all” generations of the (UK) public alike. Unfortunately, Australia will have to wait to experience this (apparent) rejuvenating, toe-tapping and clapping sing-a-long “appeal”. There are no plans as yet for an Oz release.

Much to the disappointment of Roy, “The record companies tend to shut down this time of year. They put out safe Christmassy songs and compilation albums instead.”

He’s actually been trying to get to Australia for years…

“I’m half Australian you know…I’ve got an Australian passport!” he rattles excitedly. “I really can’t wait! -I’m scared I’ll never want to leave though.”

On the surface, Roy and co. seem unlikely pop stars. This time last year, they were all working part time in shops, though Roy deadpanly describes, drummer Peter Ellard’s profession mainly as “Unpublished TV critic”. Dressing in Scout-type uniform shirts, they put on their own regular shows (affectionately known as Troop Nights) for family, friends, and the odd scattering of fans, down at their local (Trinity) bar. They were also releasing their own 2nd monthly single, (“freshly burned” from bassist Greg Churchouse’s laptop), with an accompanying mini-booklet that usually contained some inspiring scouting story or love advice related to the theme of the track being released…

Occasionally, they ventured out and played supporting gigs in uber trendy places such as Café De Paris.

Roy jokingly recalls it as “The sort of place I would be turned away from if I wasn’t playing!”, and thinking, “We won’t be able to leave after sound check or they won’t let us back in!” And now?... Roy still maintains, laughingly, “Greg, Pete and I will never be cool… seriously…no chance in hell! We are so anti cool, we don’t even become cool again.”

He is however, seriously sincere when discussing the band’s gratefulness, “We’re really loving every single moment of this ride, and (still) try to take a moment everyday to just soak up how lucky we are.”

It’s partly this unpretentiousness, almost larrikin (well, he is half Australian!) sense of humour, and fun, that allows the band to get away with lyrics such as “It ain’t gonna happen for me and the Strachan”, “I’ll never be a guy like He-Man”, “Elvis Ain’t Dead because I heard him on the radio”, and “I wish I was James Bond just for the day, kissing all the girls, blow the bad guys away!” (An ode to drummer Pete, who actually has it in his contract that if he scores the part of James Bond, he gets to leave the band!)

Ultimately, it is some of the best written melodies, and most exuberant music that makes their songs so memorably addictive, and deceptively clever. After all, as Roy explains, the 11 overtly “happy” songs on their debut album are essentially about “loss of innocence” and “disillusion”, and the often “bittersweet” passage of “boyhood naivety to mature adult.” Hardly surprising then, that he includes (the classic authors) Thomas Hardy, Mark Twain, and D.H. Lawrence, alongside Mr. Baden Powell and that “Scouting” handbook for “instruction in good citizenship and chivalry”, amongst his influences.

“I’ll usually have about 20 pages of lyrics, but start off with the melody first, and just pick the ones that fit best.” He will also look to his heroes, “the REMs, Motown artsits, and Brian Wilson’…” and “just try to write the perfect three minute pop song.”, whether that constitutes people knowing the songs off by heart after just one listen, or not.

“Yeah, I repeat myself a lot…But I just think it helps with the hook, it gets people in.”, He explains.

In the end, the songs are all about love, love, love, innocent past times, and heartbreaking truths. They are story based, and layered with subtext and poignant twists. Charmingly presented in contemporary, modern day metaphors and witty SFG-isms, they are unashamedly heartfelt and sweetly romantic, but with enough fun and lust to keep you interested, long after your mum’s finished cooking them a lamb roast!

“I just try to keep everything simple and real”.

It’s this approach for their live shows too. There are no computers, just Greg on Bass, Pete on drums and Roy ditching his keys for the occasional acoustic or electric guitar led song. Despite the three-piece limitations, the band has quickly garnered a reputation for their incredible, phenomenally fun live sets.

“It’s crazy! This time last year, we were playing to 60 people, now we’re playing to 2000!- We’ve even got free clothes!

The boys have virtually been on tour since May. Playing practically every festival to the point where Roy was even addressing a confused “Latitude” crowd as a “Wireless” one. Not that it affected the complete and nutter-enthusiasm of that 1500+ strong crowd, or any other one to date. After all, the boys have an infectious joyousness about them (on stage) that inspires even the most self-conscious of indie highbrows. Their bouncy sets are typically one big mad-sing-along fest. Usually, by the end of their sell out shows, you’ll be wildly dancing, clapping, tapping, cheering, and singing “She’s so luv-er-ly”…“I think I need a love la-bot-tomy!”

“Scouting for Girls” may not take themselves too seriously, but they do take the music and what they do, seriously.. And even though they think there’s no chance in hell! They are in fact, quite cool, for making “happy”, and “young at heart”, incredibly, cool… They are, seriously fun! Seriously, pop! (And seriously cool!)

Let’s hope Oz catches on.. Despite our quarantine laws.