Like Debbie Harry in a dance-off with Roxette, this sexy Swedish pop-punk band set tongues wagging with last year’s synth-heavy hit, ‘Tony the Beat’. Their debut, Living in America, established them in the States, and Pharrell Williams and Quentin Tarantino are big fans. With a second album out, they’re tipped as the next big thing to hit Britain.

Lead singer Maja Ivarsson describes their live shows.
It’s a positive experience with a punky vibe. We’re a very confident band, and sometimes attitude gets mixed up with confidence. Onstage I see it as my mission to kill your boredom and be entertaining for an hour, no matter what.

Are you happy to be putting Sweden on the map?
Sure. Like most Swedish kids, I love Abba. I listened to American grunge growing up, so was a little insecure going into the business as a woman, and being Swedish. But modern bands like The Cardigans proved it wasn’t just American men making good music. That opened doors for us and The Hives or The Soundtrack of Our Lives.

Are you fed up being compared to Blondie?
No way. Any female in a rock band who says she’s not influenced by Deborah Harry is lying. She’s rock history’s biggest female icon, and drop-dead gorgeous. Listening to Blondie taught me about hit singles. You can have a super-cool image or haircut, but if you don’t have good songs, that’s all very shallow. I love stuff you can sing along to, that makes your heart pump.

King Tuts, Glasgow, Fri 23 Mar. The single, ‘Tony the Beat’ is out now on Korova, their album Dying to Say This To You is released Mon 19 Mar.