Hot from a short tour in September, the Glaswegian outfit spent last week putting the finishing touches to their debut album before heading off on another 10-leg tour, before hitting the road for almost two months in November.

It's been a roller-coaster ride for Parka, Matt (lead vocals, guitar), Bob (sax, percussion), Ian (bass), Mark (keyboards) and Neil (drums), who came together three years ago.

They're stuck in transitional mode, having been tipped for the top by the giants of the music world before even releasing their debut album, which is due out in April.

But it's not been easy for Parka who have been working hard to pave a way for themselves in the brutal world of modern music.

And in the process, the fivesome have been forced to make a few lifestyle changes, including swapping the streets of Glasgow for the highlife of London and curbing their rock 'n' roll lifestyle in exchange for a shot at fame.

Frontman Mark Thompson said: "It's not been easy and it's taken quite a long time to get out of being a band that just goes to small venues and pubs.

"We spent a lot of time learning to drink as much as we could and we moved to learning that you can't just go out and play like that.

"You realise how many bands there are out there trying and you need to give it your best.

"We played a show just before we were signed with Jeepstar and we didn't realise they were there watching us and we went on stage hammered.

"We came off stage and they had words. You definitely have to balance working with partying."

But the lads are confident that they are on the road to success with their funky indie-pop sounds.

"It's all good fun really," Matt said. "We're not 100 per cent indie, but we're not 100 per cent pop; a wee bit of both but not too much of either.

"Our music is a nice equal balance; good, fun, upbeat party music.

"My all-time-favourite band is Blur. I love them and I suppose they've got the whole indie thing going, but then with songs like Girls and Boys they've got the electro pop.

"At the moment I'm really liking the Fratellis. They've got the whole balance thing as well."

But what is it about Parka that sets them aside from the thousands of other acts that are all vying for the top spot?

"A lot of people say the saxophone we have in the band adds a bit of different direction to us ," he said.

"We've got the sax and the keys so we're making dance music with the sax and electro with the keys.

"We try and do something different with each song, but it's hard with so much music out there."

You can catch Parka at Oscars in Sunderland on Sunday, November 4.