All hail the new Middle of the Road. With catchy hooks and singalong harmonies, The Feeling are pure MOR. 'That's nothing to be ashamed of,' beams Gillespie-Sells.
The Feeling are: singer-guitarist Dan Gillespie-Sells (26), bassist Richard Jones (26), drummer Paul Stewart (25) and brothers, guitarist Kevin (26) and keyboardist Ciaran Jeremiah (25).
They recorded their demo in a shed; the record company sent it to journalists just as it was. 'Why try to fix something that's not broken?' says Jones (who's married to singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor).
They started out as a ski resort covers band. 'The audience consisted of everyone from students to families, crowd surfing in ski suits,' remembers Stewart.
They appeal to everyone. 'We're for people like my mum,' says Jones. 'She doesn't care what haircut a musician has. If she likes a song, she buys it.'
Fans include Blur's Alex James, who gave them their first radio play; Zane Lowe named their first single his 'hottest record in the world'.
This time next year The Feeling will be 'playing stadiums', Gillespie-Sells says. 'Ours is ambitious music. It's big choruses designed for big spaces.' Lauren Cochrane
· The Feeling are on tour in February. The single 'Sewn' is released on 27 February