Your debut cd Beachcombers Windowsill out now, can you tell us more about the album? what can we expect? (sound and style?) What is the story behind the albums title?
A beachcomber's windowsill is a kind of open-air trinket box full of collected treasures from the shore: shells, shiny shingle, plus in this case some shanties. We'd like to think the overall feel of the album is one reminiscent of being near the coast - on holiday, or perhaps working planting trees as a volunteer, maybe rehabilitating a population of guillemots. We've all done these things at some point in our lives and we hope the music will take people back to their own happiest seaside memories.

This album has taken 5 years to make, why has it taken you so long to make? Are you all involved in the creative process of your music?
We've all been songwriters in our own spare time, fitting it in around jobs and friends. It was the friends who first convinced us that we might have something special to offer - back in 2005 the friendly Oxford music scene provided a welcoming live music circuit and we began to gig around. Much of the album was written at the very beginning and we've been playing the songs for a while, so it's really satisfying to have released them now. Making the recordings ourselves in bedrooms and living rooms around Oxford we've learned a lot along the way about production, and we promise the next one won't take as long!

Listening to your music your lyrics are so good really heart felt, how are you inspired musically?
We like to make songs - meaning something you can sing with a big melody and clear lyrics, something that has a message and tells a story. The stories in this collection of songs were mostly inspired by personal romantic encounters, apart from one or two which comment more widely on modern life and how people live and work in society, how they treat each other. We usually start writing a song from the melody, fitting lines in later.

Having received such positive airplay the buzz for stornoway is really high, what are your expectations towards chart success? how important is it to you?
None of us are very much into current chart music, so it isn't the one big thing driving us onwards, the idea we might be in the charts. Having said that it's such a good feeling having people showing their appreciation for something we started up as a hobby, something we enjoy, which we're lucky enough now to have as our careers.

Which song from Beachcombers Windowsill will be the next single release? Zorbing is re-released this week, and next up is Watching Birds in September. Both were written around the same time, one midsummer in Oxford, and we recorded them ourselves in the Cowley Road community center, an old brick building where we used to play at unplugged music nights, and which had a weekly dubstep jam that we'd all go and enjoy after long days out in the sunshine... It is an amazing feeling releasing these songs which were inspired by life in our little part of town.

You performed at Radio one Big Weekend, how was that for you?
We had a great time staying in the hills of Snowdonia, in a youth hostel by a forest with a Norwegian hiking party in the next room.

How do the crowds compare from different festivals you have performed at?
Radio One does a lot for British pop talent, and the crowds at the big weekend are mostly there for the big British acts that have come through after months of hard work by the band and by the station, and they're there to sing along to the songs they've heard on the radio. It's great to be a small part of this.

Which of your songs are your favorites to perform live?
Rob loves anything that lets him hit the skins - all the loud ones. Ollie likes to dance - all the fast ones. One day we'll sneak in a song about red food (Jon's not a fan) and maybe it'll have no acoustic guitar (what will Brian do?? we haven't thought about this yet)

Having performed at Radio one big weekend, Glastonbury, Jools Holland and various other festivals which have been your favorite to perform at?
Anything we can bring our friends along to and have a chance to enjoy the rest of the happenings at the festival, watch some other bands. David Byrne at the Big Chill in August last year was a massive highlight.

Where can we catch you live you live throughout the summer?
On the road! We're heading to Latvia, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, America, Belgium, Canada and more, before the end of the year.
When not touring we'll be home, busy patching together a new practice space at Ollie and Rob's house in Oxford. Jon and Brian are moving out of the old faithful living room we've used for two long years, so we've been eating a lot of eggs to line the walls of the Steadman garage with the cartons. There has also been some fascinating phone calls to wizened electronics fund's, as we scour the charity shops for sound equipment and find most of it requires adaptors that were discontinued in the seventies. There will be an old TV set on which we hope to catch some of the world cup in South Africa.

Any headline shows/tours in the pipeline?
Shepherd's Bush Empire 17th November in London, plus shows in Brooklyn NY next month (the Mercury Lounge is where Julian Casablancas was sick before the Strokes played their first gig ever), returning to Oxford to play at Oxford Brookes Union, where we all saw an inspiring gig by Guillemots in 2007.

What is next for you?
We're constantly writing and creating together and hope to record some new material before Christmas. Highest priority is to find a new song to cover, other than Ride On Time and Wearing My Rolex which have been mega fun to play to unsuspecting audiences.