Scouting For Girls are back with a bang as they announce a new album, tour and TV show. Vibe caught up with the ever oh-so-lovely band for a chat before they head to Kingston next week.

With songs like Elvis Ain't Dead and This Ain't A Love Song to their name, it's no wonder that pop-rock band Scouting For Girls have sold over two million records.

While it has been two years since the release of their last album, they haven't been resting on their laurels.

In-between hitting the festival circuit and recording studio, SFG's Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Pete Ellard, headed deep into the Amazon to film upcoming TV series, Singing In The Rainforest.

Part of a new five-part documentary series also starring Myleene Klass and The Happy Mondays, the trio found themselves spending two weeks in Papua New Guinea.

There they were tasked with teaming up with the Huli Wigmen tribe and making music that captured elements from both of their cultures.

"We were all sleeping in a hut - a rat-infested hut," reveals Ellard.

"It was great fun [and] a great experience, but pretty intense," admits Churchouse.    

Meanwhile, frontman Stride, has found himself in demand penning songs for the likes of One Direction and Olly Murs.

He also took time out to deliver a songwriting masterclass to budding musicians as part of Charlton Athletic's Community Trust music initiative. 

Now the focus shifts to their fifth album, Still Thinking About You, out October 16.

Unlike previous releases however, this time around they found themselves without a record label.

"We didn't have a record label so we made the album ourselves then went around to different labels and said 'here it is,'" explains Stride.

Although some musicians in similar positions have opted to self-release, it was never something that Scouting For Girls wanted to pursue.

"It's hard enough organising a band practice with these guys!" he laughs. 

"We're good at playing live, at getting the songs together, but I wouldn't have a clue how you go about selling it."

Signing with East West Records, they'll also play a 21-date tour which kicks off this November.

Life-long friends, 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of Scouting For Girls, who originally formed as schoolboys.

Reflecting on their time together, Churchouse says: "We’re still the same three guys we’ve always been, that’s what I really love about these guys, we still adore what we do, and have an enormous amount of fun doing it!"

Here's the video for Scouting For Girls new single, Life's Too Short. It's taken from their new album Still Thinking About You, out October 16.

 

Tickets for their tour, which comes to Shepherd's Bush Empire on November 30, are on sale now from Ticketmaster.co.uk. Singing In The Rainforest airs October on Sky channel Watch.

They have a signing and acoustic set at Banquet Records on Thursday, October 1, and play New Slang at Kingston Hippodrome that evening. Go to banquetrecords.com