Despite mistaken identities and confusion with brackets, the Lamacq-endorsed Just Handshakes (We’re British) have one of the fastest rising profiles in Leeds. “There’s no point being all crazy and dancing around because it’s not us” the band with the 5th worst name in the world* tell Rob Wright

I have never considered myself threatening. True, I clock in at a reasonable six foot three, but you’d see more impressive muscles at a third-rate seafood restaurant. Nonetheless, Clara and Mike of Leeds’ latest indie pop sensations Just Handshakes (We’re British) look as if they’re about to undergo a thorough investigation by a CIA man who’s just pulled on the latex gloves. Nervously they sip at their green teas, sitting behind the wax-stained table in the Clock Café. I almost feel bad about asking them stuff…

Just Handshakes (We’re British) came together at the tail end of 2007 when Clara (vocals), Mike (guitar) and James (drums) met each other at Leeds College of Music. “Not very exciting, really,” says Clara, twisting her hands together nervously, “we were all spread out in different Northern cities before – I’m in Leeds, Mike’s in Manchester, James was in Selby.”

“We spent a while with just the three of us, running some early songs and structures and stuff,” says Mike quietly, “I’d say it was odd to start off, like any other band, then we sorta found our theme.” Shortly after that they decided that they needed a bass player, put in an advert and got Edward, late of Sheffield.

Though it sounds like a slow, almost lethargic start, the ambition to be in a band had always been a concern. “I think we knew from the beginning that we wanted to do it,” says Mike. Clara nods. “We always wanted to make something. I won’t say we took ourselves too seriously, but we always wanted to do it properly rather than just mess around.” For a moment she fades out. She catches herself and giggles. “Sorry, easily distracted.” It’s devastatingly disarming.

Though relatively new to the scene, they got a big break at the beginning of this year when Steve Lamacq picked up their second single, ‘Paper Cranes.’ “It was a surprise,” says Mike, “but obviously when you send stuff out you hope that someone’s gonna get back to you. But we weren’t expecting, you know…”

Clara picks it up, Mike having been completely drowned out by the clamour coming from the table behind them. ”That was a really important thing,” she says, “and that went to other things like This Is Fake DIY (The Research’s label) and really helped us get out of Leeds,” she reconsiders her comment, looking uncomfortable, “not that we don’t like Leeds.”

It also put their curious name in the firing line. “The guy from the BBC said he didn’t like the brackets,” says Mike. It appears that everyone has an opinion about the brackets, usually a negative one. “I think it’s because it’s grammatically incorrect,” says Clara, “probably causes more trouble than it’s worth. *Just recently we found ourselves on this blog in America and it listed the twenty worst band names ever, and we were number five or something. We were pretty proud of that. But people get the wrong idea… we’ve been accused of being a BNP band.”

Yes, that is probably more trouble than a name is worth but, after all that, whether you like the name or not, you can’t ignore it. Oh, and for all those interested in where the name comes from, it has been adapted from the British farce, ‘No Sex Please, Were British’. No nationalism intended. “We’re not racist, I’d like to clarify that,” says Clara, making the point quite firmly.

Getting away from name calling, I decide to broach the subject of Mike and Clara’s obvious timidity as they are looking edgier all the time. “It’s not just an act,” says Mike, “it’s the way we are.”

“We’ve always tried to keep the music quite honest,” says Clara, “so there’s no point in going on and being all crazy and dancing around because it’s not us… it’s quite fake. Each of us is different – Ed does all his freaky dancing and that’s him… James and Edward bring a lot of the energy and atmosphere.”

Though Clara and Mike themselves are fairly reserved, there is indeed a lot of energy in the music – staccato South African picked-guitar collides with luscious pink bubblegum Jap-pop while the bass and drums do very unexpected things… when you least expect them.

“We all have slightly different tastes,” says Mike cryptically. “Although we are big fans of Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’,” says Clara smiling mischievously, “We could go on forever, each one of us giving you a massive list of all the different things we like. I think together we all like our Swedish pop like Jens Leckmann… I think we’re all quite open-minded. We go to see a lot of music and in Leeds you’re spoiled. There are so many good venues and good bands.”

All very well-balanced, and it emerges in the music. Clara has of late taken to playing keyboards (“We like our old rubbish keyboards that nobody else really appreciates,” says Clara chuckling) giving the whole performance a rounded, complete sound. “When we first started playing we didn’t have any keys at all,” says Mike, “we only had one guitarist, so it’s good if we want to put lead lines or a bit more melody over the top.”

We go to see a lot of music and in Leeds you’re spoiled. There are so many good venues and good bands.”

“It‘s also good because [the keyboard] gets a chance to sparkle,” says Clara, “in some bands it’s the vocals at the front and everything else behind, but (with us) everything’s equal – the bass lines, the drums, the guitars – they’re just as important. I think we try and put that on stage as well.”

Sparkle? Equal? Melody? It all sounds very nice, very…

I mention the ‘T’ word. It doesn’t go down well. Mike doesn’t look comfortable and I feel I’ve blown my role as impervious interrogator. “I’d say we sit on the fence with that one,” he says diplomatically, “I wouldn’t say we’re into that stereotype.”

Clara is a bit more vocal. “We’ve got female vocals that are quite sweet and people automatically go ‘Twee’” she says, the colour rising to her cheeks slightly. I think this is as close as I am going to get to seeing her cross.

“I guess it’s how you define Twee,” says Mike, “at what point does twee turn into sickly…”

“I don’t think Twee is something that we’re trying to be,” says Clara “but it is something that we do have about us.” I feel that disaster has been averted, no thanks to my big mouth…

They may not be the ’T’ word, but they are very much part of a new wave of Leeds bands rushing in to fill the spaces left by recent local successes with gleeful gratitude. “I guess we’d like to think that,” says Clara, “There are so many big bands in Leeds at the moment that it’s always a joy to be asked to do a gig with anyone and there are so many great venues and great promoters – it’s an exciting place to be. We were talking on the way here about the Futuresound thing and just look at the bands that were in that. I think that everyone would have been happy if any one of them won.” Just Handshakes were kept off the Leeds Festival roster by Milk White White Teeth, but quite frankly they were just happy to be a part of it.

By way of incongruous consolation they were asked to support Grammatics vs Blue Roses at A Nation of Shopkeepers recently, though under an assumed name. “This had nothing to do with us,” says Clara, laughing, “it was Ed’s idea. They needed a band last minute and we had our single launch the day after so we didn’t want to publicise that we were doing one before, so the promoter wanted us to give them a fake name.”

“We didn’t want to step on the other promoter’s toes,” adds Mike pragmatically. “Ed said it would be a play on words and only our biggest fans would understand it,” continues Clara. “Once we’d established we didn’t have any big fans we realised our mistake.” Still, one and a half years in and playing secret gigs with some of Leeds’ finest. Not too shabby.

The recent single (‘Shipwrecks/Go Go Go’) marks the beginning of a musical campaign for Just Handshakes. They’d just come out of the studio that day having recorded their half of a double A-side with Yonderboy, due for release on 28th September, with Whiskas. “It’s been really different,” says Mike, “really good.” This is due to be followed by an EP in October, a possible appearance on Dance to the Radio’s end of year 4 x12” and an EP in early 2010. “We’re trying to plan ahead a bit more,” says Clara modestly. Not only but also they are due to tour with the Kabeedies in November.) “It’s all going okay,” says Clara, “hopefully people won’t get too sick of us.” She smiles, then remembers something else. “And we’re definitely not racist.” In case you’d forgotten.