Before we start with the questions, here are a few things you should know about The Killer Meters. Firstly, you can read what we think of their very funky singles here and here. They suggested a massively infectious, great fun but ultimately potentially one dimensional funk act. Their recent debut LP proper 'Breakin Out' (they had previously released a Meters covers album in 2005) is, however, a different kettle of fish. Yes, it's still authentically funky, it's still heavy on the riffs, heavy on the singalong choruses and ultimately most satisfying played extremely loud, but it's actually heavy on the variety; with Sly and the Family Stone psychedelia ('Rainbow of Love') and even a touch of prog guitar added to their armoury. This last bit won't come as a surprise when I mention the last thing you should know before reading our Q&A. Both vocalist Karime Kendra and guitarist Virgil Howe have famous parents in Northern Soul icon Ty Karim and Yes guitarist Steve Howe. Every other interview with them starts by asking about this, and we at Flashlight are never knowingly original, so I begin by asking:

What influence have your parents had on The Killer Meters? Obviously Karime's background is a more obvious reference point soundwise.. Karime, do you feel your background has helped you, or are you now starting to view it as an annoyance?

Karime: "I could never view my background as annoyance. When I was younger I couldn’t emotionally go there but now I’m so up for talking about my parents. Ty Karim was an amazing vocalist at 17 years old, my mom is where I get my gravely voice from. I am proud to be a Harris."

Virgil: "I definitely take a lot from my dad's music; Yes and their pure, self-indulgent genius. But he was also in one of the most influential psychedelic bands too, Tomorrow, who played alongside Pink Floyd at the UFO events at The Rainbow back in 1967 and had a hit with 'My White Bicycle' which had a reversed drum track, sitars, the lot!"

Having not (yet) caught you live, the variety on the album took me by surprise, with lots of different genres and tempos present. Was it a deliberate move to make an album more eclectic than the singles suggested, and can I ask what you were listening to during the songwriting process?

V: "I think the singles were pretty diverse, but we knew the album would have more light and shade. We really wanted to hit people with the explosive stuff first, then draw them into the deeper stuff. As for listening material I've been listening to a lot of '60s freakbeat and dubstep!"

What is your songwriting process? Are songs improvised in the studio, or do they arrive fully formed? Are songwriting duties shared among the band?

K: "There is no distinct writing style. Someone comes up with an idea and it blossoms from there. We share the responsibility equally. It’s the only way."

V: "With this album we had ideas and songs in mind already, so not a lot of jamming went on really. We all have our input in the writing process and it seems to work very well. We're already jamming lots of new material, so there shouldn't be such a long wait for the next one!"

Which song on the album are you most proud of?

K: "I am most proud of 'I Aint Lying' because it is one of my parents' tunes and getting it right was important. There were many attempts at the song to make sure we stood out as The Killer Meters. We wanted to maintain the 60’s era though so getting the horn sounds and backing vocals were crucial. I was lucky all I had to do was sing it the tough part for me was that I was very close to the song. It had to be right. We did it."

V: "I think 'Desperate Times' sounds exactly how we'd hoped, there are so many different elements to it and they all work so well together, I love it."

What does the future hold after the album's release? K: "The future holds a lot of gigging to get ourselves heard."

V: "Lots of gigs! And jamming, we've gained a load of confidence from the great reaction the album's got so far. So we'll be channelling that into the new material."

Would you like to do another covers album? Assuming it wouldn't be another Meters album, who would you like to tackle?

K: "I don’t want to do another covers album but if I was asked it would be covering more of my parents' tunes."

V: "Funnily enough we were thinking, before we got this album together, of doing a Killer Beatles' album. But I think we're going to stick to our own stuff from now on."

Which modern artist would you most like to collaborate with, and which classic artist?

K: The Rolling Stones (I still see them as modern) - my voice fits rock - and my mom Ty Karim, but I guess I’ll have to wait for Heaven for that."

V: "I think we could make Prince funky again, he has really got his stage performance down. But his recent records have never lived up to the standard he set early on. As for classic artist, I'd go with Stevie Wonder, for pretty much the same reasons!"

Who do you feel are your contemporaries? What modern music inspires you?

K: "My contemporaries are Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Sharon and The Dap Kings. All have a classic voice. I kind of feel like my voice and these ladies are of people that have past on."

V: "The Phenomenal Handclap Band and Baby Charles are great and also great people, we definitely get what each other are doing and all play a different role in bringing the funk back. For me a few dubstep tunes got the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. I was big into Jungle in the mid-90s so I can hear a lot of what first drew me to that in dubstep; the metallic drum sounds and computer game bass-lines."

And, finally, any plans for a full tour? I could see you being a big success on the festival circuit as well?

K: "Our manager would love us to have a full tour and so would we. Opening up for someone really established would be a coup and could help us. We definitely want to hit the festival circuit next year."

V: "Thanks, that would be great. We all love festivals and they'll be the best place for us for sure. As for a tour, we'll be hooking up some support slots soon I hope."