We’re not trying to break the sound barrier. We just write good pop songs – it’s what the band’s about. We’re not trying to be clever or anything. We just do what we do,” insists Shane Power.

The outfit referred to in the above sentence are Sonora, a Dublin quartet that specialise in good old fashioned rock music, and, after 18 months together, are about to release their debut single.

“We try to write really good songs and present them in a way that anyone can catch on to so that it doesn’t exclude people. The songs are catchy and melodic, but not in a contrived way. We’re just doing what comes naturally,” explains Shane.

Sonora have been keeping busy over recent months what with their slot on the Heineken Rollercoaster Tour supporting Hothouse Flowers and The Revs, their ‘Best Unsigned Band of the Year’ accolade and their production collaborations with Nick Seymour from Crowded House. However, they are the modest type and tend to play down the good bits, preferring to keep a low profile.

“We’re not about the show,” says bassist Sid Alcock. “We don’t actively seek press or push it or anything. We just go with whatever happens.”

“We don’t hang things on production values or image or whatever,” adds drummer Shane. It’s about the songs and getting them out there. It could be considered old school values, three chords and the truth or whatever, but that’s the way we do things”

Their pop streak is a crucial element to their music and clearly stems from heavy melodic influence, specifically The Smiths, Elvis Costello, The Beatles and, of course, Crowded House.

“We’ve been working with Nick on the single. Most of it was recorded in his gaff up the road!” smiles frontman Paddy Quigley. “It was great because he had a feel for what we wanted to get out of it. He’s really enthusiastic and he kept us going.”

The group met Seymour as a result of a brief whilrwind of major label interest following their triumph at year’s Esat Digifone Unsigned Band of the Year Competition.

“It kicked off a whole rollercoaster of A & R from major labels,” says Shane. “We had about eight in total over to see us from the UK. It was a bit of a sheep effect. Once one showed some interest, the others started flocking over! But it was about three or four months of gigs, showcases, phone calls, managers, lawyers and lunches.”

So what happened?

“Basically, it didn’t materialise. We got to the contract stage, but I think that, in hindsight, we are glad we didn’t go down that road. There’s a lot to be said for doing it off your own back.”

Aside from the aforementioned Rollercoaster tour, Sonora have scored support slots with heavyweights such as Joe Strummer in the Olympia and Relish in the Ambassador.

“Those gigs were great. Plus, it’s always a pleasure to play nice venues. “It’s hard for new-ish bands to play in town because it’s so expensive. If you’re going to hire Whelan’s for example, you’re going to need money. Which, naturally, is an obstacle,” says Shane.

“Joe Strummer came up to us after the gig in the Olympia though and said he liked our set which we thought was great! He saw us from one of the boxes on the first floor. We didn’t even know he was watching us at all until after the gig when he came up to us. Getting a compliment from someone like that was fantastic. We took it on board since he didn’t have to say it.”