How do you top a song that has more than one hundred million streams on Spotify? You release another.

Amber Run are back, and not only are they back, but they are the classically ‘back: better and bigger than ever’.

Warming up to the release of new album ‘Philophobia’ on September 27 with a new single, ‘Affection’, Amber Run will embark on a tour around Europe and the UK at the start of September.

The Nottingham trio – consisting of lead vocalist Joe Keogh, bassist Tom Sperring and keyboardist Henry Wyeth – are attempting to top an already massive achievement with best-selling album, ‘5AM.

‘Affection’, recorded earlier this year as part of the album session, is one of the band’s most honest songs to date.

Frontman Joe Keogh explains: “I hope after people have heard the record they feel closer to the band.

“Gone are the days where we feel angry to the point of pushing people away. We want to draw people in and keep them close. In the hope we could have a shared experience.”

And of course, that means a date in Glasgow, headlining the SGW3 TV Studio.

“It’s going to be really fun; I’m looking forward to playing a few shows,” says Joe,

“Releasing an album is always daunting; it’s amazing and exciting and terrifying all in one. It’s weird to know how to feel about it. But the shows are always really exciting.”

And what are the band most excited for?

“Personally I can’t wait to come back to Glasgow to hear the crowd sing that ‘here we f*****g go’ song that turns up between every song played.

“We’ve pulled a cover of it up before. It gets you fired up, it’s such a battle cry. But it is actually totally unique – I’ve never heard it anywhere else apart from in Scotland.

“I like it that in Scotland that people have a song for it, but it’s a weird thing that happens nowadays where you play a song and people start screaming at you the minute it’s finished.

“In Glasgow it’s good though – people actually have a song for it, rather than just having people screaming in your face.”

The SWG3 headline gig is certainly not the first time that Amber Run are playing in Scotland – the band played, albeit in Edinburgh , last year. It’s a new experience for them to play in Glasgow but it’s also a completely new venue, the ever-cool SWG3.

“I’d never heard of the venue before, but it looks really cool. When I turn up I’ll have to start screaming at it, because I love what it’s doing so much!

“It’s always a good time to play in Glasgow because it’s always what Glasgow gives.”

I joke with Joe that playing Glasgow is a rite of passage for any artist, for not only do they know when the crowd like them, they also know when they don’t.

“I almost want to sabotage the show to know what that feels like – I’d have to not turn up, or not play the one song that everyone knows. I’ll find a gnarly b-side.”

Do the band have any plans for when they arrive on such hallowed ground? “We always go out for a few drinks before. We have a few friends in Glasgow, so we’ll have to catch up with them – it’s just a good time city, isn’t it? It’ll be nice to be

a part of that for a while.”

‘Philophobia’ is an achievement in itself, in that it’s testament to the fact that the band have got over the ‘second record’ hurdle. As can be imagined, it’s difficult to top massive commercial success and even more difficult when the success is for your early work.

The band were dropped from their record label after their first record from a major label. “We felt a little bit out of control at the end of our relationship with the label, like a lot of decisions were being made without us.

“That wasn’t anyone’s fault, and I’m not pointing blame – it was as much our fault as anyone else’s.

“On the second record, it felt good to take everything back and do everything ourselves.

“Our second album was better than the first – it felt more fully formed. Of course it did, though – when we made our first record, we were so young. We were only 19, so I don’t think we even knew what type of music we wanted to make.”

The second record was really, really tough. It’s amazing and better for the fact that there was tension.

“Making ‘Philophobia’ was nothing like that – we just enjoyed playing and writing music. It feels like we have a bit of our innocence back, and that we’re writing music for its enjoyments sake.

“‘Philophobia’ is about love in all its forms – platonic or romantic, unrequited, unconditional or ugly. How it can give you purpose and also make you totally vulnerable. Yet while that aversion is the central focus of ‘Philophobia’, its songs also explore the nature of love in all its many different, complex facets and forms to bring that complex tornado of emotions and feelings to life.

“As such, ‘Philophobia’ is a visceral yet philosophical exploration of the effects – positive and negative, damaging and restorative – that love of all kinds can have on a person.”

Was making ‘Philophobia’ a labour of love?

“It was really easy, actually,” explains Joe. “I really enjoyed writing the album, fleshing it out. It’s so nice as well just to have a project and know that we did all of it, that we can be proud of what we made.”

“It’ll be interesting to hear how people react to that – especially with our new b-side, ‘Here We F*****g Go,’” Joe jokes.