成人快手

A well-used management-speak mantra is that to fail to plan is to plan to fail and The Days have no intention of failing.

The ambitious four-strong Devon-based band realised early on that musical talent - which they clearly have in spades - is not necessarily enough and that a firm plan of action is the best way to get noticed.

They spoke to 成人快手 Devon when they popped into the Radio Devon studios to record a live set - minus bassist Tim Ayers who was ill.

"You have to have goals," says Dan Simpkins who, with his brother Luke, recorded their first demo as schoolboys more than 10 years ago.

The Days' debut single is out on 16 February

The Ivybridge brothers have known for a long time that music was where their future lay but it was with the addition of drummer Harry Meads and Tim that The Days were born.

They had been loosely associated with each other having played in bands in around Ivybridge and Modbury throughout their teens but joined forces properly once all four were studying in London.

And so began the move to implement their strategy to get noticed and - crucially - to get signed.

The first plank of the plan was to get a live following and the idea of leaving the fans wanting more was key.

"We have always said that we should practice more than we gig," said Harry.

"So we would do a gig once a month or so and that way we could make sure it was full."

Dan added: "You have to really focus on building up your fanbase - that is so important and we have been really lucky with our fans."

Once they had done that step two was getting signed and they knew a gig at Camden's Dublin Castle would be make or break for them.

"A pretty nerve-wracking night," is how Luke describes it.

"There were 67 A&R men there so we knew how important it was going to be," he says.

But soon the next part of the plan fell into place and a month later - at the end of 2006 -听 they were signed to Atlantic Records.

College courses were halted - film for Harry and music for the Simpkins brothers - and London abandoned as the band returned to Devon to start work on their debut album in a barn on听Dartmoor.

Then followed time in Ireland, Cornwall and Kent to put the finishing touches to the tracks.

The Days all attended Ivybridge Community College

Citing influences from Incubus and The Beatles, to the Ben Folds Five and The Eagles, Harry sums up their sound as "melodic pop rock with catchy choruses - uplifting music really. We just try really hard to keep the musicality."

They are currently debating which of the 16 songs they have recorded should make the 10 which will appear on the album.

"It's quite hard," laughs Luke. "They are all good!"

They are really chuffed with the first single No Ties - complete with its video featuring a world of magical festival madness with hippy flower girls, a giant bunny and a trip to the North Pole - and also recommend fans listen out for Never Give Up.

No Ties, from the album Atlantic Skies, was released on 16 February and Luke, chief songwriter, describes it as having "that sense of escapism you have on a Friday - forget your day job, here's the weekend".

Their Devon roots are very much part of their makeup; so much so that they drape a Devon flag over the keyboard whenever they perform.

"At the moment we are living out of suitcases but we are still based here in Devon," said Luke.

And what do they miss most about Devon when they're away? "The beach!" comes the answer in unison.

"And of course our friends and the slower pace of life here. And the chance to really chill out," says Harry.

"Whatever happens we'll always have a connection with Devon."

But they might not be seeing quite so much of the county in the coming months with a tour in the offing which will see them headlining as opposed to supporting as they have done in the past for an impressive line-up including Scouting for Girls, The Fray, Paolo Nutini and Eliot Minor.

So is this part going to plan so far?

"We are obviously hoping the single does well, a chart place would be good," says Dan.

And when it does chart - as the wickedly catchy tune undoubtedly will - they might well feel inclined to quote the catchphrase of another famous foursome: "Don't you just love it when the plan comes together!".

* You can hear The Days playing a live set on 成人快手 Devon Introducing by clicking on to the audio links at the top of the page.