A year on from their first appearance in MEET THE BAND, TOYPOP! release their debut album Come What May. ANDY HOWELLS speaks to ShiftyPopAKA SARAH POUNTNEY about the new album ahead of their appearance atTHE BIG SPLASH next week

SARAH, you’ve become big on writing jingles while producing the album – how challenging has that been?

The only difficulty with writing jingles and producing the album was having the time. It’s amazing how fast time has flown over the past few months working in a cinema part-time, writing jingles part-time, visiting the band for practise and producing a complete 13-track album. Not once have I missed a deadline with a project and some days I’ve had to set my alarm early to fit everything into the day.

You’ve put a lot of time and effort into producing it, what does it feel like to have a finished product?

It feels great! I’m going to frame it with the Yellow Brick Road EP and put it on my wall! I’ve made 50 physical copies. I went through a company to get the CDs printed, got toy designs and cartoons of us drawn by artists on fiverr.com and I’ve cut out each CD front and back cover and slotted them in. It’s taken hours but they look very pleasing to the eye and I feel very accomplished!

What are your favourite tracks and why?

Oh! I have many. ToyPOP! Introduction is my first favourite because the lecturers in Newport Uni always praised that one for the energy it contained.

Positive feedback from creative sound and music staff is always the best. Childish always reminds me of the fun that we have on stage as a band, it’s basically saying “you may call me childish for playing with toy instruments, but I’m having a damn better time than you”.

I named the album after Come What May because it’s about long distance relationships and that’s what I’ve been containing since I moved back to Shropshire, but it won’t be for much longer. You get so many people saying long distance doesn’t work, but coming from experience it really can. It is a subject that many people can relate to these days.

ToyPop are playing the Big Splash soon, have you got any other dates lined up for the Summer?

We can’t wait for that! Our last gig was seven months ago and this is our first gig as a three-piece band. We’re jumping in and playing a 45 minute set – most of the album tracks will be played with a few covers. We have two gigs on July 6, Maindee in the afternoon and we will be returning to Milefest (Gloucester) in the evening for the second time.

Will there be any surprises at your gigs regarding the material you will perform?

FruityPOP’s hair colour is usually a surprise!

Have you got any other projects lined up?

No projects are lined up as of yet but I’d like to somehow battle my way into the jingle writing business and be a millionaire.

When I’ve moved back to Wales it would be nice to release an album that the band have written and not just myself – FizzyPOP is an amazing songwriter. Also we’ll be getting some FruityPOP singing in there too – they are my visions. But no one can predict the future of course.

● Come What May is released independently today . Visit toypop.co.uk for full information