I caught up with Lead vocalist from Kids In Glass Houses, Aled Phillips just before they launch into their new UK tour to promote their new album "Smart Casual". When Aled first started the band it was to become nothing more than merely a hobby but now the band are regular players on Radio 1.

Sophie: Your new album "Smart Casual" comes out on 26th, are you looking forward to the release?

Aled: Yes, It's been a long time coming since we recorded it in December, so we just had to sit on top of it for 5 months, but were just really really exited now.

Sophie: What inspired you when you wrote the songs?

Aled: A lot of different things, we wrote it over a long period of time. We started writing it in June 2006 so I guess the more we toured and met people within the music industry we learnt more. It is basically a story of our journey from living at home and all the stuff we did to touring now. Just like a little diary.

Sophie: Have you played any of your new songs live yet?

Aled: We have been playing one or two, "Girls" we've been playing for a while and also "Saturday". This is the first time we will have played about 6 of the songs of the new album. I'm pretty nervous but excited too.

Sophie: How would you describe your sound?

Aled: I'd say all our tracks are pretty varied. Our sound is sort of accessible and poppy but it's got a darker sort of rockier edge.

Sophie: Where did you get the name Kids in Glass Houses?

Aled: It came from a Glassjaw song, "Tip Your Bartender". We listened to the song and there's the line "not throwing stones at you anymore", and then we thought of glass houses and I don't know where kids came from but it stuck.

Sophie: Are you looking forward to Leeds and Reading this year, after you nailed last year's performance?

Aled: Yeah that was my favourite show we've ever played. This is the festival I'm most exited to play, I'm nervous though because it's a lot bigger stage this year, so we'll see how it goes but I'm looking forward to it.

I'm probably more nervous for Download, we've gone up a stage size and the line up on that stage is exclusively metal, and we're this big gay pop-rock band.

Sophie: What do you spend all your money on?

Aled: Shoes, clothes, alcohol, pretty much. I bought some headphones today they cost £40 that was an expensive purchase for me; and a lot of magazines.

Sophie: Who's the most annoying member of the band?

Aled: I think everyone has their moments, I can be annoying. Probably Joel he's the quiet one, I want him to be more sociable and bring him out of his shell.

Sophie: What bands do you see yourself playing with in the future?

Aled: It would be nice to play with The Police. I'm just looking forward to doing the festivals and playing with bands we've never played with like Justice and bands like that. Hopefully we will start headlining shows and we won't have to support people forever.

Sophie: What's been the highlight of 2008 so far?

Aled: I guess the Paramore tour with New Found Glory, that was really cool and we got on real well with both the bands. I'm sure when the album comes out that will be the highlight.

Sophie: What bands do you hate?

Aled: Razorlight, I just hate the band, they're just really awful.

Sophie: What music are you listening to at the moment?

Aled: A lot of Chromeo, its party music. We've been at home for while and Iain has moved into his own place and he's been having house parties and we've been listening to a lot of Chromeo. It has a mad 80s side to it.

By Sophie Stratford