GLASGOW duo Honeyblood are winning big name admirers Stateside - but they'll always be grateful for their home support.

Singer/guitarist Stina Tweeddale and drummer Shona McVicar released their debut album to rave reviews earlier this year, while legendary former Smashing Pumpkins and Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur recently produced them.

Add in a successful headline tour of America and the twosome are going from strength to strength, with a homecoming gig at the CCA this Saturday.

Stina says their Glasgow background gave them a step up when starting out.

"There's an amazing community in Glasgow, where everyone we knew in bands knew other people in bands, and that's a network that's good to start off in," she recalls.

Stina first met Shona while both were playing in other bands. The idea of teaming up was discussed, and soon the duo were starting to develop grunge-tinted pop tunes, full of fuzzy guitars and harmonies, while taking the name Honeyblood from a bad Halloween costume Stina wore around that time.

Since then, the group's momentum has rolled along apace. Even when Shona temporarily departed the group (due to her work as a dentist) things kept going strong, with New Zealand native Rah Morriss stepping in for a year.

After Shona rejoined, the buzz around them continued humming.

They signed a deal with Fat Cat Records, found themselves recording their debut album in America, and, most recently, wound up working with Melissa Auf der Maur, who produced their cover of the Liz Phair song Mesmerizing for American website Rookie.

"She is in two of my favourite bands ever, so I love her," enthuses Stina.

"I was starstruck, but the annoying thing was that I had a lot more time in the studio than Shona did, because she put her drums down and got to chill, while I was doing overdubs. So Shona got more time to speak with her.

"She's amazing, such a down to earth lady and very, very cool. She was nothing but lovely to us."

That wasn't the only big name American who's taken an interest in Honeyblood.

Their excellent debut album was recorded by Peter Katiss, who's worked with huge rock bands like the National and has a home studio in Connecticut.

"He lives in a house that looks like the Addams Family house, it's huge," says Stina. "It was a really good setting to do it in because you're constantly there and not having to do any travelling, and when we were done at the end of the day he'd cook us dinner."

However, getting to record their debut did present the duo with some worries.

"Would we be able to do this in a small amount of time? Were the songs good enough? Those were things you think of", adds Stina.

Comparisons have been drawn to a variety of acts, from female fronted alt-rock acts like The Breeders to powerhouse duos such as The White Stripes. Stina points to a less obvious inspiration.

"When I was a teenager The Smiths were my favourite band. I loved the tongue in cheek way Morrissey had, his lyrics and his style of singing," she says.

"He's influenced so many people and when I first heard his style I just thought it was so bizarre. To be honest, it's subtle but I think he's influenced my style as well."

Yet while Honeyblood are a dynamic duo, that might not always be the case.

"We never said it would just be us, that was never set in stone and we're always looking for other people," says Stina.

"What I'd love would someone to sing the harmonies. Maybe in the future we'll have other members, but we're doing alright with just the two of us the now."

l Honeyblood CCA Saturday, £7, 7pm