THEY might not have a record deal yet, but Winsford’s very own The Luka State have been described as ‘the hardest working unsigned band in the UK right now’ and have millions of fans listening to their music online.

The four-piece British rock ‘n’ roll band are Conrad Ellis (voice, guitar), Sam Bell (bass, voice), Jake Barnabas (drums) and Lewis Pusey (guitars), and in just a matter of months they’ve racked up an impressive 3.2 million Spotify streams, plus a staggering 4.2 million YouTube views.

With considerable airplay on BBC 6Music, Radio X and Amazing Radio and their new single Girl – mixed by Alan Moulder of U2, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age fame – out now, the band are on the crest of a musical wave which has seen them lauded by the national music press.

Gemma Sproston caught up with singer Conrad during the band’s current UK tour which sees them play near to home with a gig at Manchester Retro Bar next month.

How did you guys get together?

“We all grew up together in Winsford. Sam and I met at the local youth centre as kids, Lewis went to school with us and somehow, despite Jake living around the corner, we never actually met until a few years back.”

Where does the band name come from?

“Sam and I met this guy in Toronto years ago called Luca (sic) and he was possibly the most chilled out, relaxed person we’ve ever met in our lives. Just doing what he loves and not caring what others think.

“We named the band after him because we will never stop doing what we love – it’s the Luca state of mind.”

Where did you go to watch bands locally?

“DeBees in Winsford’s a really important place to us. It’s where Sam and I played some of our first ever shows together as kids. Some really big names have played there over the years as well.”

What local venues have you played in yourself?

There’s not that many venues in Winsford, but we did play Band on the Wall in Manchester last month. That was mental – 200 people all jumping up and down and singing along to our songs.”

Is there a common musical bond that connects you?

“I think everyone assumes that if you’re in a band it’s because you like the same music. We all like rock music, obviously, but Sam and I love Green Day, whereas Lewis would prefer Queens of the Stone Age and Jake loves Slipknot. It’s bringing those influences together that makes The Luka State what it is.”

Were you in other bands before this one?

“Sam and I were in a band years ago called The Targets, a three-piece mod punk band. It was loads of fun playing those tunes, but as you grow as a musician you sometimes have to make a break with your past and change.”

What’s the story behind the new single, Girl?

“So, this is a fun one. It’s a song about men punching above their weight. It came to me after a night out in Liverpool with the lads. There was this guy eating a kebab in one hand and had this gorgeous girl in the other. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. No one gets that lucky in life. Well at least we don't that’s for sure.”

What has this year been like for you so far?

“Incredible. We’re obviously excited to be out on the road playing our songs, but what’s been really amazing is how excited our fans have been to meet us after shows. We’re probably most looking forward to going back to Scotland as those guys are crazy. You should see the video on YouTube from our show at Broadcast. Mental.”

What makes you the hardest working unsigned band in the UK right now?

“We’re always doing something. It might not always be public, but we’re always doing something. From gigging, to writing, to recording, to managing our YouTube channel or organising video shoots. It’s just busy, busy, busy and we’re doing this all with no label behind us to grease those cogs for us – it’s just nonstop.”

Who or where inspires you creatively?

“It’s got to be Winsford, our hometown. The people you meet in the streets, the fights you see outside pubs. Don’t get me wrong its full of lovely people, but it’s also a place where your two options as a kid are football or music – and we chose music cause apart from Jake on the drums we’re crap with a ball.”

Who would you most like to join on tour?

“Gallagher – got to be Liam Gallagher. We’re no Oasis wannabe band, but to share the same stage, audience, experience with him would be incredible.”

• The Luka State’s single Girls is available now on all streaming platforms. Tickets for their gig at Manchester Retro Bar on Sunday, July 7, can be booked at thelukastate.com