GLASGOW synth-
poppers Prides are ready to roar –
by following
Frightened Rabbit's route to the top.

The trio was formerly known as Midnight Lion and are on the books of Island Records, yet they want to take a slow but steady path to success.

"I think Frightened Rabbit have gone about things the right kind of way," explains singer Stewart Brock, ahead of a King Tut's gig on Tuesday.

"They've taken time to develop their sound, which is the same kind of thing we've tried to do in the past couple of years.

"It's down to hard work and sticking at it, that's what will get you recognition and their career is to be admired."

That's partly why Prides are keen to take their time. They were hotly tipped as Midnight Lion for their epic synth-driven tunes and were snapped up by Island.

Then all went quiet on the group for several months as Stewart and drummer Lewis Gardner worked on new material, and after welcoming guitarist Callum Wiseman to the fold, the three-piece decided it was best to start over.

"It feels like we're starting fresh, and it's nice to have a blank slate feel about it," says Stewart.

"Island have been supportive of the change and we'll see how it develops.

"Me and Louis signed with Island quite early and we didn't really know what we wanted to be, so it's been nice to get our heads together and try and get the sound right.

"You have that fear when you sign to a big label, because there are so many stories of them dictating time scales and things like that but we've not had that at all. They just trust we'll give them something good."

They also believe adding Callum to the group has given their song writing a boost.

"With Midnight Lion we dragged things out a bit as we can be a bit precious about songs, whereas with Callum he's like the knife cutting through stuff, he'll say 'come on.' That's speeded up the writing process."

Now the group are optimistic they will complete an album by the autumn, with the intention of releasing it early next year.

They are not feeling any outside pressure to get it finished, though.

"There's less pressure from anyone else, it's more from ourselves," he says.

"When you're working hard on stuff, you want people to hear it and find out if they'll take to it or not, but it's not external pressure – it's just us wanting to make stuff happen."

The band will be able to get a reaction when they headline King Tut's next Tuesday night, as the ongoing Summer Nights programme of gigs rumbles on.

The gig is titled Prides & friends, meaning a few other faces will be dropping by-

"It's our first headline gig as Prides and we are really excited about it," adds Stewart.

"It's a new set, the songs are sounding really good and we've got our pals involved as well.

"We'll have a few friends appearing from around Glasgow, but from different genres and we will try to make it things that people won't expect."

THE trio are also fresh from an appearance at T In The Park.

While some critics complained this year's festival was packed with too much pop, Stewart reckons the balance was just right.

"There was a great atmosphere because the weather was so good, and everyone was having a good time," he says.

"I know a couple of alternative bands that thought that style of music suffered because T was so pop, but I didn't get that vibe at all. I'm a pop junkie, so I was loving watching Little Mix!"

l Prides, King Tut's, Tuesday, £6, 8:30pm